“Address the failures exposed and exploited by COVID-19 and apply human rights to tackle entrenched, systematic, and intergenerational inequalities, exclusion, and discrimination.”
Human Rights are the rights inherent to every human being without exception. The foundation of these rights are the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration of Human rights was universally proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948. It lays out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. Every year on December 10 the United Nations celebrates this day.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1976), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976) form what is called the International Bill of Human Rights.
The celebration of UN Human Rights Day is a time to focus on the rights and protections of women.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
In December 1999, the UN General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women designed to raise public awareness of the issue. Since the COVID-19 pandemic there has been an increase of domestic violence. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has been asking governments to take specific action from November 25 – December 10 to “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect.” “…eradicate gender-based violence, forever.”
Security Council Resolution #1325
Twenty years ago the Security Council passed Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security. It set a framework for women’s leadership in all aspects of peace. It authorized parties in conflict to prevent violations of women’s rights. Women consistently call for arms control, and reduction of military spending to reduce the propensity of military conflicts. When women are involved in peacebuilding, funding is diverted from military spending to health and education projects. Between 1992 and 2020 there was a minimum presence of women in matters related to peace as negotiators, mediators and signatories in major peace processes.
International Labor Organization #190
The International Labor Organization is comprised of representatives from government, employer, and worker. It promotes and protects the rights of workers through its International Labor Convention. In June 2019, the ILO proposed a new provision to the Convention ILO #190: “Each member shall adopt laws and regulations to define and prohibit violence and harassment in the world of work, including gender-based violence and harassment. The proposal has clear guidance for government, employers and trade unions to identify and eliminate discriminatory behaviors and the unequal power relations that contribute to gender based violence.” Each country that is a member of the ILO is requested to ratify the Resolution.