We are affirming human rights for all women and girls

The words of Bella Abzug — “We are affirming human rights for all women and girls, acknowledging the full range of diversity that exists, and detailing actions to prevent violence.” — rise like a declaration carved into stone. She speaks not of lofty dreams alone, but of the sacred duty to make human rights real and tangible, especially for women and girls who have too often been denied them. Her voice is both a shield and a trumpet: a shield against the violence that wounds, and a trumpet to call the world toward justice.

The meaning of her words is threefold. First, to affirm human rights is to proclaim them universal, not a privilege to be granted by rulers, but a birthright belonging to every woman and girl. Second, she insists on recognizing diversity, refusing to allow the struggles of some to eclipse the struggles of others — women of every race, class, culture, and identity must be seen. Third, she demands action, for words without deeds are hollow, and justice delayed is justice denied.

History bears witness to the truth of her vision. Recall the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, 1995, where leaders and activists from across the globe gathered to declare that “women’s rights are human rights.” That summit, echoing the spirit of Abzug’s lifelong work, was not only a council of words but a call to concrete steps: to fight violence, to expand education, to uplift health, and to secure equality. It was a moment where the struggles of countless women found a voice before the nations of the earth.

The origin of Abzug’s words lies in her unyielding career as lawyer, activist, and congresswoman — a woman who carried the fire of justice into every hall she entered. She knew the cost of silence and the danger of compromise when lives were at stake. By affirming rights and demanding prevention of violence, she gave shape to a vision where women were no longer treated as vulnerable subjects but as rightful heirs to dignity, safety, and power.

Therefore, O children of tomorrow, let this teaching be a guide: equality is not a gift but a claim, not a dream but a demand. To affirm human rights for all women and girls is to strengthen the very foundations of humanity itself. As Bella Abzug reminds us, the measure of a civilization is not in its monuments or armies, but in how it guards its most vulnerable. Let your generation carry forward her charge: to protect, to honor, and to build a world where every woman walks free from fear, and every girl is given the chance to rise.