The IRC, an international think-and-do-tank building strong WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) systems, invited the Babylon Quartet to perform a movement from Frank Horvat’s 35-movement string quartet, The Thailand HRDs, at their reception on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation Conference at the Carnegie Peace Palace in The Hague.

Movement 23 is dedicated to Mr. Preecha Thongpaen, a Thai human rights defender, who at the age of 57, was shot dead on a main road on September 27, 2002 in Thung Song District of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, while campaigning against a poorly conceived sewage treatment plant. He was the leader of the Tambon Kuan Krod Environmental Conservation Group.

Speakers include:
– Catarina de Albuquerque, former UN Special Rapporteur on Water and CEO of Sanitation and Water for All (SWA)
– Peter Laugharn, CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
– Marriet Schuurman, Dutch Human Rights Ambassador
– Liesbeth van Tongeren, Deputy Mayor of The Hague

The event is drawing attention to the ongoing challenge for billions of people worldwide to secure safe and sustainable access to water and sanitation.

The Babylon Quartet is part of the #music4HRDs.com campaign.