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Human rights program unites nations at Abbott
More than 120 activists participate in training sessions
Alycia Ambroziak
The Gazette
Thursday, June 26, 2008
These are some of the participats. (VINCENZO D'ALTO/The Gazette)
Working against sexual and gender-based violence in Iraq is not an easy job. Just ask Firas Hasan, executive manager of Human Defenders for Development and Relief, a non-government organization that monitors human rights violations, including sexual violence, and provides human rights education to a wide range of groups in his native Iraq.
“It is hard and dangerous. Such issues, especially those dealing with women, are very sensitive in Iraq,” Hassan, 37, said last week from the John Abbott College in Ste. Anne de Bellevue where more than 120 human rights activists from 60 countries are taking part in the 29th annual Equitas International Human Rights Training Program.
“Extremist Islamic parties do their best to stop us,” added the father of two boys, ages 6 and 3. “We receive threats from the militias ... but we work in a low profile and have a very secure and qualified female staff who deal with such situations.”
Hasan, who worked for a relief agency before joining HDDR two years ago, said he chose to work in the human rights field, as a way to help his country.
“Human rights is a new concept for us,” he said, explaining that his wife in Baghdad, although often worried about his safety, supports and believes in his mission. “The situation is better now. There is hope in Iraq.”
Hasan, who is on his first visit to Canada, said taking part in the Equitas program, which began June 8 and ends tomorrow, has been a valuable experience.
“I am learning more and more new techniques and especially sharing with other people from all over the world,” he said, noting that other participants have come from countries like Pakistan, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Haiti and the Côte d’Ivoire.
Ian Hamilton, executive director of Equitas, the non-profit, Canadian-based organization recognized internationally as a leader in the design and delivery of effective human rights eduction programs, said that as the world celebrates the 60th anniversary of the signing of the universal declaration of human rights, “people need to know about their rights in order to defend them.
“Participants in this program return home better equipped to promote human rights, values and attitudes,” he said. “Their confidence grows as does the impact of their work.”