December 10, 2010:

a day to celebrate, reflect, and ACT.

December 10^th is Human Rights Day, when we honor the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed on December 10, 1948. This year’s theme is human rights defenders who act to end discrimination.

“Human rights defenders speak out against abuse and violations including discrimination, exclusion, oppression and violence. They advocate justice and seek to protect the victims of human rights violations. They demand accountability for perpetrators and transparency in government action. In so doing, they are often putting at risk their own safety, and that of their families.

Some human rights defenders are famous, but most are not. They are active in every part of the world, working alone and in groups, in local communities, in national politics and internationally.” (The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights)

It is this last point which strikes an important chord…Soroptimists, through awareness, advocacy, and action, are defending the human rights of vulnerable women and girls all over the world. Soroptimists speak out against abuse of women and girls. Soroptimists stand up against discrimination, exclusion, and oppression. They “fight” violence with knowledge, empowerment, and solidarity. As a global voice for women and girls, Soroptimists speak up for those who are silenced, demanding a more just and equitable world. In this way, Soroptimists are truly human rights defenders.

It is true, Soroptimists may not be famous, but they have left their mark on the hearts and lives of all they have served over the past century. In the past year alone, Soroptimists have defended the rights of over 1 million women and girls, from working at community level to ensure that women have safe recourse from abusers to speaking out on the international stage on issues adversely affecting women and girls.

The Soroptimist position papers are collectively titled ‘Where We Stand’ – and on a day where we celebrate, reflect, and call others to actions, Soroptimists are standing UP for the rights of women and girls around the world. Soroptimists are standing OUT ensuring that the voices of those who are silenced are heard. And Soroptimists are standing PROUD of the achievements we have made and the impact we have had.

But we cannot stand STILL. Every day, in every country, every culture, and every community, the rights of women and girls are threatened and violated. Women and girls are discriminated, excluded, and oppressed. Acts of violence are committed without any repercussions. So, while we celebrate the work Soroptimists have done as defenders of human rights, we must also ACT, and continue to take a stand and speak out, to continue to advocate for justice and be a global voice for women and girls.