The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, in response to the Second World War and ongoing colonialism.
The declaration contains 30 articles on human rights that cover a wide range of basic rights. These include the right to form and join trade unions, the right to be free of discrimination based on sex, race, disability, gender and other protected grounds, as well as the right to health, education and equality, among other fundamental rights. These rights are key to binding us together as workers and as a global community.
Hate, white supremacy and far-right political movements are on the rise and human rights are under attack. 2SLGBTQI+, migrant and racialized communities are increasingly being targeted.
Governments are enabling capitalist greed, threatening access to basic needs like food, housing and medical care. Inequity is on the rise in Canada and around the world, driven by cost of living, climate and health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing genocide, war and colonization are causing gross human rights violations. Local and international solidarity are key to ensuring justice and strengthening the global labour movement.
CUPE’s long-standing commitment to human rights recognizes that the struggles for human rights and workers’ rights are deeply connected and that we share common goals with community movements for social justice. Working in coalition and mobilizing in our communities are the most effective ways to fight for change and achieve equity and respect for human rights.
Take action:
- Learn more and educate others with CUPE’s resources on Indigenous, disability, 2SLGBTQI+, anti-racism, migrant justice and women’s issues.
- Invite a human rights defender to speak to members of your local at a virtual or in-person gathering.
- Form a human rights committee in your local.
- Recognize someone in your local or community who has contributed to defending human rights.
- Join local actions against racism, colonialism, homophobia, transphobia, gender-based violence, ableism, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination and violence.