FJS opens exhibition and website on human duties

In the month that marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 25th anniversary of José Saramago being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, the José Saramago Foundation, in partnership with the OEI (Organization of Ibero-American States), is inaugurating an exhibition that aims to publicize the proposed Declaration of Human Duties, a project initiated by the José Saramago Foundation.

The idea originated from a desire expressed by José Saramago in his speech, delivered on December 10, 1998, in Stockholm, the date on which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrated its 50th anniversary. “Let us, then, ordinary citizens, take the floor and the initiative. With the same vehemence and the same force with which we claim our rights, let us also claim the duty of our duties. Perhaps the world can begin to become a little better,” said José Saramago on that occasion.

In 2015, gathered in Mexico and convened by UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico) and the José Saramago Foundation, several dozen experts in various fields drafted a proposed Declaration of Human Duties, a document that was later, in 2018, taken to the United Nations and personally delivered to its Secretary-General, António Guterres.

Now, the intention is for this document to circulate around the world, be debated, discussed, and put into practice. To this end, an exhibition and a [unclear - possibly "event" or similar] have been created. web page The exhibition features the text of the proposed declaration and images by photographer Gervasio Sánchez. The graphic design of the exhibition was handled by the Silvadesigners studio. The exhibition is available from today in three languages (Portuguese, Spanish, and English) for schools, universities, libraries, and other institutions wishing to support the initiative. Entities wishing to host the exhibition should contact the Foundation via email at apoio@josesaramago.org. In response, they will receive a link to download the files; printing and mounting will be the responsibility of the Foundation.

By the end of the month, this exhibition will also be inaugurated in two locations in the city of Lisbon: Largo José Saramago, in front of the José Saramago Foundation headquarters, and at the Bank of Portugal/Money Museum in Lisbon.