Signmark joins forces with Foreign Ministry to promote disabled people
Sign language rap artist Signmark aka Marko Vuoriheimo has joined forces with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to continue the work he started with the previous Finnish Government to promote the rights of disabled people. Formerly the Foreign Minister’s Special Representative, Signmark may now be seen strutting his stuff with all three ministers: Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb and Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala.
Signmark has highlighted the human rights of disabled people on various international forums. His favoured approach is to teach through his own example and in this way to increase the awareness of disabled people about their rights and their opportunities. The rights of disabled people are one of the priorities of Finland’s international human rights policy.
Signmark’s work has brought a breath of fresh air to Finnish foreign policy efforts to promote human rights. On his travels, he aims to reach out and get his message across not only to the general public, but also to political decision-makers and the media. Other people who are invited to his concerts and seminars include representatives of local NGOs.
Signmark has so far performed in New York at the UN General Assembly, in Astana, Kazakhstan during the OSCE Summit and in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in connection with the African Union Summit.
Signmark will be performing at Helsinki Railway Station (Asema-aukio Square) at around 3.30 pm on UN Day, 24 October.
Further information: First Secretary Pasi Kokkonen, Unit for Human Rights Policy, [email protected], tel. +358 9 1605 5323, and Nuppu Stenros, Communications Manager, Signmark Productions Oy, [email protected], tel. +358 45 677 3642