Dr Natalia Kanem, the Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),
says the rights of women and girls should be prioritised for a just, equal and prosperous world.
She said this in a statement on Tuesday on the occasion of the Human Rights Day, commemorated globally on
Dec. 10 and has “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now” as theme for the 2024 edition.
According to her, human rights exist to protect everyone from harm and to ensure dignity and inclusion.
She said “peace and prosperity depend on fulfilling human rights.”
Kanem added that 30 years ago, participants at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in
Cairo, Egypt, agreed that inclusive and sustainable development depends on women and girls fully realising their human rights, especially
reproductive rights.
The executive director stated that since then, significant strides have been made toward the achievement of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.
She noted that “today, we celebrate the fact that many more countries have passed laws and invested in services to safeguard bodily autonomy and enable
women and girls to enjoy equal opportunities to thrive.
“More measures are in place than ever before to prevent and respond to Gender-Based Violence (GBV), one of the most pervasive violations of human rights.”
She, however, said that in spite of the progress made, there was still much work to do, emphasising that “millions of women and girls in all their diversities
continue to be denied their fundamental human rights.
“Only 56 per cent of women are able to make their own decisions over their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
“One in three women and girls globally experience GBV during her lifetime.
“In some places, misogyny and discrimination have worsened, leading to rollbacks in legislation, policies and financing.”
Kanem added that crises spurred by conflict, natural disasters or climate change were compounding human rights violations as record numbers of women
and girls are forced to flee their homes.
This, she said, dramatically increases their vulnerability to a range of grievous harms, including sex trafficking, child marriage and other forms of GBV.
On the theme of the commemoration, Kanem said it highlights the relevance of human rights in everyday lives and as the pathway to a better future.
“Today and every day, let us stand up for human rights.
“On this final day in the global campaign of 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, let us stand with those most vulnerable to harm.
“Let us protect the dignity, safety and wellbeing of every woman and girl in all their diversities,” she urged.
She said doing so is the most effective way to build just and equal societies for everyone.