A Call to Action for Human Rights: The Highest Aspiration, Lecture notes of Human Rights

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The Highest

Aspiration

A Call to Action

for Human Rights

Seventy-five years ago, the United Nations Charter captured the determination of a gener- ation that had suffered global war and depres- sion never again to allow such conditions of human misery to prevail. It reaffirmed “faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women”. A few years later, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights defined those rights more fully. The Declaration was a promise by leaders from every region that they would never relent in their pursuit of fundamen- tal rights and freedoms. They understood that this would not be an easy task. Over the ensuing decades, massive gains have been made in human rights. Billions of people live safer, longer, more dignified lives. We have covenants spelling out the full range of civil, polit- ical, social, economic and cultural rights; a robust treaty-based system; an institutional architecture for the promotion and protection of human rights and greater awareness of the values and commit- ments underpinning them. The result, writ large, is a common vision of what makes us human: a set of rights that are at once universal and indivis- ible, that balance the individual and the collective, and that inspire us in our pursuit of a better world for all, including future generations. Yet the cause of human rights faces major chal- lenges, and no country is immune. Disregard for human rights is widespread. In many situations around the world, we see egregious and system- atic human rights violations; rampant impunity; rising hate speech, misogyny, exclusion and dis- crimination; social polarization and loss of civility;

THE HIGHEST ASPIRATION

A CALL TO ACTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

“Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have

resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience

of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings

shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from

fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration

of the common people”

• Preamble, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

by António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General

on the occasion of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations

GUIDING PRINCIPLES \ Human rights are universal and indivisible. We must see human rights with a vision that speaks to each and every human being and encompasses all rights: economic; social; cultural; civil and political. \ Our efforts must be characterized by the highest standards of integrity, impartiality and inde- pendence, based on evidence and norms, and guided by the voices of those whose rights are affected. \ Our purpose is, above all, to have a positive impact. This means being open to all available channels and opportunities to engage. There is a place for negotiations behind the scenes, a place for building and strengthening national capacities, a place for supporting different stakeholders, and a time when speaking out is essential. \ Human rights and human dignity will never be realized without a special emphasis on the human rights of women. Realizing gender equality underpins every element of this Call to Action. \ Human diversity is an asset, not a threat. We must appreciate the richness of our differ - ences while never losing sight of our common humanity and dignity. Every community, in- cluding minorities and indigenous peoples, must feel that its identity is respected and that it can fully participate in society as a whole. Every individual is entitled to enjoy human rights without discrimination on any basis, even as we also recognize that age, gender and diver- sity shape their experiences and must be taken into account in our responses. \ Climate change is the biggest threat to our survival as a species and is already threatening human rights around the world. Addressing it must remain among our top priorities. \ Human rights and human dignity are critical to defining governance and ethics for the future, including inter-generational justice. \ Human rights are the glue that binds us but only if we commit to meaningful dialogue, includ- ing with those who question or disagree, and to more effective communication about the positive impact, making a stronger case for each and every right, as well as for the universality and inherent interdependence of all human rights. \ Realizing human rights is anchored in national ownership yet linked globally. It requires broad and sustained engagement with states, civil society and other stakeholders, and is intrinsi- cally linked to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. \ Within the United Nations, human rights must be fully considered in all decision-making, oper- ations and institutional commitments. \ Our overall intention is to strengthen UN leadership in advancing the cause of human rights, to make the human rights system responsive and innovative in confronting human rights chal- lenges, and to enhance synergies between human rights and all pillars of the work of the United Nations.

between my office and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in follow up to the Call to Action. It is important to under- line that human rights are the responsibility of each and every United Nations actor and that a culture of human rights must permeate every- thing we do, in the field, at regional level and at Headquarters. I look in particular to our leaders in the field, including Heads of Mission and Resident Coordinators, to play their part. I also look forward to working with all Governments and partners to bring this Call to Action to life and thereby help all people, in all countries, achieve, in the words of the Universal Declaration, this “high- est aspiration” of all humankind. RIGHTS AT THE CORE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT When we take a human rights-based approach to development, the outcomes are more sus- tainable, powerful and effective. This is why human rights permeate the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] are underpinned by economic, civil, cultural, political and social rights, as well as the right to development. In their universality and indivisibility, as well as their strong emphasis on equality and inclusion, these Goals echo the spirit as well as the letter of our human rights commitments. They not only imagine a world in which the material conditions exist for people to attain their rights but also a world in which people are empowered to par- ticipate actively in decisions that affect them. Moreover, when everyone has equal access to opportunity and choice, and can claim their hu- man rights, no one is left behind. This promise obliges us to address inequality in all its dimen- sions and eliminate all forms of discrimination. Nobody’s prospects should be less because of age, gender, or diversity, because of what they look like, where they live, or how they worship, because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We must understand and pay special attention to the specific needs and experiences of young people, people living with disabilities, minorities, indigenous communities, refugees, migrants and other groups facing specific chal - lenges. Moreover, special emphasis needs to be given to those goals that shape people’s lives and future, such as the quest to eradicate pover- ty, provide education for all, in particular for girls, to provide universal healthcare and to ensure the rule of law. With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, we have an agreed roadmap, fresh impetus and new tools to eradicate poverty and to improve the quality of people’s lives, including through the exercise of the full range of rights. The Agenda’s goals and targets correspond overwhelmingly to existing human rights commitments. This means that, in addition to the political commitment made in 2015, we have human rights underpinnings on which to fall back, many already enshrined in na- tional legislation and covered by national human rights institutions. To ensure that we leave no one behind, as we embark on the Decade of Action for the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals, we will:

