In Geneva, human rights come to life on stage with an Italian theater company

In Geneva, human rights come to life on stage with an Italian theater company

(ANSA) - GINEVRA, 15 SET - On the sidelines of the Human Rights Council session currently underway in Geneva, the Italian theater company Raizes Teatro held a unique performance/event at the Palais des Nations titled “Bringing Human Rights to Life through Theater.” The initiative—according to a press release from the Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN and International Organizations in Geneva—was organized by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, with the support of Italy, together with Cyprus, the Philippines, Costa Rica, and Slovenia. An excerpt from “UNCHILDED,” a visually striking theatrical performance with direct language, dedicated to the denial of childhood and the suffering of children trapped in armed conflicts, served as a call to recognize the children involved not only as victims but as rights-holders who must be protected. The performance was followed by a brief seminar involving about thirty students from the Graduate Institute and the training program of the International Catholic Center in Geneva, the press release notes. Italian Permanent Representative Vignali, speaking at the opening of the event, noted how theater can help translate principles and norms into engaging experiences, bringing us closer to the “people behind the statistics,” so that we “feel the injustice and are moved to act.” Support for this initiative is part of our country’s commitment to human rights education and training, including as a member of the Core Group on the UN resolution dedicated to this issue in Geneva. A creative contribution to a universal message: promoting human rights education provides the younger generations with the tools to help build the future, the press release concludes. Read article...