MS, Cabinet Secretary for Social
Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip: As we approach Human
Rights Day on 10 December, we re-affirm our commitment to the
principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. This landmark document, adopted by the United
Kingdom in 1948, continues to inspire individuals, communities
and the Welsh Government to protect and promote dignity, freedom
and equality for all.
Sadly, global and national events are a stark reminder that human
rights cannot be taken for granted. In conflict zones we
see civilians endure profound violations of their rights.
Families are torn apart and essential infrastructure destroyed.
Freedoms for women and girls are eroded, including by denying
them basic freedoms like education and basic liberties. These
violations underscore the urgent need for solidarity, protection
and safeguarding of rights across the world.
Here in Wales, we progress our commitment to human rights by
embedding rights into our policies and principles. We are
exploring how to strengthen rights for disabled people and women
with the support of our Legislative Options Working Group.
In November we published the refreshed Anti-racist Wales Action
Plan that sets out the goals and actions we will take to tackle
systemic racism and support ethnic minority people across
Wales.
We remain committed to supporting disadvantaged groups and
proudly continue our Nation of Sanctuary work to support refugees
and asylum seekers. Our aim is tohelp sanctuary seekers to live
in dignity and with respect, building their lives here in Wales
for the benefit of us all. Our Nation of Sanctuary principles
include specific commitments to take a human rights approach in
our work.
Through our Disability Rights Taskforce, we worked with disabled
people and representative groups to co-produce recommendations
for actions which would combat discrimination and eliminate the
barriers that hinder access to rights and inclusion of disabled
people in everyday life. These recommendations are informing
the development of an action plan on disability.
We have published our National Equality Objectives to underpin
the work we are taking forward to make Wales a better place to
live.
The sixteen days of activism to tackle violence against women
ends with Human Rights day. Violence against women is both a
violation of human rights and a profound social injustice
affecting individuals, families and communities across
Wales.
Of course, this issue should not be contained to the sixteen days
of activism. There is still much to be done and I am not
complacent in our approach. It will take all of us in society –
and that includes men and the top levels of leadership – to
tackle violence against women.
On this 76th anniversary of Human Rights Day let's
celebrate once more the enduring value human rights has and call
for human rights for everyone, everywhere.
