-
Women’s suffrage, a global movement that was to secure women the right to vote and participate in public life occurred in the late 1800s and into the early 1900s, with the 1920s having great significance. This movement challenged patriarchal systems and laid the foundation for modern feminism and equal rights. -
The Persons Case, in Canada during 1929 was a constitutional ruling that established the right of women to be appointed to the Senate. It had been initiated by a group of women activists called the Famous Five and it was ruled that women were legally recognized as “persons”. This case became a milestone for women’s legal recognition and also meant that women could no longer be denied rights based on a narrow interpretation of the law. -
The Nuremberg Trials took place in Nuremberg, Germany as that was where many Nazis lived and loved. The trials were to convict Nazi war criminals under any of the following four charges: war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace, and conspiracy. The Nuremberg Trials hold great significance as this was really the first trial where individuals could be identified as war criminals and their actions from WWII did have consequences that would be punishable. -
In the aftermath of World War II, the UN was created to promote peace and to prevent another World War from ever happening again. It worked to maintain security and other objectives including developing friendly relations among countries based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples. The UN works to solve international economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems, while respecting and promoting human rights. -
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN in 1948, and this sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights that are to be universally protected. This has proclaimed rights to life, liberty, equality, and dignity. Although the UDHR is not legally binding, it is widely recognized as having inspired, and paved the way for the adoption of more than seventy human rights treaties, applied today on a permanent basis at global and regional levels. -
The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide codified for the first time the crime of genocide in 1948. It obligates countries to prevent and punish acts committed with the intent to destroy s national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in whole or in part. The adoption of the Genocide Convention marked a crucial step towards the development of international human rights and international criminal law as we know it today. -
The Geneva Conventions, in 1949, are a series of international treaties concluded in Geneva defining humanitarian treatment during war. After World War II, they revised the Geneva Conventions, they codified protections for civilians, prisoners of war, and the wounded. The Geneva Conventions became the core of international humanitarian law, shaping rules of armed conflict. -
The 1951 Refugee Convention established rights of refugees and the legal obligations of states to protect them. It provides the internationally recognized definition of a refugee and outlines the legal protection, rights and assistance a refugee is entitled to receive. It has set principles such as non-refoulement, meaning a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life. This outlines the basic standards for the treatment and protection of refugees. -
Amnesty International, founded in 1961, was founded to campaign for the release of prisoners of conscience and to fight against human rights violations. This quickly gained traction, bringing global attention, leading to expanding its mission to demand the release of political prisoners, fair trials, and the prohibition of torture and the death penalty. Its work helped to popularize the human rights movement and gained recognition with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark U.S. law that aimed to end discrimination based on race, colour, religion, or national origin. It has banned discrimination in schools’ workplaces, and public facilities. The Civil Rights Act became a model for anti-discrimination laws globally and a significant achievement of the American Civil Rights Movement. -
The International Covenant of the Elimination of All Forms of Racism Discrimination, adopted in 1965, entered into force in 1969, commits countries to eliminating racial discrimination and promoting understanding between races and to build an international community free from all forms of racial segregation and racial discrimination. As one of the first UN human rights covenants, it reinforced the principle of equality before the law. -
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted in 1966, but entered into force in 1976, guarantees fundamental freedoms such as the right to life, free speech, fair trial, and freedom of religion. It binds signatory countries to uphold civil and political rights within their jurisdiction. The ICCPR forms part of the International Bill of Human Rights, along with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. -
The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, adopted in 1966 and entered into force in 1976 ensures rights such as education, health, social security, and an adequate standard of living. It focuses on equality and the progressive realization of social and economic well-being for all. This Internation Covenant complements the Internation Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as they both worked to form the International Bill of Human Rights. -
The Human Rights Watch, founded in 1978, emerged as a international nongovernmental organization that investigates and documents human rights violations and advocates for policies to prevent such abuses. Various countries are monitored to ensure that they are not in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its reports have been very influential in shaping policy, accountability, and awareness around human rights crises. -
The Covenant on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, adopted in 1979, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. It defines what discrimination is against women, sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination and ensures women’s full participation in the legal system. This provides the basis for realizing equality between women and men through ensuring women’s equal access to, and equal opportunities in, political and public life. -
The Convention on the Rights of Children, adopted in 1989 and entered into force in 1990, defines the civil, political, economic, and cultural rights of children. It emphasizes that children are independent rights-holders, and they are not just objects that belong to their parents, rather, they are human beings. This Convention went on to become the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history and has helped transform children’s lives. -
On November 9, 1989, it was announced that East Germans would be free to travel into West Germany, starting immediately. Western media inaccurately reported that the border had opened, and crowds gathered quickly on both sides of the Wall. Eventually, passport checked were abandoned and people crossed the border unrestricted. The political, economic and social impact of the fall of the Berlin Wall further weakened the already unstable Eastern German government. -
Apartheid, South Africa’s system of racial segregation, officially ended with the country’s first democratic elections in 1994. Nelson Mandela became president, marking a new era of equality and reconciliation. The end of Apartheid symbolized a major victory for global human rights and racial justice movements. -
The Covenant on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted in 2006, entered into force in 2008, is an international agreement that promotes and protects human rights of people with disabilities. Articles explain what rights people with disabilities have under the Convention. Examples include the right to live free from discrimination and the right to an inclusive education. This international agreement aims to remove barriers to inclusion and to ensure accessibility in all areas of life. -
The UNDRIP, adopted in 2007, establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the dignity and well-being of the Indigenous Peoples of the world and elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to Indigenous Peoples. It acknowledges historical injustices and promotes respect for Indigenous traditions and governance. This declaration is a milestone in Indigenous advocacy and reconciliation efforts worldwide.