The concept of non-discrimination lies at the heart of human rights.
For this reason, it has been designated the official theme of this Human Rights Day, which occurs every year on the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. And for this and many other reasons it should be an unofficial theme every day, every year, for everyone.
Twenty-six of the Universal Declaration's 30 Articles begin with the words "Everyone…" or "No one…" Everyone should enjoy all human rights. No one should be excluded. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Non-discrimination must prevail.
Today, we have a whole range of rights-based international treaties imbued throughout with the concept of non-discrimination. These include, for example, Conventions on the rights of the child, rights of people with disabilities, rights of refugees and of migrant workers; Conventions dedicated to the elimination of racial discrimination and discrimination against women; as well as treaties dealing with labour, health and religion. These legally binding standards are complemented by important UN declarations detailing minority rights and the rights of indigenous peoples......Read More...
(Theme: Non-Discrimination)
One of the founding principles of the United Nations is our faith in the dignity and worth of every person, without distinction on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, property, birth or other status. Today, however, on International Human Rights Day, we are reminded that discrimination in all its forms continues to undermine this principle.
It manifests itself through discrimination in the job market based on ethnicity, nationality or disability, or through gender inequality in education as girls are kept home from school because families cannot afford the fees.
It rears its head in agriculture, as those with the weakest rights - small farmers and women producers – are forced out of increasingly scarce access to water, or in tackling HIV, where stigmatizing men who have sex with men and refusing to provide harm reduction services for drug users sets back prevention and treatment work........Read More...
