Human Rights Day

Today is Human Rights Day: The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on this day in 1948.

2021 Theme: EQUALITY - Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights

This year’s Human Rights Day theme relates to 'Equality' and Article 1 of the UDHR – “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” The principles of equality and non-discrimination are at the heart of human rights. This includes addressing and finding solutions for deep-rooted forms of discrimination that have affected the most vulnerable people in societies, including women and girls, indigenous peoples, people of African descent, LGBTI people, migrants and people with disabilities, among others. Equality, inclusion and non-discrimination, in other words - a human rights-based approach to development - is the best way to reduce inequalities.

Agenda:

1. Journal queries

2. Choose next steps

3. Take the human rights pledge

1. Journal queries:

This week of advent my theme is "Striving to find unity and peace with all the people of the world".

What areas of human rights work are calling to me now?
What are possible next steps?

2. Choose next steps:

The UN has these goals this year:

1. A HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED ECONOMY CAN BREAK CYCLES OF POVERTY. We need a new social contract which more fairly shares power, resources and opportunities and sets the foundations of a sustainable human rights-based economy.

2. REBUILDING FAIRER. A human rights-based economy - including economic, social and cultural rights, the right to development, and the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment - should be the foundation of a new social contract.

3. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH. Successive financial and health crises have had long-lasting and multidimensional impacts on millions of young people. Unless their rights are protected, through decent jobs and social protection, the “COVID generation” runs the risk of falling prey to the detrimental effects of mounting inequality and poverty.

4. REVERSING VACCINE INEQUALITY AND INJUSTICE. Unfair vaccine distribution and hoarding contravenes international legal and human rights norms and the spirit of global solidarity.

5. ADVANCING THE RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE JUSTICE. Environmental degradation, including climate change, pollution and nature loss, disproportionately impacts persons, groups and peoples in vulnerable situations. These impacts exacerbate existing inequalities and negatively affect the human rights of present and future generations. Urgent action must be taken to respect, protect and fulfill the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

6. PREVENTING CONFLICT AND BUILDING RESILIENCE THROUGH EQUALITY, INCLUSION AND HUMAN RIGHTS. Human rights have the power to tackle the root causes of conflict and crisis, by addressing grievances, eliminating inequalities and exclusion and allowing people to participate in decision-making that affect their lives. Societies that protect and promote human rights for everyone are more resilient societies, better equipped through human rights to weather unexpected crises such as pandemics and the impacts of the climate crisis. Equality and non-discrimination are key to prevention: when certain people or groups are excluded or face discrimination, the inequality will drive the cycle of conflict and crisis.

I believe that we are going to continue to have rising unrest. It's a factor of covid and climate change, and the inequities of who is affected most strongly. People are grieving; people are angry.

Here is what I am committed to do next--
1. Continue my work with Climate Revolutions, with a new focus of helping people get bikes and learn to bike, and advocating for a car-free corridor.

2. Introduce education and action on human rights into my Quaker earth care efforts.

3. Join Bill McKibbon's Third Act: Third Act is people over the age of 60 — “experienced Americans” — determined to change the world for the better. They muster political and economic power to move Washington and Wall Street in the name of a fairer, more sustainable society and planet, back up the great work of younger people, and make good trouble of their own.

4. Join zoom city council meetings, especially when they involve climate, sustainability, and human rights issues.

3. Take the human rights pledge:

Your commitment to human rights:

I will respect your rights regardless of who you are. I will uphold your rights even when I disagree with you.

When anyone's human rights are denied, everyone's rights are undermined, so I will STAND UP.

I will raise my voice. I will take action. I will use my rights to stand up for your rights.

TAKE THE PLEDGE