The debate „Every gender is equal” is one of the events planned at the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów as part of this year’s celebration of Human Rights Day. The debate will allow us to learn about the way students from different cultural backgrounds perceive the issue of gender equality, and will present the range of anti-discrimination solutions used around the world and the activities of international organizations. The honorary guest of the event will be Dr. Zdzisław Rapacki, economist and long-time diplomat, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the UN office in Geneva in 2004-2010.

Human rights are violated in many places around the world, and it is the duty and responsibility of all of us to demand respect for the rights and freedoms of other people, say the debate organizers.

We want to talk about human rights, and especially gender equality, because these issues are of great importance, and not only for individuals. At a multicultural university like WSIiZ, we are aware of cultural differences every day. We do not treat them as a problem, rather they are evidence of the complexity of human ideas about society and culture. It is important to develop your knowledge, understand the idea of ​​human rights, reflect on their meaning and, above all, accept universal human rights as a guide for your behavior – says Małgorzata Wejsis-Gołębiak, a lecturer at the Department of Political and Administration Sciences with many years of experience in diplomatic service.

Introductory lecture to the debate entitled „The role of international organizations in shaping standards and monitoring compliance with human rights” will be delivered by Ambassador Dr. Zdzisław Rapacki, Polish economist and diplomat, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the UN office in Geneva in the years 2004-2010, who will share his many years of experience and analyzes with participants. I hope that our meeting will create a good basis for a broader view of the world’s problems, its tensions and difficulties, says Dr. Rapacki.

In addition to Dr. Rapacki, the debate will be attended by Dr. Sylwia Mazur, researcher at the Research Center for the Future of the Law Universidade Católica Portugueasa and expert from the EUROPE DIRECT Rzeszów, and Mieczysław Moneta, supervisor of the Intercultural Research Club „The Globe” scientific circle. The audience will include UITM students, high school students and students of the 50+ Academy.

The event will take place on December 12, 2023 at 9.30. in the IQ Student Club at the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów. The debate will be in English with simultaneous translation into Polish.

The debate will be accompanied by an art exhibit of posters under the common title „Everyone has equal rights regardless of gender/Every Gender is Equal”, originated and organized by the Council of Scientific Clubs of UITM. The theme of the opening is not accidental and tries to draw attention to the lack of distinction in the number of genders that are equal. Thanks to this, the organizers of the opening tried to encourage students of particular gender identities to present their point of view on equality. This is important because in today’s world there are many cases of discrimination against people with a different gender identity. The event organizers decided to meet this challenge and allow all students to express their opinions without fear of ridicule or possible discrimination.

The students participating in the event are not only students of Computer Graphics and Multimedia Production. Due to the topic of equality, every student was encouraged to create a poster, regardless of their field of study. The works themselves were not burdened with many formal restrictions, so as to allow students the greatest possible freedom in expressing their opinions artistically. The only thing required by the event organizers was the apolitical nature of the work in order to create a safe space for all people regardless of gender, nationality and worldview – explains Jakub Boratyn, Chairman of the Council of Scientific Clubs UITM.

On this day, there will also be a summary of the Amnesty International Letter Writing Marathon.

As emphasized by the Rector’s Representative for Counteracting Mobbing, Discrimination and Violence, Dr. Katarzyna Kurzępa-Dedo, EUROPE DIRECT Rzeszów:

“The purpose of the Gender Equality Plan adopted in November 2022 is, among others, raising awareness of gender equality and gender diversity in the academic community and raising awareness of various forms of gender discrimination. The December event is part of its implementation. On the one hand, the debate will make it possible to learn about the way students from different cultural backgrounds perceive the issue of gender equality, and on the other, it will present international institutional solutions for the observance of human rights, including non-discrimination on the basis of gender.”

The main organizer of the event is the Scientific Circle Intercultural Research Club „The Globe” with its supervisors Małgorzata Wejsis-Gołębiak, Mieczysław Moneta, Rector’s Representative for Counteracting Mobbing, Discrimination and Violence, Dr. Katarzyna Kurzępa-Dedo from EUROPE DIRECT Rzeszów. Partners are EUROPE DIRECT Rzeszów and the Council of Scientific Circles of UITM.