To commemorate Human Rights Day which falls on Dec 10, a one-day seminar-cum-celebration and an awards presentation will be held on separate days this week.

The seminar this Saturday is organised by the National Human Rights Society

(Hakam), women's organisation Sisters-in-Islam and the Bar Council. It will be held at the Bar Council auditorium in Kuala Lumpur.

Topics that will be discussed include the impact of the Sept 11 attacks on human rights and the rule of law, the abuse of the ISA, legislation to combat terrorism and safeguards against rights violations.

Originally centred on the Internal Security Act, the seminar shifted its focus after the Sept 11 terrorist attacks on the US.

"The picture given by the government is that even the established democracies are beginning to appreciate the necessity for laws like the ISA, the argument being that in the fight against terrorism one has to sacrifice human rights principles and the rule of law," explained Hakam in a statement.

Speakers and panellists include Universiti Malaya's Prof Gurdial Singh Nijar, Dr Patricia Martinez, Aliran's P Ramakrishnan, UKM associate professor lawyer Norani Othman, lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and representatives from the Canadian and British High Commissions and the US Embassy.

Following the seminar, a festival of rights featuring dances, plays and poetry recitals will be held, with performances from thespian S Venugopal, playwright-cum-actor Mano Maniam, Band Rakyat and Orang Temuan dancers.

Dinner for winner

Another human rights group, Suaram

, will hold a dinner to honour the winner of this year's human rights award and to present its report for 2001.

According to Suaram, topping the lists of nominees are the Anti-ISA Movement and the students of the controversial SJK(C) Damansara.

The dinner will be held in Petaling Jaya this Friday.

The World Human Rights Day is celebrated on Dec 10 to commemorate the United Nation's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.