On December 10th 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations approved the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which has thus turned into the contemporary universal consensus on individual, collective and inalienable rights of all human beings.
This Declaration, which was adopted by all United Nations Member States has been supplemented by different conventions, such as those related to civil and political rights; economic, social and cultural rights; the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women; children's rights, and the rights of other vulnerable groups.
Fifty-six years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, armed conflicts represent foreground issues, displacements and violence against women are on the rise, access to essential services and medicines is being persistently reduced, and education budgets are being waned on an yearly basis. It becomes difficult to imagine a world where everybody has their human rights fulfilled, protected and respected. It is difficult to imagine how to turn the Human Rights Day into a celebration.
Governments all over the world committed themselves to respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In addition, at the present time there is reference to a fourth commitment: to inform about their existance and belonging to every human being. The right to information is one of the key issues regarding the fulfilment of human rights.
However, what seems to be the priority for our governments at the present time? In the name of individual rights and security, governments all over the world have committed themselves to bring an end to terrorism, but at what cost and impact?. Terrorism in any of its forms is highly condemnable, as it was thus affirmed by the Special Rapporteurs of the UN Human Rights Commission in their joint statement issued in June 2004. At the same time, they reaffirmed their individual and collective determination to monitor, each within the framework of his or her mandate, those policies, legislation, measures and practices developed by States in the name of the fight against terrorism, with a view to ascertaining that they are consistent with international human rights standards.
But at a more global level, there are no human rights as long as there is poverty. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has acknowledged that "in the recent past, poverty was often defined as insufficient income to buy a minimum basket of goods and services". However, "poverty may be defined as a human condition characterized by sustained or chronic deprivation of the resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living and other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights".
Poverty continues to attack the most vulnerable groups, and especially women appear as the most affected within those groups. Women heads of households; women displaced by conflicts; indigenous women; women that suffer from violence; women who are discriminated against because of their race; or what is worst, women who suffer from all of the above.
At the end of this year 2004, let us once again imagine a better world for all women and men with justice and human rights. Not just another world is possible but ONLY another world is possible.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Available in over 300 languages.
Office of the United Nations High Comissioner for Human Rights
Site launched in occasion to the International Human Rights Day, includes background information, news and activities.
Statements on Human Rights Day
Amnesty international
Women's lives and bodies: unrecognized casualties of war.
Message of Louise Arbour on the occasion of International Human Rights Day
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Joint statement
Human rights protection is a must, UN independent experts affirm.
Global Appeal for Human Rights Learning
This appeal is an initiative of the People's Movement for Human Rights Learning (PDHRE).
United Nations Development Programme
Strengthening UN support for the promotion and protection of Human Rights worldwide.
