December 10, 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Equipop and numerous civil society organizations around the world emphasize that this founding text remains more relevant than ever in defending the rights of all. This anniversary is an opportunity to recall that it is essential to address human rights issues through a feminist lens.
On December 10, 1948, in Paris, theUnited Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human (UDHR). The text, which has since been incorporated into numerous international commitments, remains, three quarters of a century later, (UDHR). Three quarters of a century later, the text, which has since been incorporated into numerous international commitments, remains the global benchmark for freedom, equality, and the protection of every person's rights. To mark this anniversary, Equipop and 278 civil society organizations from around the world are publishing a joint statement to reaffirm our commitment to "upholding the universality of rights." While the date chosen is of course symbolic, the principle we uphold is anything but symbolic. Although simple, it is fundamental: "all human beings, no matter who they are or where they are, are entitled to the full realization of all their rights without discrimination." Our civil society organizations around the world, which are working to make this principle a reality, call on States to "support this bold and inclusive vision at the UN and in regional multilateral organizations, as well as in their own countries, by aligning laws and policies to respect, protect, and fulfill all human rights for all."
Disguised or direct attacks on human rights
In multilateral spaces, human rights are constantly under attack by anti-rights organizations and actors. To advance their agenda, they manipulate UN language related to human rights, such as "right to life" and "sanctity of the family." The goal is to undermine the progress that has been made, particularly in the areas of women's rights and LGBTQIA+ rights. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the UDHR, the conservative government of Guatemala sponsored the Transatlantic Summit, an event organized at the UN in New York by several anti-rights movements. The stated goal of "celebrating human rights by restoring the original meaning of the UDHR" reflects this rhetoric, when in reality it is a straightforward challenge to fundamental human rights for gender equality. Human rights defenders are experiencing this backlash in many contexts, whether in the digital space or in international institutions. Anti-rights movements are seeking, in particular, to have feminist organizations stripped of their observer status at the UN or within the African Union.
Fighting backlash collectively
It is therefore necessary to strengthen international mobilization and create alliances to protect these rights and the activists who work to defend them. Equipop has been contributing to this effort on several levels for a long time. Around this 75th anniversary, we are doing so in three areas in particular. On November 21, we organized a conference in Geneva on the topic of "Facing backlash: Promoting sexual and reproductive rights and health in multilateral spaces"It brought together a diverse range of actors from the Geneva ecosystem, such as the permanent representations of France, Spain, and Mexico, as well as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and civil society activists and organizations. Equipop also participated in a round table discussion during the third edition of Social Rights Night, organized on December 9 by the Rosa Luxembourg Foundation and the Civic City association. We proposed avenues for collective action to protect human rights in the face of backlash. As a member of the Human Rights Platform, we will also be organizing a masterclass on December 14 to alert civil society actors to the phenomenon of backlash and anti-rights movements, and to raise awareness of the work of activists on these issues, particularly in West Africa.
