75th anniversary of UDHR celebrated with photo exhibition

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights (UDHR), the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh and Drik Picture Library jointly organised a photo exhibition, entitled ‘Rage & Hope’.

The exhibition ended began at Drik Gallery in the capital on Monday (December 18) that on December 14.

10th December 2023 marked the 75th anniversary, arguably one of the world's most groundbreaking pledges, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR enshrines the inalienable rights we have as human beings, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status. As a celebration of freedom of expression, the photo exhibition provided a platform to photographers to showcase their work from across Bangladesh, visually exploring expressions of the fight for the rights of women, indigenous communities, the LGBTIQ community, students, the rights of climate displaced communities amongst others.

Photographer and Managing Director of Drik, Dr. Shahidul Alam has worked on rights issues, with photography as the primary medium for many years and has selected a breath-taking collection of past and contemporary pictures from across the country. The closing ceremony held earlier in the evening at DrikPath Bhobon, where United Nations Resident Coordinator to Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis, UN Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression, Irene Khan, Photographer and Coordinator of Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity, Taslima Akhter were present with other dignitaries. The event was moderated by the curator of the exhibition, ASM Rezaur Rahman.

The Resident Coordinator expressed her appreciation for the extraordinary Bangladeshi photographers and their “depiction and recognition of the inherent dignity of individuals standing up for what they believe.” She added that “the equal and inalienable rights of all is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace, values that are more important than ever before in today’s world.”

Irene Khan highlighted the power of photography and said that photographs are more powerful than words. That is why all authoritarian regimes in the world take actions against photographs. In her view, “although most governments adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, only a few have managed to uphold it. Among these, freedom of expression is the most significant, since it ensures all other rights.”

Taslima Akhtar described the experience of a photograph she took after the Rana Plaza tragedy where a woman and a man died hugging each other in their final moments of life. She shared, “I never want to forget that moment, that reality ten years ago, because it makes me uncomfortable sometimes. Also, it gives me the strength to fight constantly. Going to the back of the building at the scene, I found the two people in the picture. They were hugging each other at the time of death and were probably trying to survive.”

The exhibition was open to people from all walks of life and provided an opportunity to reflect on what the Universal Declaration of Human Rights means for them.