Kuala Lumpur, 24 July 2009 - Students and staff at UCSI University made their stand for human rights during the University’s Human Rights Week. The entire week saw a host of activities such as debates and workshops aimed at bringing awareness of basic human rights to the University community. This was done through collaborations with the Malaysian Bar Council, Suaram, Amnesty International, AWAM (All Women’s Action Society Malaysia) and Empower (Janadaya). The Human Rights week ended with a bang as the STOMP! : Make a Difference Concert in aid of the Women’s Aid Organisation, took place at the University’s auditorium.

At the launching of the event, the Vice Chancellor and President of UCSI University, Peter T.S. Ng commented on the relevance of the causes and issues highlighted to the UCSI University community. Thus, he said, “UCSI University is an ideal place to create a greater awareness of basic human rights as the University is like a mini United Nations itself, with more than 70 countries represented here within the student community”. He added that although each country has its own laws and definitions, basic human rights have a universal voice of its own.

One of the highlights of the event was a debate competition between the joint grouping of UCSI University’s Mass Communications and English Language & Communications students against the Malaysian Bar Council. The debate touched on several important issues, such as basic rights for education and equal opportunities to conduct businesses. Both teams won one round each. Most importantly, students became more aware of issues regarding equality and basic human rights through arguments posed in the debates. There were also workshops by AWAM and Empower. Both these non-government organisations (NGOs) touched on issues such as women and youths’ participation in democratic and good governance, and the elimination of discrimination against women.

Music can also be a tool to create greater awareness, and that was realised during the STOMP! : Make a Difference Concert organised by the Social Sciences and Liberal Arts Association (SSLAA) students. The concert featured performances by local independent singers such as Reza Salleh, Rashdan Harith, Ronnie Tan, Lenny Lysandra, the Halfway Kings, Vertical Universal and Ahmad Nahri. Everyone was also treated to some energetic dance numbers by the Urban Groove Dance Network and Rhythm Music Dance Studio.

The performers rallied the crowd to make a difference and to make the world a better place for all women of different races, religions or backgrounds. The phrase “Stomp” was chosen to demonstrate everyone’s stand: ‘enough was enough’, on violence and abuse against women.  Matthew Marian, lead singer of the Vertical Universal band, and first year Mass Communications student at UCSI University, truly believes that music is the one language that cuts across all barriers. “Music has the power to bring awareness to the masses as everyone understands it. I think music should always convey an important message.”

Nick Lim Kah Ken, a final year Mass Communications student at UCSI University and also co-organiser of the Human Rights week, said that one should know his or her own rights as a human being. “By being aware of one’s rights, one would then be able to make inferences and differentiate between right and wrong,” he said.