The FAS 2023 Christmas video holds a minute of silence
This year, different UAB students collaborated in the FAS Christmas video, dedicating a minute of silence to support the different social conflicts that are currently taking place.
19/12/2023
senators decided to show their respect for the Foreign Affairs Minister, José Maria Paranhos; but unlike now, it was not one minute, it was ten. Later, in 1918, to show solidarity for the deaths caused by the First World War, three minutes of silence were established, which were reduced to two on the request of the soldier and journalist Edward George Honey. This practice has become widespread, and a minute of silence is held to express grief or condemnation, to denounce, or to show solidarity.
The FAS asked various students from the UAB, associated with the social action programmes: “If we asked you to hold a minute of silence, what cause would you choose?”.
The young people (participants in the Welcome Programme for people seeking refuge or volunteers) highlighted different causes which were put together in this video published on the FAS Instagram channel: women murdered in situations of gender-based violence, the conflicts in Palestine and Ukraine, fatal victims of female genital mutilation, racism and deaths in the Mediterranean.
Although diverse causes were highlighted, unfortunately, they do not all appear. That is why the message and wish for 2024 is that no more minutes of silence need to be held: for a year of peace and respect of human rights.