Bermuda will join the rest of the world tomorrow to recognise International Human Rights Day.

The day is celebrated annually on December 10 to “reaffirm the importance of protecting fundamental freedoms for all persons.”

This year it comes just days after the death of human rights revolutionary, Nelson Mandela.

Locally, the Human Rights Commission is partnering with libraries, bookstores and literary outlets to highlight literature “that brings human rights and social justice to life.”

The HRC is encouraging all Bermudians to join in ‘Reading to get it Right’ by visiting a bookstore or library and picking out a highlighted book in order to better understand Human Rights in general.

“It is vital that we as a community respect human dignity and that we collectively celebrate Human Rights Day”, said Lisa Reed, executive officer of the HRC.

“It is our collective responsibility to commit to the promotion and protection of the fundamental rights whether in the workplace, at home, or in the community.”

Over the past few months, the Commission has partnered with the Bermuda National Gallery (BNG) to promote the annual Student Art Competition, which culminates with an awards ceremony for the participants tomorrow.

The BNG and the HRC have visited a number of schools throughout the Island to spread the word about the competition and to invite students to “creatively consider the universality of human rights and to express the Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in a work of art”.

“The spirit of collaboration is an important value for the community, especially when we think of leaving a legacy to our children,” said Dany Pen, Education and Communications Officer at the BNG.

The partnership, she said, had been a great success.

“We hope that in all our efforts of outreaching to the schools, we have instilled the values of responsibility, accessibility, equality, and advocacy to students across the Island. With those values in mind, we encouraged students to define what community means to them.”

Ms. Lisa Howie, Director of the BNG added: “This year’s exhibition, ‘Eyes on the World’, was the source of inspiration for the competition; this photojournalism and film exhibition focused on social issues of injustice locally and globally. Students have been encouraged to consider social issues and human rights, and respond to the theme: Eyes on Bermuda, My Bermuda- My Community.”

She continued: “More broadly, the BNG is committed to participating in the Island-wide dialogue on improving lives, through the enriching experiences of learning with art while opening up liberal spaces for individual expression and thought. I believe that these intentions make the partnership with HRC one that will last longer than this year’s Annual Student Art Competition.”

The student works will be on display during the 2013 BNG Annual Student Art Exhibition which will be open to the public until December, 21 at the Bermuda National Gallery. Admission is free.

More information can be given by contacting 295-5859 or e-mailing humanrights@gov.bm