State Chancellery - NRW state government launches "Human Rights Week"
The North Rhine-Westphalian state government intends to organize an annual "Human Rights Week" in future. This was announced by State Chancellery Head Nathanael Liminski (CDU) on Monday at the launch of this new format in Düsseldorf. "As a state government, we want to build a stage for those who are committed to enforcing human rights around the world," he explained. Integration Minister Josefine Paul (Greens) emphasized that it was the state's humanitarian responsibility "to grant protection to those who have to flee because of their commitment, including here in North Rhine-Westphalia."
At the start of the first "Human Rights Week", the ministers received seven activists in the State Chancellery who had fled their home countries. Among them were the Iranian filmmakers Gelareh Kakavand and Vahid Zarezadeh, who were persecuted for their documentary "White Torture" together with the Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi.
The Iraqi journalist Mubeen Khishany accused the government of his home country: "You are either murdered or sent into exile." Stella Gaitano from South Sudan expressed a similar view: "The fundamental causes are not being addressed. No one is being held accountable."
The "Human Rights Week" is set to continue until Sunday, International Human Rights Day. The activists will have their say at various events throughout the state.
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Source: www.stern.de
