Human Rights Begin at Home: Remembering the Women Who Shaped the UDHR
“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home,” quoted Anna Fierst, recalling the words of her great-grandmother, Eleanor Roosevelt, from a 1958 speech. Roosevelt emphasized the role of ordinary citizens in advocating for human rights within their communities—schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
Fierst continued, stressing that unless these rights hold meaning at a local level, they have little significance elsewhere. She highlighted the ongoing necessity of the rule of law and civil society efforts in defending human rights today.
—
Progress with Challenges
Fierst noted that if Eleanor Roosevelt had lived to 140, she would not be surprised by the fluctuating progress of women’s rights since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948.
However, Roosevelt would likely be disappointed to see how people have increasingly “hidden behind technology.” The former First Lady and renowned human rights advocate avoided the telephone and television during her lifetime, believing that “when people get on TV, they stop talking to each other.”
Eleanor Roosevelt was one of several influential women honored at the Women Who Shaped the Universal Declaration of Human Rights event. Organized by the UN Department of Global Communications and the UN Human Rights Office (PLACEHOLDER9fb715e844449aac), the discussion took place alongside the Commission on the Status of Women (PLACEHOLDER7415886820a3545f), which concluded in New York.
Among the featured figures was Gertrude Mongella, Secretary-General of the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. The Beijing conference was a landmark moment for advancing gender equality and significantly influenced the agenda of the CSW.
—
‘Mama Beijing’ and the Ongoing Journey
Known as “Mama Beijing,” Mongella reflected on the progress made since the historic decisions of 1995. She highlighted how today’s women have broken taboos and assumed leadership roles once considered unattainable—such as serving as defense ministers.
“We are walking. We must keep walking. Sometimes progress slows when you've traveled a long distance, but you cannot stop,” she said, emphasizing the continued need to challenge outdated norms and laws.
Despite these advances, nearly a quarter of governments worldwide reported setbacks in women’s rights in 2024. According to UN Women's latest report, Women’s Rights in Review 30 Years After Beijing, discrimination has increased, legal protections have weakened, and funding for women’s support programs has declined.
—
India’s Trailblazing Diplomat
Another pioneering woman recognized was Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, who, in 1953, became the first female President of the UN General Assembly. She shattered multiple barriers, serving as both India’s first ambassador to the United Nations and its first ambassador to the Soviet Union.
Pandit was a staunch advocate for women’s health and education. At the height of her influence, she was so famous that restaurant patrons eagerly sought her autograph—while Hollywood star James Cagney sat unnoticed beside her, recounted historian Manu Bhagavan from Hunter College and the City University of New York.
In 1975, Pandit was placed under house arrest for opposing her cousin, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s decision to declare a state of emergency and suspend constitutional rights. Undeterred, she emerged as a fierce critic of authoritarianism, helping to restore democracy in India.
“She came roaring out of house arrest, campaigned against Gandhi, and reversed the rise of authoritarianism,” said Bhagavan. “A powerful lesson in what is possible, what remains necessary, and how to move forward.”
The discussion also featured Rebecca Adami, Associate Professor at Stockholm University. Her research on the founding mothers of the UDHR contributed to a UN exhibition celebrating their legacy.
Listen to her insights on these trailblazing women in this audio interview from 2018.
Leave a Reply