International Human Rights Day

My Colleague on the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Geraldine Van Bueren has written why we celebrate this day and why the Commission has focused to highlight those advocates who seek to defend the Rights of workers in the public and voluntary sector, and in the community.

When we think of icons of international Human Rights individuals such as Dr Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, or the Burmese campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi come to mind.

Important as they are, it is equally important we recognize the many unsung activists and campaigners who seek to ensure Governments, the police and big business do not abuse or breach the Human Rights that we all have.

Today is a celebration, but it can also be a reminder of how Human Rights are simultaneously international and extremely local. You can find out more about International Human Rights Day on the EHRC website.

Happy Human Rights Day.

Simon Woolley

'All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights'

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Today the Equality and Human Rights Commission joins our fellow human rights defenders around the world to mark International Human Rights Day. This year the United Nations calls on us to celebrate human rights defenders who act to end discrimination.

Human rights defenders speak out against discrimination, exclusion, oppression and violence. We advocate justice, dignity and respect. We harness individual potential and remove barriers to opportunity. In Britain as elsewhere around the world, human rights defenders can be found in our local communities, our public services and our schools, perhaps more often than we would think. In our day to day work, nurses, teachers, care workers and many other professionals strive to protect and promote the dignity of those they serve.

Today we have chosen to spotlight the role of human rights defenders working in public services and acting as advocates in the voluntary and community sector, without whom the human rights of all of us in Britain would be worse off. We hope that you will be inspired by their commitment to respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of those who are unwell, who are homeless, or who experience barriers related to disability.

We also have messages from political leaders, including the Minister for Human Rights Lord McNally, Shadow Minister for Human Rights Sadiq Khan MP and Chair of the Joint Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights Hywel Frances MP.

The theme of this year's Human Rights Day is an important reminder that the right to equality and the prohibition of non discrimination are human rights. As a national human rights institution we are entrusted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to play a central role in safeguarding and promoting human rights in Britain. Using our powers to promote and enforce equality law is central to - not separate from - this critical human rights role.

As we celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, we reflect on the many things we can be proud of:

• We have launched an Inquiry into the protection and promotion of the human rights of older people receiving or requiring care and support in England
• We have won recognition for individuals seeking asylum based on their sexual orientation
• We have developed guidance on two UN human rights treaties to empower individuals to access their rights, Convention on the Elimination of The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD)
• We are conducting an Inquiry into disability related harassment
• In the present economic climate, we are co-sponsoring pilot projects to explore how the Human Rights Act can be used to tackle poverty, have initiated a review to look at how respect for socio-economic rights might be strengthened and recently announced a s31 assessment regarding the extent to which Government has met its responsibilities to assess the impact on protected groups of decisions contained in the Spending Review.
• We published findings and recommendations of our inquiry into the rights and treatment of migrant and agency workers in the meat and poultry processing sector in England and Wales
• Using our unique legal powers, we intervened in key strategic human rights cases both domestically and in Europe

I invite you to explore these new webpages to see the many other achievements and to be inspired by the work of human rights defenders to bring dignity and respect to the communities we serve.

We very much welcome your comments and views on what the Commission does. We take your views most seriously. Please send your comments to communications@equalityhumanrights.com.

Professor Geraldine Van Bueren
EHRC Commissioner lead on human rights