Members of the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD) handed out the copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the people on the İstiklal Street of the Beyoğlu neighborhood of Istanbul for the 60th anniversary of the declaration.

Gülseren Yoleri, head of IHD’s Istanbul branch, says those who know their rights will also try to protect them and that is why they were handing out the declarations to the people.

The activists from the İHD met at the Taksim Square and they talked about the importance of defending the Universal Declaration on its 60th anniversary.

After Yoleri’s speech the activists handed out the copies of the declaration while walking towards the Galatasarary High School on the Istiklal Street in the Beyoğlu neighborhood.

“The Human Rights is a living phenomenon”

Talking to bianet about the matter, Yoleri says, “The Declaration recognizes important rights. It is important from every respective. But the Human Rights is a developing and living phenomenon. Therefore, we wish that these definitions can be widened and we desire the nice days when everyone’s rights will be protected.”

One of the people who received the copy of the Declaration handed by the activists, 27 year old Sevda, told bianet that it was important to have such a declaration and these activities designed to remind us out rights are very valuable.

Wondering why those who fight for the human rights experience difficulties, Sevda says she has not read the whole Declaration and will feel stronger after she reads it.

“I will take it to my children”

39 year old Haldun Kıyıcı thanked the İHD activists for drawing attention to one of the least cared concepts in Turkey. Kıyıcı said he was going to take the declaration to his children so that they can read it.

Selahattin Gürgen said he did not even know there was such a declaration, he read very few positive comments about those activists who work for the human rights and contrary to the things written about them, they did not look like bad people.

According to Ayşenur Gülçiçek, the human rights should not be restricted to one day; like the mothers day, everyday should be a human rights day. (BÇ/TB)