Kerry Kennedy, writer, human rights activist, and President of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights center, was in Lisbon to promote the ‘Speak Truth To Power initiative,’ that uses experiences of people from around the world to educate students and others about human rights, and urge them to take action. The ‘Speak Truth To Power:Voices From Beyond the Dark’ play includes interviews with human rights defenders, adapted into a play by the award winning playwright Ariel Dorfman. The “Human Rights in the Challenging 21st Century – Globalizing Dignity” conference was organized by the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, Austrian Embassy in Lisbon, and the Gulbenkian Foundation, and included support of the Luso-American Foundation for Development (FLAD).
On Monday, May 9, Kerry Kennedy provided the keynote address at the ‘Speak Truth To Power: Voices From Beyond the Dark’ play at Gulbenkian Foundation, immediately following the Foundation’s President, Artur Santos Silva. Following the opening session, the Bonifrates theatre company performed the renown play that has been adapted to Portuguese and already performed in numerous countries around the world.
On Tuesday, May 10, many national and international speakers participated in the “Human Rights in the Challenging 21st Century – Globalizing Dignity” conference to discuss topics related to civil and political rights, economic and social rights, identity and individual rights, as well as the challenges we face in the 21st century. The Lisbon Declaration of Human Rights was signed by several participants, before the conference was closed by its commissioner Viriato Soromenho-Marques, and Kerry Kennedy.
During her two day stay in Lisbon, Kerry Kennedy also had the opportunity to meet with Minister of Education Tiago Brandão Rodrigues and Isabel Alçada, the President’s Education Advisor, as well as representatives of Portuguese NGOs – Amnesty International, APAV (Portuguese Association for Victims’ Support), JRS (Jesuit Refugee Service), the Bangladesh Islamic Center-Lisbon and the Aga Khan Foundation.
Photo Album
- To see more pictures of this event, please go to: http://ow.ly/5mz7300qan5
