HERAT - The extraordinary work of a group of Afghan professionals was celebrated at a photographic exhibition in Herat today as part of events marking UN70.

Around 80 people, including Afghan journalists, members of civil society, diplomats and United Nations officials attended the exhibition.

Dominic Medley, representing the UN family in Afghanistan, and Abul Qadir Rahimi, Head of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission spoke about the partnership between the UN and Afghanistan. They were joined by Habib Noori, a cultural heritage director and one of the Afghan professionals featured in the photography exhibition.

Mr. Rahimi said that the UN has been working in Afghanistan for decades during which time it has provided many good services to the Afghan people, including humanitarian relief, support for human rights and preservation of historical sites.   

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights – which Afghanistan voted for in 1948 along with 47 other countries – has had a valuable effect on the promotion and spread of human rights principle all over the world, said Mr. Rahimi.

The exhibition features a collection of specially commissioned panoramic photographs measuring 4 metres wide. Each photo (which can be viewed on unafghanistan.org) contains three main scenes, highlighting key aspects of the professionals’ work in areas such as improved health care, de-mining, support for returning refugees and environmental protection.   

The showing in Herat follows similar exhibitions, attended by hundreds of people, held in Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif and Jalalabad.