vigilance. They displace unprecedented num- bers of people both internally and as refugees. We have many concepts of and mandates for protection, including under international human rights, refugee and international humanitarian law. We need to expand and build on what al - ready exists. A common approach begins with a culture that is people-centred, and especially conscious of the specific needs of women and girls. Minorities and indigenous peoples must be protected and treated as equals in their soci- eties, while recognizing the right of all peoples to be different. A common agenda for protec- tion must deliver concrete services to those most often excluded, to the most vulnerable and those with specific needs. Our focus must be on preserving human dignity, preventing hu- man rights violations and responding promptly and effectively when such violations occur. To that end, we will: ACTIONS \ Continue to engage with the Security Council and creatively use the full spectrum of other tools and channels, including leverage with others, to raise awareness, prevent crisis and pro- tect people effectively. \ Develop an agenda for protection for the United Nations system, underpinned by a common understanding of the centrality of protection in our actions. This agenda must take account of the different experiences and protection needs arising from differences in age, gender and diversity. It must further focus on the protection of minorities against any form of discrimina- tion and on the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples. \ Continue to enhance our organizational culture, building upon existing initiatives – including Human Rights Up Front and follow-up to the Rosenthal report – which emphasize prevention, protection and human rights in our awareness, decision-making and programming at field, regional and Headquarters levels. \ In UN mission and non-mission settings, ensure that mandate implementation and/or en- gagement by Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams are informed by a human rights risk and opportunity analysis, including gender specific analysis. In missions that do not have a human rights component, ensure that the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General are provided with the necessary capacity and expertise on human rights. Expand, as neces- sary, the presence of Human Rights Advisers to UN Country Teams.

GENDER EQUALITY AND EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN There is no such thing as human rights for all while half the global population is subject to the levels of violence, misogyny, exclusion, entrenched inequalities, economic disempow- erment, and multiple forms of discrimination that many women and girls face every day. Violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive human rights violations global- ly. Women should have the same prospects and opportunities as men. And yet no country in the world has attained full gender equality. Globally, we are witnessing a pushback against the reali- zation of human rights of women, alarming levels of femicide, attacks on women human rights de- fenders, as well as laws and policies that discrim- inate. Misogyny is a common feature of violent extremism. Persistent gaps and stagnation are clear in women’s participation in political leader- ship roles, peace and security and economic em- powerment. This regression in the realization of the human rights of women is fundamentally po- litical. It is about power. The promotion and pro- tection of human rights of women in all spheres of work must be understood as foundational to the values and goals of the UN, not as a simple add-on to existing efforts. For too long, policies and laws have been shaped largely through the experiences of one half of humanity. This has af- fected not just the rights of individuals, but ulti- mately the very way in which we have constructed institutions, framed problems, and sought global solutions. Rectifying this requires a shift in think- ing, so that we consciously build socio-econom- ic, governance and security systems that work for all. The work starts within. To that end, we will: ACTIONS \ Engage with and support Member States on policies and legislation that promote gender equality and equal rights for women, including, in particular, repealing discriminatory laws and enacting positive laws, eliminating violence against women and girls in all spheres, ensuring sexual and reproductive health and rights, and striving for women’s equal representation and participation in all spheres. \ Ensure that the agenda for protection proposed in section two of this Call to Action addresses systemic and inter-related discrimination against women; creates adequate protection ap- proaches for women human rights defenders; and strives to eliminate violence against women in all spheres. \ Apply a gender lens to everything the United Nations does, including our engagement with Member States and our internal decision-making. The purpose of such a lens is to make visible elements for analysis that are often overlooked. For example: what are the gendered power

ACTIONS \ On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and building on positive partici- pation by civil society in climate negotiations and the Sustainable Development Goals, launch a dialogue on more systematic participation of civil society in United Nations bodies and agencies, with special attention to women’s rights organizations and young people. \ Design a system-wide strategy on civic space and adequate guidance to UN leaders in the field along with mechanisms to: (i) positively engage with interlocutors to promote and pro- tect civic space; (ii) respond to undue restrictions on civic space; and, (iii) protect the space for different stakeholders to express their views. \ Review and strengthen United Nations tools that aim to empower civil society, protect civic space and encourage participation by all groups in democratic processes. \ Ensure that Resident Coordinators, UN Country Teams and heads of United Nations peace op- erations develop partnerships with civil society organizations to contribute to an enabling en- vironment for civic space, including for women’s organizations and women’s rights defenders. \ Increase UN support at field level for the promotion of laws and policies that protect the right to equal participation and civic space, including a free and independent media – a foundation of open, democratic societies and most critical at a time when citizens demand accountability. RIGHTS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS, ESPECIALLY CLIMATE JUSTICE The promises made in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration were explicitly to future as well as current generations. And yet we risk breaking those promises. The climate emergency threatens the rights and dignity not only of millions of people worldwide but also of people not yet born. It threatens the very survival of some Member States, especially small island developing countries. Our children and grandchildren will enjoy far few- er of their fundamental rights, individually and collectively, if we do not act. And they are already speaking to us through the young people of today. They are asking, indeed demanding, today’s deci- sion-makers to come up with concrete commit- ments, solutions, and real action. The window of opportunity to act is closing rapidly. Action must be at all levels and by all actors in society. States must take urgent steps to reduce environmental

