Since 1950, the United Nations has designated December 10 as Human Rights Day because it commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This year marks the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights’ 20th year in operation. Their theme, 20 Years Working for Your Rights, continues to honour the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted on June 23, 1993 – to further promote and protect the human rights and dignity of people from all over the world.
If history has taught us anything, it is the ability to be defiant during times of strife – from Susan B. Anthony, who in 1846 began the campaign for equal pay for female teachers, to the French revolutionists who refused to eat cake, to the end of the Apartheid in South Africa, when Nelson Mandela was elected President in the country’s first multi-racial democratic election in 1994. These are a few examples where in spite of fear, people stood up for truth, justice and fairness.
Before technology, demands for change were spread through word of mouth and were joined by strangers because they believed in their cause. Their courage was admired. Their acts of defiance have shown activists, that through actions, change for the betterment of people and society is possible.
The image of a man standing up to an army tank as it neared his people showed how one act could inspire millions of young people to stand up to tyranny and injustice. Another example of defiance was by a man, Gandhi, a freedom fighter as he led India to independence from British rule through nonviolent civil disobedience. Across the Atlantic, Rosa Parks, got on a bus, forgot who she was and sat on a seat that was prohibited because of her skin colour. When she was asked to move, she said “no.” This act led to a revolt and history changed, for the better. Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person to be elected to public office, bravely spoke for equal rights for all, regardless of who you choose to love.
Today, OPSEU members are following suit and through the powers of social media, they are asking for more transparency and accountability by:
- fighting to get the minimum wage increased,
- calling for improved working conditions in all sectors,
- raising environmental concerns and lack of job opportunities for youth, and,
- to advocate for the rights of francophones, Aboriginal peoples, people with disabilities, women, racialized workers and members of the LGBTTIQQ2S community.
History has shown that adversity strengthens people. The more people are pushed, the more they are determined to march in the name of SOLIDARITY.