Approaching the UN International Human Rights Day, Part 1
Updated: Dec 10, 2020
One thing I have learned in 2020 is that when governments and organizations are forced to address the health of their people, they can find the time, resources, and knowledge to solve problems. Some have done better than others.
And yet, we’ve seen a lot of coming together to problem solve.
And yet, we’ve seen a lot of coming together to problem solve.
What is it about COVID-19 that motivated the world to react and invest so much time and energy in prevention? Is it because it is a virus that we feel we can conquer and subdue, and believe it’s a problem that we can solve?
I have been involved with ending another pandemic for the past 25 years. Yet, other than a few upticks in the conversation around it, we have yet to get the engagement in solving it that we are seeing right now with COVID-19.
The pandemic I am referring to is violence. Yes, gender-based violence. And yes, sexual assault, sexual harassment, but also, all other forms of violence and abuse. This is because after 25 years, I have concluded that we need to be looking at all systems of violence and all human behavior that affects others in a way that damages their mental health.
This is because after 25 years, I have concluded that we need to be looking at all systems of violence and all human behavior that affects others in a way that damages their mental health.
In other words, and I have said it before, IMHO violence is the number one health issue today.
So, as we come closer to the UN International Human Rights Day on December 10th, I am going to focus on 7 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that are addressed and hopefully improved by incorporating ESD into existing solutions as a system of prevention.
