Canadian Tribute to Human Rights
45°25′10″N 75°41′30″W / 45.419456768708°N 75.691567081592°W
The Canadian Tribute to Human Rights, also known as the Human Rights Monument, is a monumental sculpture located at the corner of Lisgar and Elgin streets in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was designed by Montreal artist and architect Melvin Charney and unveiled by the fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet on September 30, 1990.
Construction
Standing over thirty feet high and constructed of red granite and concrete, the monument's red granite facade bears the text of the first sentence of Article One of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights - Tous les êtres humains naissent libres et egaux en dignité et en droits." The words "Equality", "Dignity", and "Rights," in English and French, are carried on granite plaques to the public by the anthropomorphic figures behind the facade. They also appear on granite plaques in the interior of the monument, known as the House of Canada, in 47 of Canada's Aboriginal Peoples' languages.
Additions to the monument
In 1998, a plaque honouring John Peters Humphrey, a Canadian who was the first director of the United Nations Human Rights Division and who wrote the preliminary draft of the UN Declaration, was added to the monument. The plaque was unveiled by Nelson Mandela on September 24, 1998, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the declaration. During his remarks at the unveiling, President Mandela expressed his desire that the monument "inspire all who see it to join hands in a partnership for world peace, prosperity and equity."
Place in the capital
The location of the monument, immediately adjacent to Ottawa City Hall and close to the Parliamentary precinct, combined with its dedication to human rights, has led to it becoming the focus for a wide range of protests by groups including anti-racism and anti-poverty activists, as well as those protesting international human rights issues.[citation needed]
References
- National Capital Commission (2006-07-26). "Canadian Tribute to Human Rights".