To mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights, the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh and Drik Picture Library jointly organized a photo exhibition, entitled Rage & Hope that was held between the 14-18 December 2023.
The 10th of December 2023 marked the 75th anniversary of the worlds most groundbreaking pledge, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
The UDHR enshrines the inalienable rights we have as human beings, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.
As a celebration of freedom of expression, the photo exhibition provided a platform to photographers to highlight their work from across Bangladesh, visually exploring expressions of the fight for the rights of women, Indigenous communities, the LGBTIQ community, students, the rights of climate displaced communities amongst others.
The curator of the exhibition, Dr. Shahidul Alam, has worked on rights issues, with photography as the primary medium, for several years; and has selected a remarkable collection of past and contemporary photos from across the country.
The closing ceremony was held on 18 December 2023, where United Nations Resident Coordinator to Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis was present with other dignitaries.
The Resident Coordinator expressed her appreciation for the extraordinary Bangladeshi photographers and their "depiction and recognition of the inherent dignity of individuals standing up for what they believe."
She added that "the equal and inalienable rights of all is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace, values that are more important than ever before in todays world." The exhibition was open to people from all occupations and provided an opportunity to reflect on what the Universal Declaration of Human Rights means for them.
