Statement on International Human Rights Day: Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now

December 10th marks International Human Rights Day, commemorating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. This historic document established universal human rights standards, affirming all people’s dignity and equality. Since its adoption, the UDHR has inspired international laws and policies that protect and promote human rights, and it continues to drive efforts worldwide to build inclusive and just societies.

This year, we embrace the theme Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now, highlighting the transformative power of human rights as an instrument of change and progress. By recognizing and affirming our inherent dignity as individuals and as a collective, human rights empower us to identify and explore some of the most pressing issues facing our world, considering different experiences and perspectives. It also offers us a pathway forward in the spirit of collaboration and mutual respect.

At McMaster University, we are proud of our role in advancing human rights and social justice by identifying, exploring, and resolving human rights matters within the McMaster community. Universities have historically been at the heart of knowledge generation and social change, fostering critical thought, and advocacy. From opposing apartheid to advancing gender equality and challenging systemic oppression, universities have been pivotal in shaping a more just world. Today, we continue this legacy, by exploring contemporary human rights challenges such as climate justice, digital privacy, and racial and gender equity. Through research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement, McMaster remains dedicated to educating future leaders equipped to address these global issues.

As an institution committed to advancing inclusive excellence, McMaster is dedicated to integrating human rights principles into our curriculum, across a wide array of fields of study. Through courses, workshops, and events, we strive to empower students to recognize and respond to injustices locally and globally, promoting empathy, understanding, and active citizenship.

Our faculty, staff and research teams engage in studies and projects that address critical human rights issues. From social justice and equity to accessibility and combating systemic discrimination, McMaster’s research and collective efforts contribute to the global human rights dialogue, helping drive meaningful change and offering diverse solutions.

While we are proud of our progress, we recognize that human rights work is a constantly evolving and growing practice, requiring deference and centering of Indigenous Peoples and equity-deserving groups. There is still work to be done to eliminate discrimination, inequality, and accessibility barriers. McMaster is dedicated to learning, unlearning, relearning, and endeavouring to address these challenges to ensure all members of our community feel respected and have a sense of belonging.

True progress toward human rights requires collaboration. McMaster is committed to engaging with all key constituents, including students, staff, faculty, and community partners, and fostering shared responsibility for advancing human rights on campus.

On this International Human Rights Day, McMaster University invites each member of our community to join us in advancing human rights. We encourage you to actively participate in events, workshops, and dialogues promoting equity and social justice and actively foster a more inclusive and equitable campus.

Dr. Barrington Walker, Vice Provost, Equity & Inclusion and Professor of History