Government and Amnesty International yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of Human Rights Day through an African-centred poster series and an observance at Whitney school.

The declaration was born out of the indignities of World War II and the United Nations spent two years drafting the document.

The Ministry of Opportunity and Government Services celebrated "50 Years of the Human Rights Struggle'' at Whitney last night, exposing the audience to presentations highlighting the human rights struggle in Bermuda.

Yesterday also marked the conclusion of the Amnesty International poster display at City Hall.

Amnesty International Bermuda section director LeYoni Junos said the set of 13 posters entitled "Flames of the Spirit'' were sent free to all human rights groups providing it was shown in a public place.

The unusual posters were displayed along with all 12 articles of the Human Rights Declaration so it was possible for the viewer to have a better understanding of the artist's motivation.

The piece won several international awards and has been covered by more than a dozen magazines.

The artist, Zimbabwe-born Chaz Maviyane-Davis, said his designs were inspired by feelings of "indignation'' about how Africans were commonly portrayed.

Mr. Maviyane-Davis said he wanted to create African-based art about human rights that would inspire the viewer to see "the essence of civilisation inherent in all cultures''.

"The premise was not to see human rights in terms of abuse . .. but positively, as an integral part of the celebration of the human spirit and intelligence,'' he said.

"I basically believe that in our quest for "progress'' we have relegated huge chunks of our culture into recesses of our subconscious as opposed to using it to define our role in the world we want to live in.

"From an image point of view, this means that any icons or visual manifestations of our traditions and past are waylaid and considered inferior as we readily adopt the global -- American -- lifestyles and attitudes that surround us.

"Even though some of my ideas might appear to be "experimental'' even by our standards, they are intended to prod and explore our own soul and sensitivity and hopefully revitalise our ways of seeing.''