On September 6, 2024, ARTICLE 19 commemorated Liu Xiaobo, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and prominent human rights defender, highlighting his enduring legacy in the fight for freedom of expression. Liu, who was instrumental during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and co-authored Charter 08, was imprisoned for 'inciting subversion of state power' and passed away in 2017 [e0d60429].
In a significant tribute, a bronze bust of Liu Xiaobo will be unveiled at the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the University of Galway on September 11, 2024. This bust, created by Czech sculptor Marie Šeborová, marks the first such installation on a university campus, symbolizing Liu's impact on human rights advocacy [e0d60429].
The commemoration event will feature notable speakers, including Professor Siobhán Mullally and Fengsuo Zhou, and is organized in collaboration with Art for Human Rights and the Human Rights in China (HRIC) organization. Barbora Bukovská, a key speaker at the event, emphasized Liu's legacy as a beacon of hope for those fighting for freedom of expression in oppressive regimes [e0d60429].
Liu Xiaobo's life, marked by his courageous activism and intellectual contributions, continues to inspire new generations of activists. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for human rights in China and beyond, reinforcing the importance of commemorating such figures in the global fight for justice [0e298332][e0d60429].