Human Rights Day

Today, December 10, is Human Rights Day. The United Nations, and all 185 country members, ratified a declaration of rights that all humans are afforded on this day in 1948.

Unfortunately, even 61 years after this declaration, these basic human rights have not been realized. We still experience violence, discrimination and unfair circumstances of all kinds.

Read the entire Universal Declaration of Human Rights

A few choice articles from the declaration that are especially pertinent to gender equity:
(The use of male pronouns is from the original text.)

Article 2.

* Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Article 22.

* Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23.

* (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
* (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

Advertisement