Statement by Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath on Human Rights Day

All people are born with inalienable human rights.

This is the foundation of all free and democratic societies. It is the responsibility of all of us to work, and to fight, to ensure that these rights are guaranteed and protected for all people – regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, class or age.

This year's Human Rights Day is of particular significance as it celebrates the 50th anniversary of the two International Covenants on Human Rights: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted by the UN in December of 1966. These two Covenants set out the internationally recognized civil, political, cultural, economic and social rights that belong to all people.

We can never take our rights for granted, and Ontario’s New Democrats are proud of the work that we have done – and continue to do – every day to stand up for the rights of all people in this province.

On December 10^th, as we commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, New Democrats join with all people across the province, the country and the globe in saying – ‘Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always.’