All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and
should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1, Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
The world.culture.initiative FACE HUMAN RIGHTS derived from the idea of giving a face to all people in our global society, independent of their origin, skin colour, gender, language, religion, and political or other beliefs (Article 2, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights). FACE HUMAN RIGHTS wants to encourage a world-wide dialogue for a better understanding of human rights – one that leads to more openness, tolerance, respect, and dignity in daily life.
Based on this understanding of a “Culture of Humanity”, in 2008 – to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – ORF/Austrian Broadcasting Corporation Styria started in the Human Rights City Graz (Austria) with the artwork FACING NATIONS: a unique artistic, cultural, humanistic project which presents the spirit of the Declaration and its importance for our society in a very special manner. The “ORF-Artist in Residence” Oskar Stocker painted 124 large oil portraits of 124 people from 124 nations/territories (living in Graz), which are joined together to form a painted surface. None of these individual pictures stands alone, each is a part of this unique “panorama of humanity”: The various lives, nationalities, destinies, and cultural and religious identities combine in an unbiased picture. FACING NATIONS brings the topic of human rights into our daily lives by means of an unusual artistic message.
The artwork FACING NATIONS is only one part of the world.culture.initiative FACE HUMAN RIGHTS. Another essential elements are social advertising spots, produced by the international renowned Austrian film-director Rudi Dolezal. As an autonomous advancement of the artwork, the spots focus on multiculturalism and the great significance of human rights in a very special way.
FACE HUMAN RIGHTS – including the artwork and the social advertising spots – is on display at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City (November 2010). This world.culture.initiative should be an impulse for further projects and concepts to promote the thoughts and the idea of a humane coexistence: to understand the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the foundation and the minimum standard for a developed global society!
FACE HUMAN RIGHTS supports the candidacy of the Republic of Austria for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.
A project under the honorary protection of Dr. Heinz Fischer, President of the Republic of Austria and in close cooperation with the Austrian Mission to the UN.
Idea FACING NATIONS/FACE HUMAN RIGHTS: Gerhard Draxler
