We must stand up for all rights

On Human Rights Day, we face a harsh truth.

Human rights are under assault. Tens of millions of people are mired in poverty, hunger, poor health and education systems that have not yet fully recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Global inequalities are running rampant. Conflicts are intensifying. International law is willfully ignored. Authoritarianism is on the march while civic space is shrinking. Hateful rhetoric is fueling discrimination, division and outright violence. And women’s rights continue to be rolled back in law and practice.

This year’s theme reminds us that human rights are about building the future — right now.

All human rights are indivisible. Whether economic, social, civic, cultural or political, when one right is undermined, all rights are undermined.

We must stand up for all rights — always. Healing divisions and building peace. Tackling the scourges of poverty and hunger. Ensuring health care and education for all. Advancing justice and equality for women, girls and minorities. Standing up for democracy, press freedoms and workers’ rights. Promoting the right to a safe, clean healthy and sustainable environment. And defending human rights defenders as they carry out their vital work.

The recently adopted Pact for the Future reinforced the world’s commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

On this important day, let’s protect, defend and uphold all human rights for all people.

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Today marks the 76th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Adopted in the wake of the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust, the Convention is a pledge to the victims and survivors of genocide to ensure that these atrocities never occur again.

Tragically, in a world plagued by division, mistrust and violence, the dark specter of genocide is still with us.

In the name of the victims and survivors of genocide, all governments must ratify and fully implement the Convention, holding perpetrators to account.

We must strengthen the tools of prevention, including education and countering mis- and disinformation that can fuel hate speech and genocidal intent and action.

We must respect and implement decisions of the International Court of Justice on the application of the Convention.

And we must do everything possible to identify early warning signs and sound the alarm.

The best way to honor the victims and survivors of genocide is to ramp up action to prevent this atrocious crime.

(United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ video message on Human Rights Day on 10 December 2024 and message on the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime on 9 December 2024.)