Hope for International Human Rights found in local courage and activism: An International Human Rights Day reflection
Last year, I struggled to write a reflection on International Human Rights Day. This year, finding words feels even more difficult. Unbelievably, the world has become more hostile to human rights and human rights defenders. We are witnessing escalating human rights violations, gender-based violence, genocide, growing authoritarianism and misogyny, rising inequality and shrinking civic space. States and duty bearers have allowed impunity to prevail by undermining the UN and multilateral institutions, and the very declarations, conventions and laws created for accountability and human rights protections.
The loudest and most dominant voices call for militarization over peacebuilding, economic development over climate justice, pipelines over Indigenous rights, border security over migrant rights. Human rights are being traded for a hollow vision of security and economic gain, one that excludes and endangers most of humanity and the very ecosystems that make life possible.
Meanwhile, our appeals for human rights, respect for international law, human dignity and justice are too often ignored or dismissed, considered too soft – or perhaps too human – to merit serious consideration, despite compelling evidence and clear legal obligations. The words to describe what we are witnessing – heartbreaking, appalling, shocking, devastating, unprecedented, egregious, genocidal – seem somehow overused, emptied out by repetition. No words seem strong to hold the magnitude of the human rights abuses unfolding for countless people world-wide.
So, where do we find the conviction in the universal and inherent rights of all people and the hope to continue to demand these rights?
As usual, I turn to partners and colleagues, human rights defenders, peacebuilders, Indigenous organizations, environmental groups, churches, migrant justice groups in Canada and globally who continue, against these indescribable conditions, to believe in, defend and protect their rights and those of others, including the rights of nature and environment.
Today also marks the end of 16 Days of Activism for Gender-Based Violence, which began on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This year, under the banner, acts of activism – both small and large, KAIROS has shared daily blogs and videos from women peacebuilders and land defenders, Indigenous women, migrant women, gender-diverse people and male allies. During the past 16 days, I have had the privilege of reading and hearing these acts of courage, healing and leadership, and their individual and collective power to ignite change.
It is here where we can find courage, inspiration and hope, and a fervent conviction in human rights. The truth is, human rights have always been upheld by the everyday acts of people, individually and collectively, who refuse to look away from injustice, who organize, who speak out, who accompany one another.
And it is these diverse voices from colleagues, partners, communities and movements that inform, strengthen and inspire us to speak out and continue to work for human rights, dignity and justice.
I encourage you to listen, watch and read these blogs if you haven’t already.
Here, I share a sample to inspire you to act and speak out for human rights:
Silvia Vasquez-Olguin, Global Partnerships Coordinator, Latin America and Gender Justice, calls on us to celebrate the seemingly small acts of activism and care:
“Let’s celebrate the everyday acts of activism that make us human. Against the odds – in this culture of individualism and the disheartening moments of pain and disillusionment – we still believe that living on this planet requires acts of care.”
Patricia Mungcal, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, derives hope from the collective activism of grassroots movements demanding accountability and planting seeds for justice:
“In the face of the climate crisis, in the face of a world of violence, there are people who are telling the truth: there are people who have steadfast optimism that change is possible and change starts from the ground.”
Kelly Campo from the Organización Femenina Popular, Colombia, speaks about how her organization, for 53 years, has defended human rights and peace in the region, protecting life, land and biodiversity:
“The historical role that we women human rights defenders have played, as guardians of life, defenders of the land and protectors of biodiversity is a cornerstone in the construction of peace.”
Brandi Bilodeau, Indigenous Rights Coordinator at KAIROS, names the fundamental connection between violence against the land and violence against Indigenous peoples, the failure of world leaders to recognize this, and yet the steadfast conviction of Indigenous peoples to show up and speak truth:
“16 Days are not just about awareness. They are about the connections that so many people still don’t see – violence against the land is violence against us. Watching global leaders talk about climate action while Indigenous voices fight to be heard, it’s heartbreaking, and it’s also a reminder of why we keep showing up.”
Leah Shifferaw, Team Lead, Migrant Justice Program at KAIROS, reflects on how sharing our stories becomes a collective act of resistance – disrupting the prevailing culture of gender-based violence and discrimination.
“These stories are more than a testimony; they are acts of resistance. Every time a young woman shares her story, she is disrupting the culture of silence that gender-based violence and discrimination rely on.”
Today, on International Human Rights Day, strengthened by everyday acts of activism and the courage of our partners and colleagues, we affirm our commitment to human rights as universal, inalienable, indivisible, inherent and interdependent. And we again call on the Government of Canada to step up, to demonstrate real leadership by defending and speaking up for human rights, here at home and across the globe.
After all, these rights are not abstractions or texts to be traded or negotiated away in the name of defence, prosperity and control. They are lived, nurtured and defended every day in communities around the world. For the future of humanity and the planet, Canada and governments everywhere must listen, understand and follow their lead.
By Rachel Warden, Partnerships Manager
