74 years ago, the United Nations General Assembly signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a landmark document setting out fundamental human rights to be protected for all peoples and all nations.
Article 1 of the Declaration opens with: ““All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. Though such rights are inalienable, we see them violated time and again across the globe, particularly among vulnerable and marginalized groups. It is human rights defenders who fight the fight. When one person’s rights are denied, the rights of all are denied.
This Human Rights Day, we particularly recognise the importance of securing ‘Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All’. During the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women, UNFPA is focused on safety in all spaces including virtual ones, where women and girls are frequent targets for online abuse and harassment, including but not limited to technology facilitated gender-based violence.
In recognition of Human Rights Day 2022, UNFPA brings together the latest data, research and regional and country experiences on understanding, strengthening and implementing laws to support and protect sexual and reproductive health and rights.
