Today it is 71 years ago that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in Paris. More than twice as old as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and containing only 30 articles, but when you read them, it is incredibly comprehensive. And yet, at such a venerable age, it is heartbreaking to realise how far we are – in any country at all – from actually truly honouring all the rights listed in that declaration.
On 20 November, we celebrated the 30th birthday of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In the blog I wrote for the occasion (which you can find HERE), I mentioned how impressive the impact of that convention has been. It has caused major shifts in policy, all around the world, in just three decades. And I was predicting a day when the CRC will no longer be seen as something that needs to be pointed out, because its meaning will have been implemented in legislation everywhere and will seem self-evident.
Unfortunately, when I read the Declaration of Human Rights now, I do not get the same feeling of optimism. We are still far from non-discrimination, equal justice and equal pay, and at times it can seem like we are getting further removed from them, rather than coming closer.
This is very worrying, and disturbing. Because when it comes down to it, the Declaration of Human Rights is what lies at the basis of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. When efforts are not made to honour universal Human Rights, what chance do Child Rights and Rights of Persons with Disabilities stand?
Article 9 states that: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. Yet, thousands upon thousands of people, including children, are, in many countries. Article 16, point 3 states: The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State. And yet, instead of supporting and protecting families, children are removed from their families and placed in institutions in many places.
Article 25 states: Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
Article 25 states: 1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. And 2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection. I don’t even know where to start with this one, there are so many aspects to it that are not honoured and that cause children to be taken into care and often into institutions.
Article 26 states: 1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. Since this was incorporated into the CRC as well, a move has been made by many countries to offer this, but that is pretty recent, and we are not there yet.
We have a long way to go still, before we can claim that we honour the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And until we get there, it is essential that we continue to shine a light on what still needs to be done.
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