Human Rights Day: A Time to Reflect and Act Against Intimate Partner Violence
Every year on December 10th, people around the world celebrate and acknowledge Human Rights Day, marking the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The UDHR affirms universal rights to all people, including the right to live free from violence and discrimination—fundamental to the fight against intimate partner violence (IPV).
In Canada, December 10th also holds added significance as the culmination of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign aimed at raising awareness and inspiring action to eliminate gender-based violence. Intimate partner violence is not a personal or private issue—it is a human rights crisis.
Human rights and women’s rights have come a long way in Canada. For instance:
- In 1916, Manitoba became the first province to grant women the right to vote, paving the way for British Columbia and Ontario to follow in 1917.
- In 1929, the Persons Case declared that women were “persons” under Canadian law, allowing them to be appointed to the Senate.
- In the 1980s and 1990s, Indigenous women fought for amendments to the Indian Act that addressed the gendered discrimination causing them to lose status and rights upon marrying non-Indigenous men.
However, there is still a long way to go. IPV continues to affect countless individuals in Canada, disproportionately impacting women, gender-diverse people, and those from marginalized communities. Indigenous women experience rates of violence that are significantly higher than those of non-Indigenous women, due largely to colonialism and systemic racism.
While strides have been made in addressing IPV, such as expanding legal protections and increasing awareness, much more needs to be done to uphold the rights outlined in the UDHR and ensure everyone’s right to live free from violence.
Human Rights Day reminds us that the struggle for justice and basic human rights is ongoing. Every person has a role to play in ending intimate partner violence and advancing the rights of all people. Let us use this day—and every day—to recommit to building a future where everyone can live free from violence and discrimination.
