Manchester International Festival (MIF) commissioned Hafsah Aneela Bashir to write and record a poem in response to Article 25 – the right to food, shelter, healthcare, social services and security.

Hafsah’s poem, 'The Flag I Fly For You', premiered at an online poetry reading on Wednesday 9 December with Manchester’s 24-hour Islamic Radio Station, Heritage Radio, and was launched on World Human Rights Day (10 December 2020) as a video recording alongside 33 commissioned poems by artists across the UK. 

Hafsah Aneela Bashir said: "It’s important for me to be involved in Fly The Flag because I passionately believe in an individual’s right to be seen, heard and valued fully. To feel safe, free from fear and to live with dignity. 

"As much as we are living in times of great discord, the inherent beauty of our human story is one of strength, survival and unity. We must do more to recognise each other as the family we all belong to & uphold the same human rights for others that we’d want for ourselves."

Other organisations taking part include; Coventry City of Culture 2021, Edinburgh International Festival, Fuel, Emergency Exit Arts, Roundhouse, Sadler's Wells and Young Vic - commissioning poets such as Keisha Thompson, Inua Ellams, Matt Abbott, Haris Ahmed, Amina Jama, Yomi Sode and Jolade Olusanya. Full collection here.

Launched in 2018 on the 70th anniversary of the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Fly The Flag is a reminder of the human rights we are all entitled to, in particular raising awareness of the UDHR amongst young people and shining a light where human rights are violated.

Fly The Flag 2020 builds on two years of activity, and propels the project towards the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2023.