The Cairo Institute of Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) in Egypt uses arts and literature to demonstrate that human rights are, and have long been, celebrated in Arab cultures. Although many Arab states supported the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), several have since portrayed the UDHR, and human rights protection more generally, as a Western concept.
Exploring Human Rights Through Folklore and Film
CIHRS uses a variety of approaches to illustrate the roots of human rights in Islamic Arab societies — in their folklore, literature and film. Artists are invited, for example, to monthly film screenings at which guest speakers discuss the films within the context of human rights. The film director or critics are often present at the screenings. This Cinema Club for Human Rights is one of the first experiences of its kind in the Arab world.
In addition, CIHRS publishes a series of booklets entitled Human Rights in Art and Literature that highlights the role of art and literature in disseminating the concepts of human rights; they have so far published ten books. Artists are always encouraged to present, in an engaging manner, their own experiences related to positive human rights values.
Building a Network of Artists for Human Rights Promotion
Through the Cinema Club and booklets, CIHRS has built a network of artists with an interest in promoting human rights, encouraging them to create projects that promote human rights in contemporary society. At times CIHRS also chooses a specific theme or issue, identifying how artistic approaches could play a role and then approaching network members who could successfully address that theme through a variety of artistic media.
Through all of these approaches, CIHRS has contributed to a greater awareness of the cultural relevance of human rights in Egypt and the Arab world.
From the CIHRS tactic of utilizing arts and literature to promote human rights, we learn that engaging with deeply rooted cultural narratives can foster awareness and understanding in communities. While this approach is long-term and may not yield immediate results, it effectively appeals to individuals drawn to the arts. By selecting culturally significant stories, such as national epics, broader segments of the population can be reached. The challenge lies in ensuring these narratives resonate with diverse audiences. Similar methods, like SIGI's educational manuals for Muslim women, show that local cultural contexts can effectively convey universal human rights concepts, making them relevant to daily life.
New Tactics in Human Rights does not advocate for or endorse specific tactics, policies or issues.
