Spain and world mark UN Human Rights Declaration 70th anniversary, Amnesty International says progress needed

SPANISH government officials have said they remain committed to supporting and promoting human rights as the world marked 70 years since the adoption of the United Nations’ Human Rights Declaration.
The 70^th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was marked on World Human Rights Day on Monday (yesterday).
The document, adopted three years after the end of the Second World War, sets out fundamental rights for people across the world which UN member states are required to protect.
The anniversary also saw a human rights NGO claim that the world and Spain still had a long way to go to meet commitments required by the Declaration.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a video message on Twitter that democracy could not exist without a respect for human rights.
“Today while some seek to retreat we will defend and respect the Declaration. It is the only way to strengthen democracy, the welfare state and to develop our society,” Sanchez said.

La Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos cumple 70 años.
Hoy, cuando algunos pretenden retroceder, defendamos el respeto a los DD.HH. como la única vía para profundizar en la Democracia, el Estado del Bienestar y el desarrollo de nuestras sociedades.#HumanRightsDay pic.twitter.com/0GG2Xf7j3F

— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) December 10, 2018

Spain’s Foreign Affairs Ministry also released a statement highlighting the country’s commitment to the cause of human rights nationally.
“The existence of an effective democracy requires the construction and maintenance of a complex framework of rights and freedoms in which a person can develop freely,” Ministry Officials said.
The anniversary comes as Amnesty International said issues including gender violence and alleged sexist biases in Spain’s legal system meant it still fell short of the Declaration in some areas.
“It is undeniable that the situation for women has improved in Spain but 70 years after the Declaration was signed women continue to suffer discrimination and violence,” Amnesty International’s Ana Gomez Perez-Nievas said.
Article Two of the Declaration prevents people being discriminated due to their gender, race, religion, social status, opinions or nationality.

As we enter 2019, we believe now, more than ever, we must stand firm with women’s movements, amplify women’s voices in all their diversity and fight for the recognition of all our rights. 💪🏾👏🏿🕯️📢✊🏽https://t.co/D150Ud7lNL

— Amnesty International (@amnesty) December 10, 2018