Prepare IAS Coaching
Current Affairs
Title : Hansa Mehta: Know who the United Nations paid tribute to on the occasion of Women's Day
Date : Jun 25, 2024
Description :
United Nations General Assembly President Denis Francis paid tribute to India's feminist leader and diplomat Hansa Mehta on the occasion of Women's Day in Diplomacy. He also discussed her role in shaping the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and making them more inclusive. Hansa Mehta is credited with replacing the reference to men with human beings as a synonym for humanity. Hansa Mehta is known for replacing the sentence 'All men are born free and equal' with 'All human beings are born free and equal' in Article 1 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Who was Hansa Mehta:-
Hansa Mehta was a prominent Indian scholar, teacher, social reformer and writer. Born on July 3, 1897, Mehta was a supporter of women's rights. As president of the All India Women's Conference (AIWC) in 1946, she led the drafting of the 'Indian Women's Rights Charter', which demanded gender equality, civil rights and justice for women in India. She was also part of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the Constitution. She was also a member of the Consultative Committee of the Constituent Assembly and the Sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights. Internationally, Hansa Mehta played a leading role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). She was the only other woman representative on the United Nations Human Rights Commission besides Eleanor Roosevelt.