Films to mark Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Islamabad : Highlighting human rights through cinematography, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) will screen the 'Zahida' film here at the Centaurus Cineplex on November 29.

The event is being arranged as part of the celebrations of 70 years of Universal Declaration of Human Rights in collaboration with the European Union.

The film shows will be held in different cities including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Mardan, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujrat, Quetta, Multan and Swat from November 25 to December 10.

The film revolves around the life of Zahida Kazmi who is the first female taxi driver in Pakistan and a local legend. Independent, feisty, street-wise, she is a master hustler.

Twice a widower and 56 years old, she is fighting to make a living on the dusty roads of Rawalpindi. Also a mother to 7 years old Zara, she continually juggles her home life with behind the wheel.

Zahida is a fascinating insight into the trials faced by a determined woman carving her own path within a patriarchal society.

Meanwhile, another film 'Truth Detectives' will be screened at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) on November 26 by the UNIC and the Embassy of the Netherlands.

Directed by Anja Reiss, the film explores that all around the world, human rights activists, journalists and lawyers collect evidence of human rights violations - with the help of the people affected.

Using mobile devices to film and photograph their experiences, they become digital witnesses. Amateur videos of bombs exploding, people being abused or even shot dead, are distributed almost in real time via social media.

These films are part of the 4th edition of the international film festival 'Human Rights through Cinematography', taking place from 25 November to 10 December 2018.

As many as 27 thematic documentaries will be screened in Gujrat, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Mardan, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi and Swat.

Documentaries are focused on the universality of human rights and related human stories across the world. Among the key themes are freedom of expression, minority rights, gender equality, access to justice and death penalty. Screenings will be followed by discussions with film makers, journalists, government and civil society representatives and human rights defenders.

Contributors to the festival are the Delegation of the European Union, diplomatic missions of Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland as well as the Forum for Human Rights, Goethe-Institute, Pakistan National Council of Arts, the Centaurus Cineplex, OLOMOPOLO Media and the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services.

Festival will conclude on the Human Rights Day on Dec 10 and the closing ceremony will be jointly organized by the United Nations and the Embassy of Switzerland.

National Day of Bosnia: To celebrate the National Day and Armed Forces day of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ambassador Brigadier General (r) Sakib Foric hosted a reception at the Marriott Hotel. The event was held in the Marquee Hall and well attended but not too crowded, with diplomats; members of the diplomatic Defense Corp; senior Pakistani officers of the Armed Forces and civilians of note. The guest of honour was Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Zubair Mahmood Hayat and the cake cutting ceremony took place with all the VIP’s on stage joining in. An exhibition of photographs had been arranged alongside the pool and the red carpet led past it so that guests could view the beautiful images of places in Bosnia Herzegovina, while a video screening of the activities of the armed forces and relations with Pakistan was shown inside. Welcoming his guests the host thanked them for attending the two very important days of his country –Nov 25th and Dec 1st (AFD) with the words, “It is indeed a great privilege and honor that you have joined us here this evening.” Giving a brief history of the war for independence from 1992 -95 he said, “Today we are a stable country with a bright future and fully prepared to join the EU and NATO allies.”