Your voice can make a difference in the lives of women and
girls around the world. UN Women, an arm of the United Nations, has put
together this awesome photo campaign to raise awareness on the topic of women’s
rights as human rights in light of International Human Rights Day, which was
December 10th last year. The people featured in these photos are everyday
people just like you and me who were inspired to share their stories and show
how women’s rights are human rights, no matter where they live or what they
look like.
Learn about domestic violence
No one should have to live in fear of violence.
Unfortunately, domestic violence is a reality for too many women around the
world. Domestic violence can include physical, sexual, emotional, and financial
abuse. It can happen to women of all ages, races, and religions. And while it
affects everyone in society - not just the victim - there are some specific
groups that seem to be more vulnerable than others. For example, young people
often lack economic independence and face particular difficulties when they
leave their abusers or confront them about their behavior.
The International Women's Day on March 8 is a time to celebrate
the struggle for women's rights over the years, but also to remind ourselves
that there is still much work to be done if we want this important cause to
succeed. To commemorate this occasion, it is important to remember these words
from Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do what you feel in your heart to be right -
for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you
don't. At least you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you acted
according to your conscience. If people stand by you, so much the better. But
as long as you have acted according to your conscience, what does it matter
what others say? Do what you think is right and everything will fall into
place. After reading this quote, I thought back to my life-changing experience
with Boys Republic and felt grateful for the opportunity I had to explore my
potential as a human being. While most girls at Boys Republic were free from
harassment and experienced pure love in our community, I noticed how unfair the
world was outside of Boys Republic; no where else did I see such brutality
towards women like street harassment, sexism in media, slut shaming. In order
to stop misogyny, we need to speak up against injustice. We need to be brave
enough to make change happen in our communities because change starts with us!
Learn about sex trafficking
Sex trafficking is a serious human rights violation that
affects women and girls all over the world. This type of trafficking occurs
when someone is forced or coerced into sexual activity in exchange for money,
drugs, or other forms of payment. Women's rights advocates have long fought for
the recognition of sex trafficking as a human rights issue, and this issue has
gained more attention in recent years. Despite this progress, however, much
work still needs to be done to protect the rights of women and girls who are
affected by this heinous crime. International human rights law recognizes these
violations, and is an important tool in ensuring justice for those who are
victims of sex trafficking. With continued awareness and activism on behalf of
women's rights activists around the world, we can end this horrific practice
once and for all. We must come together and acknowledge that without
international human rights, women and girls will continue to suffer from
exploitation, abuse, slavery and discrimination. We must never forget that it
is our responsibility as global citizens to ensure that no one ever faces
injustice because of their gender identity. International humans rights not
only exist but must be protected if we want to see any change within our
communities; otherwise they will remain forever vulnerable. In light of this
reality, educating ourselves about how sex trafficking functions and what some
possible solutions might look like could prove to be extremely beneficial. For
example, through international cooperation we may have better luck combating
illegal drug use - an often contributing factor to sex trafficking - which
would also lead to decreased rates of HIV/AIDS among females. The UN defines
human rights as rights inherent to every person, including but not limited to
civil and political rights, social economic and cultural rights, collective
economic, social and cultural civil liberties, equality before the law. The
Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a document that outlines basic
fundamental principles concerning basic human freedoms such as freedom from
slavery or torture. Although many people take these principles for granted
today, many people do not know where they came from nor understand their full
meaning. They are based on the idea that each individual deserves certain
rights simply because they exist as a human being. Whether or not you agree
with all aspects of the UN's definitions of human rights, there is no denying
its importance in affecting significant changes around the world.
Learn about women in the military
Since 1948, the United Nations has recognized the importance
of human rights for all people, regardless of gender. Women have made great
strides in recent years, but there is still much work to be done to ensure that
women enjoy the same rights and protections as men. For example, on December
18th, 2017 a group of female soldiers testified before Congress about their
experience in the military with an ongoing sexual harassment scandal that
became public earlier this year. They described how some men use their
positions to threaten and coerce female soldiers into sex. The U.S Army
reported 694 cases of sexual assault among active-duty personnel from 2010-2016,
with only 10% being reported by victims or witnesses according to Newsweek.
What’s more shocking is that one out of three female veterans report being
sexually assaulted while serving their country according to NPR News. Female
soldiers face more obstacles than just sexual assault - they also deal with
unequal pay and training opportunities. In fact, a survey found that 64% of
women experienced discrimination in pay during their service time. There are
also many misconceptions about what it means to be female in the military; many
believe it can interfere with family life because of deployment schedules or
long hours. But these assumptions do not account for the fact that many members
serve part-time or as reservists, allowing them to better balance work and
family commitments.
