A statement by Carol McBride, President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, to mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights| Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC)

“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (the Declaration) begins by stating in Article 1 that ‘all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights’.

Article 2 lists 30 universal rules for human interaction, including the tenet that rights must be applied equally regardless of ‘race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status’.

These are the principles upon which our human family will find peace, prosperity, and happiness. They are the principles that were interwoven into the mandate of the Native Women’s Association of Canada when it was established nearly 50 years ago.

We know that the Declaration occasionally takes a back seat to greed and imperialism. Its truths are sometimes lost under clouds of racism and oppression. However, it remains a powerful statement that equality is the only path forward.

As the political voice of Indigenous women, girls, Two-spirit, transgender and gender-diverse people in Canada, NWAC has turned to the Declaration many times to demand justice, dignity, and respect - and we will continue to do so.

For 75 years, the Declaration has given us the international tools to ensure our human rights are realized. We must remain vigilant demanding accountability in upholding the Declaration for our women and gender-diverse people and their dignity. There is a lot of work to be done .”

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About The Native Women’s Association of Canada

The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is a national Indigenous organization representing political voices of Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people in Canada. NWAC is inclusive of First Nations—on- and off-reserve, status, non-status, and disenfranchised—Inuit, and Métis. An aggregate of Indigenous women’s organizations from across the country, NWAC was founded on a collective goal to enhance, promote, and foster social, economic, cultural, and political well-being of Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people within their respective communities and Canadian societies.

À propos de l'Association des femmes autochtones du Canada

L'Association des femmes autochtones du Canada (AFAC) est une organisation autochtone nationale qui représente la voix politique des femmes, des filles, des transgenres, des bispirituels et des personnes de sexe différent au Canada, y compris les membres des Premières nations vivant dans les réserves et hors réserve, les Indiens inscrits et non inscrits, les personnes privées de leurs droits, les Métis et les Inuits. Regroupant des organisations de femmes autochtones de tout le pays, l'AFAC a été fondée dans le but collectif d'améliorer, de promouvoir et de favoriser le bien-être social, économique, culturel et politique des femmes autochtones au sein de leurs communautés respectives et des sociétés canadiennes.

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A statement by Carol McBride, President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, to mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights