World War II: A Turning Point in Human Rights

‘Also, World War II was a definite turning point for poverty and the right to better living conditions. After the war, the economy improved because Canada’s exports were high as they supplied goods to war­destroyed Europe, and consumer spending exploded after the rationing during wartime.  Unions, which stopped promoting higher wages and other improvements during wartime as their contribution to the war effort, were finally able to bring attention to their cause.  With a strong economy, the support of unions, and the public prioritizing of increased social stability, living standards improved. Workers, unwilling to return to dangerous conditions and low pay, organized peaceful strikes to advance their interests.  The post­war period saw the improvement of Old Age Security and Unemployment Insurance, and the enactment of Fair Employment Practices as part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  This prevented poverty in minority groups, the elderly, and the unemployed, and wages increased due to a strong economy, union and public support, and peaceful strikes, which were results of the war.’