Learn about gender equality
Gender equality is the view that men and women should be
treated equally, with respect to rights, opportunities, and responsibilities.
It does not mean that men and women are exactly the same, but rather that they
are equal in worth and deserving of equal treatment. An important element of
gender equality is achieving gender parity in positions of power and
decision-making. Women must also have equal pay for work of comparable value,
such as with skill level or complexity; however, there can be differences when
women are taking care of children or providing elder care.
There is still a lot more to do on gender equality - it will
require commitment from both sexes and all generations; communities need to
change how we educate our boys and girls; the legal system needs reform to
allow better support for survivors; changes need to happen within families so
that more fathers take responsibility for childcare while mothers return to
work - but we are making progress through education programs, governmental
policies, social media campaigns and other initiatives. Let’s keep working
together until every woman has an opportunity to reach her full potential!
Gender equality is important not only because it reflects
fundamental human rights, but also because equal rights bring significant
social benefits – especially when women play leadership roles in politics and
business. As leaders make decisions about resource allocation, they draw on
information provided by their citizens (such as contributions to UN Women). So
improving women’s status can lead to better informed decision-making for people
around the world—but there is still a long way to go before we achieve true
parity between men and women in leadership positions around the globe.
Learn about education access for girls
Around the world, girls continue to face significant
barriers to accessing quality education. According to UNESCO, as of 2018, there
were still 132 million girls out of school. This is especially troubling
because when girls receive an education, they have better health outcomes, can
earn a higher income, and are more likely to participate in democracy and break
the cycle of poverty. Additionally, educated women are more likely to send their
own children to school and get involved in their communities. Women's rights
are human rights, and ensuring that all girls have access to quality education
is a crucial step in achieving gender equality. The Clinton Foundation has
partnered with the Canadian government to launch Girls' Education Initiative
(GEI) Canada, which seeks to increase enrollment rates for adolescent girls
aged 15-19 by 50% over five years through a new Girls Education Index. GEI
Canada partners with private sector leaders like Microsoft, whose CEO Satya
Nadella recently joined the GEI Board of Directors. We applaud his leadership
on this important issue. GEI Canada also relies on partnerships with public
schools and community organizations to implement evidence-based programs that
educate girls, promote healthy lifestyles, reduce discrimination, and build
skills needed for future success. We're honored to be part of such a meaningful
initiative. Learn more about our work in this area here or learn more about
other opportunities to take action on behalf of global girls’ education
Keep learning
It is important to keep learning about human rights, because
there are many violations that occur every day. Learning can help equip people
with the knowledge and tools necessary to stop these violations. It can also
help inspire people to work towards making change. Additionally, it is
essential to learn about human rights in order to better understand the plight
of others and show solidarity.
There are a variety of ways to learn about human rights. One
way is to read books or articles on the subject. Another way is to attend
workshops or seminars. Additionally, there are many online resources that can
be accessed. Finally, it is also important to talk to people who have directly
experienced human rights violations. This can help provide first-hand accounts
and deepen your understanding of the issue. The final thing that can be done to
continue learning about human rights is to practice everyday actions as if they
were actions designed to support a cause. For example, by turning off
electronics when not in use, one could lower their carbon footprint.
Alternatively, by wearing clothes made from organic cotton you can reduce
pesticides and contribute less waste into landfills. By practicing any small
act like this you are demonstrating solidarity for all those fighting for human
rights all over the world. Not only does this make you feel good about
yourself, but it will make a difference. People living abroad might rely on
imported products such as clothing. If you choose to buy locally produced goods
instead, then local textile industries will grow and people working in them
won't need to migrate elsewhere for economic reasons. When buying items such as
coffee or tea in cafes, don't take a disposable cup. Bring your own reusable
mug so that the cafe doesn't need to spend money disposing of garbage
afterwards. To make an even bigger impact, advocate for affordable housing near
public transportation options so that more people can get jobs without needing
a car which would cause more pollution and traffic congestion. Join the fight!
Sign petitions demanding accountability for human rights violations, donate to
organizations dedicated to the protection of human rights, volunteer at local
shelters and soup kitchens, vote for politicians who pledge themselves to
upholding the tenets of international law, lobby your local representatives.
Sign petitions demanding accountability for human rights
violations
Donate money to organizations dedicated to protecting human
rights
Volunteer time at shelters and soup kitchens
Vote for politicians committed to upholding international
law
Lobby your representatives
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