“Despite significant improvements over the past century, women and girls are still discriminated against to some degree in all societies and to a great degree in many.”

Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

December 10th, Human Rights Day, marks the 61st anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations. Celebrations occurred around the world with speeches calling for the end of discrimination, citing women and girls as principle victims. The organization’s website quoted leaders of several UN organizations.

In Baghdad, [Secretary-General] Ban’s Special Representative Ad Melkert called on all Iraqis to respect each others’ political rights, as well as cultural, religious, ethnic and gender differences, singling out the status of women. “Violence against women cannot be seen in isolation from discrimination against them,” he said.

In Kabul, too, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) stressed that eight years after the end of Taliban rule, women still face growing challenges in public life and have limited access to justice. “Life in public spaces for Afghan women is shrinking and gender-based violence is still widespread and deeply rooted in Afghan society,” UNAMA human rights chief Norah Niland said.

And in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay deplored the fact that discrimination is still rampant 61 years after the Declaration’s adoption. “Women work two-thirds of the world’s working hours and produce half of the world’s food, yet earn only 10 per cent of the world’s income and own less than one per cent of the world’s property,” she said, also citing discrimination plaguing ethnic, racial and religious minorities, refugees and migrants.

A half a world away in Washington UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Thoraya Obaid was awarded the UN Association for the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) Louis B. Sohn Human Rights Award for her deep commitment to the belief that women’s rights are human rights.

“What makes it [the award] more significant for me is that I am receiving it on Human Rights Day,” she said. “Such an honour will only make me, and UNFPA, more committed to promoting the human rights of women and girls who still face gender discrimination and violence, to advancing their empowerment and gender equality and to ensuring universal access to reproductive health.”

And in Geneva, women from 28 countries convened for a UN-backed symposium entitled The Courage to Lead: A Human Rights Summit for Women Leaders.