On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the aftermath of World War II, the international community established, through a declaration aimed at building lasting peace based on universal rights and freedoms, a “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.”
In a world of growing conflicts and crises, Human Rights Day on December 10 gives us an opportunity to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to a shared vision of humanity rooted in common values. When fundamental rights are threatened, all our societies are put at risk.
For this reason, UNESCO has dedicated itself for 75 years to protecting and promoting human rights and human dignity.
UNESCO therefore remains at the forefront of the fight against racism, antisemitism, and all forms of hate and discrimination. The third edition of the Global Forum Against Racism and Discrimination, held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from November 29 to December 1, reinforced this commitment. The forum brought together policy makers, researchers, artists, and members of civil society, enabling them to develop innovative solutions that support racial inclusion, gender equality, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Defending human rights and human dignity also lies at the core of the Organization’s efforts to transform education, which is a universal and fundamental right. UNESCO works not only to ensure schooling for 250 million children, but also to guarantee access to quality education for everyone, including education responsive to the issues of our time.
These efforts go hand in hand with protecting another fundamental right at the heart of democratic societies: freedom of expression. Freedom of expression applies not only to journalists, artists, and creators, but also to scientists, who are increasingly under attack because of their publications. For this reason, UNESCO has developed legal instruments and training programs aimed at strengthening the protection of researchers worldwide and guaranteeing the independence of their work.
The Organization also works to ensure that scientific progress does not come at the expense of human rights or human dignity at a time when scientific and technological developments raise ethical issues vital to peace and stability in our societies.
This is also the reason behind UNESCO’s daily efforts to ensure implementation in the field of its pioneering 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. More than 50 countries are currently working to align their legislation with the Recommendation’s provisions to ensure that human rights, privacy, and gender equality remain at the core of how relevant algorithms function.
Regarding new technologies, UNESCO’s General Conference in November also decided to develop a new standard-setting instrument on the ethics of neurotechnology, opening the possibility of regulation in a field that is as promising as it is full of ethical risks. Therefore, Human Rights Day reminds us that these rights cannot be taken for granted and that their effectiveness requires regular collective commitment. This is the condition for peace and social progress. This is UNESCO’s mission. It is also the essence of its work.
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