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Each year on December 10, we observe Human Rights Day as a way to honor the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The declaration sets out a broad range of fundamental rights and freedoms to which all people are entitled, establishing equality and dignity for every person. This document served as a blueprint for international, national, and local laws and policies, as well as a vital framework for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As the 2030 agenda promises to “leave no one behind”, human rights commitment and support must be prioritized in order to accomplish such a goal.
HUMAN RIGHTS AS A FORCE FOR GOOD
By embracing the full power of human rights, we can collectively work toward a more peaceful, equal, and sustainable world, as they play a critical role as a preventative, protective, and transformative force for good. In other words, human rights can help avoid violations, protect against abuses, and lead to significant social change. This year, the UN is championing the theme “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now,” spotlighting pressing global issues while showcasing impactful solutions and success stories. The goal is to inspire action, challenge misconceptions, and rally collective support to strengthen the global movement for human rights.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND BUSINESS
Despite ongoing conversations about human rights, challenges like child labor and wage inequality persist in many parts of the world. With this, the private sector should respond and react since business is associated with these challenges as well as people in many different ways, from workers to customers to community members. Although there are various ways private sectors can respond, the UN has provided frameworks that are globally recognized, such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). These principles outline corporate responsibilities to respect human rights, prevent abuses, and address any harm caused by business operations. For example, Unilever has adopted the UNGPs to identify key human rights issues within their organization. With external reviews and expert consultations, they updated their priorities to include issues like bullying and harassment, fair wages, and freedom of association and collective bargaining—demonstrating how businesses can take meaningful action.
Today, we faced a tough reality in which human rights are under assault. To secure a bright future ahead of us, we must act now, as human rights are essential for everyone. As private sectors, we can defend human rights and ensure respect for them by implementing the UNGPs to address human rights impacts in operations and supply chains. Business should also consider outside parties, the local communities, to advocate for human rights, as every party is equally important for building stable and strong societies for the future.
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