Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Round Table 2: Overcoming Discrimination to Realize Human Rights and Dignity for All

"Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status." (Art.2, Universal Declaration of Human Rights).

People are discriminated against for various reasons including race, color, descent, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, political opinion, social origin, property, disability, birth or any other status. Factors such as violence, impunity, social exclusion and extreme poverty exacerbate the vulnerability of discriminated groups. Human rights treaties and instruments have affirmed the principles of equality and non-discrimination and require that states and non-state actors take affirmative action. However, in practice, many countries continue to allow discrimination. The aim of the rights-based approach to discrimination is to ensure the active participation of discriminated persons, and to empower them and make them actors of change. Recognizing the success of many discriminated groups in claiming their rights and becoming empowered agents of change, this roundtable will highlight their efforts, in particular the actions they have taken through the UN human rights mechanisms. Panelists will also identify strategies for fostering global ethics by forming partnerships across sectors.

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