HR75 Wrap-up: Middle East and North Africa

• Jordan
• Syria

Jordan

Street art shines a light on human rights

The United Nations in Jordan in collaboration with partners and under the guidance of the renowned Jordanian street artist Suhaib Attar, initiated a street art project in East Amman's Al Hashmi Al Shamali neighborhood. This project involved the creation of a vibrant street art trail illustrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This video is also available in Arabic

Seventeen house walls were transformed into powerful canvases, showcasing fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, the right to legal recourse, asylum rights, workers' and women's rights, access to food, health, housing, clean water, sanitation, and a healthy environment. Additionally, abstract concepts like civic space and a human rights-based economy were creatively depicted through this unique artistic endeavor.

Throughout 2023, a series of 14 consultations convened over 200 participants from various sectors, including government officials, civil society representatives, experts, children, and refugees. These dialogues explored the intersection of human rights and art, inspiring university art students to craft initial sketches. These sketches were then brought to life through the street art that now adorns the neighborhood.

Guided walking tours to the area each Saturday will engage the public and foster meaningful discussions on the significance and challenges of upholding human rights. The street art trail provides a space for pause, reflection, and dialogue, reinvigorating our commitment to the universal human rights agenda relevant to everyone, everywhere.

Syria

Right to Know - The elements of the right to Know applied to the Syrian context 

The Syrian conflict resulted in a striking high number of missing persons, leaving their family without any knowledge about their relative’s fate and whereabouts. They have however a right to know where their loved ones are and what happened to them. This video shows the suffering of family members and explains the meaning of the right to know.

Right to Health - The elements of the right to health under IHRL and the standing of this right in the Syrian context 

The healthcare infrastructure in Syria has been gravely impacted by more than a decade of armed conflict. This video unravels the meaning of this right, its elements and how it applies to the Syrian context.

This video is also available in Arabic.

Right to WASH - Elements of the rights to water and sanitation and the standing of this right in the Syrian context

The conflict in Syria led to a dire human rights and humanitarian situation in which more than 15 million people are in need. The cholera outbreak in Syria and other diseases are consequences of a lack of clean water and sanitation. This illustrates how essential these rights are in the Syrian context. This video illustrates how these rights apply to the Syrian context.

Human Rights-Based Approach - eLearning course on Human Rights-Based Approach to Programming and Advocacy

This video is to promote an eLearning course e-Learning Course on Human Rights-Based Approach to Programming and Advocacy, developed by the Syria Office. The eLearning course helps participants to have a better understanding of the meaning of a human rights-based approach and how they can use it in their work. While the focus is on Syria, it can be applied to various contexts.

This video is also available in Arabic.