Rights are the answer. It’s up to us to act

Rights are the answer.

It’s up to us to act.

Human rights are at the heart of everything we value: the right to life, freedom, and equality. The right to health and education. The right to work, rest, and have a family. Access to justice, physical integrity, freedom from torture, and the right to development. And now, we recognize the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. We need to achieve human rights to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights gave humanity more than just principles and legal norms – it provided a tool, a solution, and a roadmap for building a peaceful, prosperous world.

Today, we see clear evidence that nations safeguarding human rights are less vulnerable to conflicts and crises. Where conflict rages, we are witnessing shocking and systematic violations of human rights in places like Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine.

Where human rights are respected and protected, communities are more resilient to shocks, from pandemics to climate change. Countries that embed human rights into development and reduce poverty and inequality. Businesses that adopt socially responsible practices often perform better financially.

“Development powered by human rights remains perhaps the most compelling ‘exit strategy’ from conflict, crisis – and uncertainty – across the world.” Achim Steiner,
UNDP Administrator

For human rights to be a universal reality enjoyed by all people, everyone must play a role: leaders, governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals. Laws, policies and practices must be built on a foundation of human rights.

UNDP believes this vision is achievable. We work with partners in more than 170 countries to turn human rights into a reality for all.

Human rights are a tool to:

Fight Climate Change

Human rights empower communities to defend their environment and support climate action. With UNDP’s support, countries are strengthening environmental laws, involving communities in decision-making, and addressing ecological damage. Communities protect their natural resources and promote a sustainable future.

Georgia improved access to justice for communities suffering from environmental grievances through a specialized training on environmental justice, which is part of the judicial training curriculum. The first cohort of trainer-judges on environmental justice was formed, and 34 judges, including 22 women, improved their expertise through UNDP-led training sessions. A campaign to raise awareness on environmental justice has reached 326,000 people, empowering communities affected by environmental threats from businesses and large-scale economic activities.
In Bolivia, UNDP is partnering with the Ombudsman’s Office to help Indigenous communities report environmental harm through a mobile app, advancing human rights protections in the Amazon and other vulnerable regions. Four Tacana communities developed three protocols on water contamination, environmental governance and environmental justice. Community members can now report pollution or illegal logging quickly.

Human rights are a tool to:

Empower women

Human rights enable women to overcome barriers to equality and safety. UNDP’s work in legislative reform, justice, and data-driven responses to gender-based violence creates safer, more inclusive communities where women can live free from fear and fully participate in society.

In Tanzania, through the Gender Justice Platform, UN Women and UNDP, launched the first national Gender Bench Book on women’s rights, in collaboration with the Tanzania Women Judges Association. Translated into Swahili, it’s a reference for the judiciary on the rights of women and girls. Local-level consultations informed the development of an action plan to protect vulnerable groups, including through legislative changes.
In Malawi, UNDP supported the Observatory Hub, a case management system that collects and analyzes data on sexual and gender-based violence from the Ministry of Gender, Judiciary and Police. This provided 12,020 women and girls with expedited justice and helped justice officials identify interventions for improved legislation and resource allocation. By tracking cases more effectively, this system enables faster justice for survivors and helps authorities allocate resources to areas most in need, making communities safer for women and girls.

Human rights are a tool to:

Prevent crises

Human rights data often signals potential conflicts before they escalate. UNDP supports countries to establish national human rights institutions and other types of early-warning systems.

In Nigeria, UNDP and OHCHR through the TriPartite Partnership, supported the National Human Rights Commission launched a Human Rights Dashboard and Observatory to improve real-time tracking of human rights violations and to support those affected by conflict. This system allows for quick response to emerging issues, prevent small problems from escalating into major conflicts.

Human rights are a tool to:

Promote responsible business

Businesses play a crucial role in upholding human rights. UNDP supports the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, guiding businesses and governments to protect workers, communities, and the environment, and helping create economies that respect human rights.

UNDP is supporting Ukraine’s government to implement its Business and Human Rights commitments outlined in its National Human Rights Strategy, analyzing the adherence of businesses with the UNGPs, and providing direct support to businesses. More than 900 people have been trained online on “Business and Human Rights”, 256 companies have received guidance on improving their human rights practices, over 100 persons have improved their knowledge, and 71 people have completed the online course on heightened human rights due diligence. This helps businesses understand their responsibilities in protecting workers and communities, even amid challenging contexts, fostering more ethical business practices.

Human rights are a tool to:

Drive Development

Human rights data guides effective development including pinpointing gaps in access to justice. By gathering and analyzing data on issues like gender-based violence and environmental impacts and using human rights recommendations from mechanisms like the Universal Periodic Review process, UNDP helps countries make informed, inclusive decisions.

In Uzbekistan, UNDP has strengthened the National Preventive Mechanism which has a role to regularly visit places of detention within the Ombudsman’s Office, improving monitoring and reporting in detention facilities. In 2022 alone, the Ombudsman and public groups conducted 381 monitoring visits to places of detention, engaging with over 6,000 individuals collectively. This ensures that detainees are treated with dignity, reduces the risk of abuse, and helps build trust between communities and justice institutions.
In Mozambique, UNDP supports the “Monitoring Forum of the Universal Periodic Review process,” a coalition of nearly 120 NGOs that works with the government to monitor and advocate for the implementation of UPR recommendations. These recommendations provide advice to governments on human rights priorities. This collaboration allows communities to hold authorities accountable and ensures that the voices of vulnerable groups are heard, promoting a fairer and more transparent society.

Human rights are a tool to:

Protect Human Rights Defenders

Human rights defenders often face significant risks in their work. UNDP supports safe and inclusive spaces for human rights defenders, enabling them to advocate safely and continue their vital role in promoting fairness and accountability.

In Asia-Pacific, UNDP created the Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform as a safe space for young climate advocates to lead on climate action. It works with Indigenous youth and human rights defenders to promote rights awareness, digital equity and protect the territories of Indigenous Peoples in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Nepal. This platform allows young advocates to connect, share their experiences, and push for change without fear, helping to safeguard their lands and traditions for future generations.

Human Rights Day is a call on each of us to take action in all areas of our work. In our everyday lives, we can all be champions for human rights.

Know your rights, respect others, support those who fight for justice, and hold leaders accountable.

Engage in change, protect our environment, and stand up for those who are left behind.

Together, let’s act for our common future, our planet, and our rights.

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