On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The Declaration stipulates universal values and international standards of human rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being. This annual date of observance commemorates the day the Declaration was adopted and is an opportunity to emphasize the importance of human rights in realizing the world we want.

Human Rights Day 2022 is the 75^th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 1 states that "all Human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." This year’s Human Rights Day slogan is “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All” and the call to action is #StandUp4HumanRights.

Unfortunately, too many Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC), 2SLGTBQIA and persons with disabilities continue to face workplace barriers and discrimination. Misogyny, xenophobia, racism, sexism and ableism are at the root of these experiences. UFCW Canada activists have publicly denounced these injustices and continue to advocate for changes at all levels of government. These include calls for increased mental health supports, priority access to vaccines, strengthened sick day legislation and access to strengthened employment insurance benefits.

Advancing human rights requires a consistent and intentional approach to addressing the barriers which fuel discrimination at work, and in society at large.

Solutions for combatting oppression through an intersectional lens is critical in dismantling the systems that perpetuate such inequities. In unionized workplaces, collective bargaining is at the cornerstone of defending and upholding workers’ rights. Read the Indigenous Rights and the Workplace Bargaining Guide and Anti-Racism Bargaining Guide.

UFCW Canada believes that workers’ rights are human rights, and our day-to-day work is guided by this principle. To learn more about UFCW’s efforts in the area of human rights, visit our Human Rights, Equity & Diversity webpage. UFCW members and their families can also register on webCampus and take our Human Rights webCampus courses.