International Human Rights Day

Today UNFPA joins the rest of the United Nations system and other partners in calling for dignity and justice for all. This is especially important for girls and women, who continue to be subjected to unacceptable and appalling levels of discrimination and violence.

Today and every day UNFPA places a strong emphasis on women’s empowerment, gender equality and the right to sexual and reproductive health. Every human being should be able to live and make decisions free of coercion, discrimination and violence.

The world has long recognized, for instance, that all couples and individuals have a right to decide whether and when to have children.

Yet today an estimated 200 million women worldwide lack access to modern contraception. The world has long recognized the right to health. Yet today one woman dies every minute during pregnancy and childbirth for lack of maternal health services.

The same predicament confronts young people who face unwanted pregnancies and HIV infection but lack the information and means to protect themselves. And how many more women and children will be subjected to gender-based and sexual violence before we can end this tragic cycle? Clearly, greater awareness and action are needed.

On this International Day of Human Rights, we begin a year-long commemoration leading up to the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. During this time, UNFPA will continue to focus on the advancement of reproductive health and rights and gender equality to ensure dignity and justice for all. And we will work to strengthen health systems to guarantee universal access to reproductive health by 2015.