GI-ESCR strategically engages with select media platforms to underscore the paramount significance of upholding the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (DUDH).

The Op-Ed by our Executive Director reflects on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), emphasising the ongoing global challenges. Hernán Santa Cruz's call to "cooperate or perish" resonates amid the extreme suffering caused by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The UDHR, born out of the atrocities of war, envisioned a world where freedom, speech, and belief are upheld. It aligned with the UN Charter's goals of preventing war, fostering social progress, and improving living standards. Despite being aspirations, these goals face challenges, with global solidarity seemingly diminishing.

Current crises include unprecedented inequality, climate emergencies, receding civic space, the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, and the risk of new epidemics. Women and girls bear disproportionate suffering, evident in conflicts like the attacks in Gaza. Wars create widows, leaving women as sole providers, struggling for survival.

Even after 75 years, gender equality remains elusive, and the UN warns of escalating poverty for millions of women and girls. The pursuit of a decent life is hindered without global agreements that restore moral and legal foundations based on human rights, multilateralism, democracy, and a rules-based global order. Upholding the principles of the UN Charter and the UDHR is crucial for all nations, as these shared values and norms are integral to a just international system.

The full article in various languages and echoed by various media outlets around the world is available here.