By: Joy Fan
Early Civil Rights Movements (19th Century)
In the 19th century, signs of nondiscrimination movements started to emerge, marking an important transformation in the society towards a more inclusive and equal society. A major event that happened included the 1833 Slavery Abolition Act passed by the British Parliament, which ended slavery in most of the British colonies and set a precedent for the abolitionist movement globally. Following, in 1848, the Seneca Falls Convention, sited in New York, was the first woman’s rights convention. It called for sexual equality in society at large and resulted in 15 resolutions, including women’s rights to vote, helping to ignite women’s suffrage movements in the US and later around the world. Similarly, in 1893, New Zealand became the first self-governing country to grant women the right to vote, marking a key victory in global women’s rights.
Mid-20th Century: Global Human Rights Movements (1940s-1960s)
Adopted by the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 provided a global framework for human rights, enshrining the rights and freedoms of all human beings, entitling all to dignity and equal rights, regardless of race, gender, or nationality. In 1955, the Bandung Conference (Indonesia) was established, the first large-scale meeting for newly independent Asian and African nations. It advocated for solidarity against colonialism, non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, promoting self-determination and equality for all nations. In 1960, there was the African Independence Movements. With more than 30 African countries gaining independence in the 1960s, many took strong stances against racial discrimination and colonial legacies, notably with figures like Kwame Nkrumah and Patrice Lumumba.
Late 20th Century: Expansion of Anti-Discrimination Laws (1970s-1990s)
The 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was another important historical mark of anti-discrimination progress. Adopted by the UN General Assembly, this treaty provides the basis for realizing equality between women and men through ensuring women’s equal access to, and equal opportunities in, political and public life, promoting gender equality in all spheres of life. It included the right to vote and to stand for election – as well as education, health and employment. Notably, it is the only human rights treaty which affirms the reproductive rights of women. In 1990, the International Day Against Homophobia was Initiated to raise awareness about discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals, and it became a global movement for inclusion and acceptance, especially in countries with strict anti-LGBTQ+ laws. It is set on May 17th, this date was chosen to honor the World Health Organization’s landmark decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. At last, in 1994, South Africa’s end of apartheid marked a monumental moment in the global fight against racial discrimination, with the establishment of a new, inclusive constitution that outlawed racial discrimination in all forms.
21st Century: Global Focus on Inclusion and Equity (2000s-Present)
In the modern world, there has been more focus on non-discrimination rights than ever. In 2008, the UNAIDS Zero Discrimination Campaign, aimed at fighting discrimination related to HIV/AIDS status, addressed discrimination targeted on sexual orientation, gender identity, and health. Similarly, in 2011, the UN established the Human Rights Council and passed its first LGBTQ+ Rights Resolution, officially condemning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, marking a significant step in recognizing LGBTQ+ rights as human rights. Finally and most recently, the Global Black Lives Matter Protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in the U.S. in 2020, protests against racial injustice spread globally, from the UK to Brazil to South Africa, highlighting systemic racism and calling for social reform worldwide.