Every 10th December, UN International Human Rights Day celebrates the day on which the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
This recognises the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, language, political or other opinion, place of origin, birth or other status.
This year’s theme focuses on the need to build back better after the Covid-19 pandemic, by putting human rights at the centre of recovery.
The Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt, said:
Over recent weeks, there has been widespread coverage of the positive news regarding the development of a number of Covid-19 vaccines. However, the pandemic is not over and we must prepare for a potentially difficult winter to come.
We must also begin to look beyond the pandemic to remedy some of the inequality that we know exists in our society and which has been further exposed in recent months.
We want to use this global crisis as a moment for fundamental change in Wales so we can build back better and ensure that our future is fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable than our past.
The Welsh Government is working hard to support community cohesion in Welsh communities after the UK’s exit from the EU, and has committed to develop policies and services that help migrants to settle into their Welsh communities.
The ‘EU citizens living in Wales: Community integration, equality of opportunity and equality of outcome’ report, carried out on behalf of the Welsh Government and published today, looks at ways in which citizens can be supported to continue to make Wales their home.
This report forms part of the Welsh Government’s EU Citizens Rights (EUCR) project to support the approximately 80,000 EU citizens living in Wales. It will help to make sure they have access to appropriate advice services, are protected from exploitation and exclusion, and are encouraged to continue living in Wales and fulfil their potential.
To continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021, the Home Office launched the EU Settlement Scheme under which EU citizens apply to obtain settlement status, which allows them to retain their rights.
Jane Hutt continued:
We’ve always been clear that EU citizens who have made their home in Wales are welcome here. This is your home, you contribute to your communities, and we want you to stay.
If you think you might need to apply for EU Settled Status, or know someone else who might, there is advice and support available to help. We want you to continue to make Wales your home.
Welsh Government will continue to work tirelessly to tackle inequalities, poverty, and structural discrimination, and to support the human rights of everyone who chooses to live in Wales.