Hull City Council is flying a specially designed flag at The Guildhall and Central Library to mark the 70th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was created in 1948 in response to the global atrocities of war in the first half of the 20th century.
After the Second World War, governments across the world came together to try and prevent future conflict, guarantee protections for the world’s citizens and secure international peace, which led to the establishment of the United Nations in 1945.
The Chinese contemporary artist and activist Ai Weiwei was invited to design the 70th anniversary flag. His choice of an image of a bare footprint was inspired by his time spent visiting Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, who were forced to flee attacks in the Southeast Asian region of Burma. Ai noticed that nearly everyone was barefooted.
Chinese contemporary artist and activist Ai Weiwei.
The flag will be flown both physically and digitally, reminding people of the international commitment made to ensure a minimum standard of safety and dignity to every human being.
Councillor Rosemary Pantelakis, portfolio holder for corporate services, said: “Hull has a long history of standing up for human rights, in fighting slavery, fascism, and standing up for seamen’s rights for health and safety at sea, as well as welcoming those in need of sanctuary.
“By flying this flag we are reminding people of the international commitment made in 1948 to ensure a minimum standard of safety and dignity to every human being, and that we stand alongside those people who may still be without the protection of the Universal Declaration.”
The 30 rights and freedoms set out in the declaration include the right to freedom from torture and freedom from slavery; the right to education, the right to free speech and the right to asylum. It also includes economic, social and cultural rights, such as the right to social security, health and education.