degradation and protect those who raise their voices to press for such action. Parliaments have a special duty to oversee executive action on this existential issue, to adopt legislation to pro- tect the environment and to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. As illustrated by a number of recent landmark decisions, judiciaries are increasingly called upon to promote a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. The private sector must take far more steps to limit the negative impact of their activities on the environ- ment. Finally, we must create space for the younger generation to participate in shaping their own fu- ture. Building on my recent Climate Summit, we will: ACTIONS \ In the context of including civil society voices in UN bodies and agencies, create space for young people to participate in shaping the decisions that will affect their future, including but not limited to climate change. \ Consider ways of more fully involving a wider array of stakeholders in policy processes concerning climate action; this could include, for example, providing opportunities for cities to participate and considering how to take account of future generations in decision-making. \ Increase United Nations support to Member States at field level for laws and policies that regulate and promote the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and for effective individual access to justice and effective remedies for environment-related concerns. \ Further strengthen the UN’s partnership with the business sector to ensure that self-regula- tory practices related to the protection of the environment and measures to address climate change are adopted and applied, in the context of wider regulatory frameworks. \ Increase United Nations support to Member States at field level for the development of pro- tection mechanisms for human rights defenders and environmental activists, particularly young people, women and girls. \ Advocate for children and young people to receive an education that prepares them for the fu- ture they face and, in this connection, for the development of climate change related curricula at all levels of primary and secondary education.

NEW FRONTIERS OF HUMAN RIGHTS The digital age has opened up new frontiers of human welfare, knowledge and exploration. Digital technologies provide new means to advocate for, defend and exercise our rights. Advances in medicine and science hold enor- mous promise for prolonging and improving our lives. And while we continue to advocate that human rights apply online, new technologies are too often used to violate rights, especially of people who are already vulnerable or being left behind, for instance through surveillance, repression, cen- sorship, online harassment – especially of human rights defenders – and potentially diminished social protection as a result of the digitization of welfare systems. Advances in technologies, such as facial recognition software, robotics, digital identification and biotechnology, must not be used to erode human rights, deepen inequality or exacerbate existing discrimination. Artificial intel- ligence [AI] is a tool that can amplify the impact of each of these technologies and that is increas- ingly applied to life-critical areas such as medi- cine. Its governance needs to ensure fairness, accountability, explainability and transparency. In the security sphere, we must ensure that auton- omous machines are never given lethal capacity outside human judgment or control. I continue to call for a global prohibition on lethal autonomous weapon systems. ACTIONS \ In the face of persistent disregard for human rights, take every opportunity to communicate the importance of international law and principles and make a concerted effort to ensure pre- dictable and consistent UN responses thereto, including accountability mechanisms. \ Increase our support to Member States, including through enhanced capacity-building efforts to national and regional human rights institutions and mechanisms. \ Ensure that the UN makes fuller use of its human rights tools and entry points, including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), as a basis for meeting the challenges, opportunities, and needs of the 21st century and for implementation of the 2030 Agenda. \ Regularly provide human rights analysis and information to the Security Council and the General Assembly on current and potential human rights and humanitarian crises. \ Develop a funding strategy to provide financial stability for the international human rights sys- tem, including the human rights treaty bodies. \ Issue practical guidance to ensure that UPR recommendations are taken into consideration in UN engagement with all Member States at Headquarters and field levels.

ACTIONS \ Advocate for the application of the human rights framework to the digital space, based on the recommendations of the High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation. \ Promote effective data protection and the right to privacy, particularly where personal and health-related data are concerned. \ Work with business to apply the 2011 UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and specifically with social media companies to understand and respond to concerns about existing or potential human rights violations, including by working with civil society and human rights defenders to prevent or quickly redress such violations. \ Continue to advocate for a ban on lethal autonomous weapon systems. \ Develop a roadmap for implementation of the recommendations of the High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation, including for the purpose of embedding human rights values and consid- erations in an improved global digital cooperation architecture. While the application of human rights online and in life sciences can never be in question, we owe ourselves and future generations a frank discussion about the challenges and opportuni- ties of protecting and advancing human rights, human dignity and human agency in the digital age. The independent High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation has pointed the way, highlighting some critical questions that arise. It calls for universal internet connectivity, digital capacity building and mechanisms to improve digital trust and security. The aim is a world in which everyone benefits from these profound advances and new frontiers. To that end, we will: