Nevada’s Next Step: Making Human Rights Truly Universal—At Home and Abroad
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As your independent Democratic candidate for Nevada’s Second Congressional District, I want to begin this month’s newsletter by asking a simple but urgent question: If the United States has spent decades championing human rights around the world, why do we still fall short on one of the most fundamental rights—economic security—for our own citizens?
America’s Role as a Human Rights Leader
After World War II, the United States played a central role in the creation of the United Nations and the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. This historic document enshrined principles that echo the values found in our own Constitution and founding documents: liberty, equality, and justice for all. The UDHR has been a beacon guiding our foreign policy, our diplomacy, and our international development efforts for nearly 80 years.
But while the UDHR is often remembered for its political rights—freedom of speech, religion, and assembly—it also lays out a powerful vision for economic and social rights. These rights are not abstract ideals; they are concrete guarantees that ensure dignity, opportunity, and security for every person, everywhere.
Economic Rights: The Overlooked Pillar of Human Dignity
The UDHR makes clear that true human rights must include economic rights. Articles 22 through 27 focus explicitly on these guarantees:
Article 22 establishes that everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and the realization of economic, social, and cultural rights indispensable to dignity and free development.
Article 23 affirms the right to work, to just and favorable conditions, equal pay for equal work, and the right to join and form labor unions.
Article 24 recognizes the right to rest, leisure, reasonable working hours, and periodic paid holidays.
Article 25 guarantees an adequate standard of living—including food, clothing, housing, medical care, and social services—for health and well-being.
Article 26 upholds the right to education.
Article 27 ensures the right to participate in cultural life and share in scientific advancement.
These principles are not foreign ideas. They are a logical extension of our American values. Our Declaration of Independence promises “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Our Constitution aims to “promote the general welfare.” Economic rights are simply the next evolution of these founding ideals.
The U.S. Standard: Why Not Here?
The reality is stark: While we have advocated for these rights internationally, we have failed to deliver them at home. Millions of Americans struggle with poverty, lack of healthcare, insecure work, and inadequate education. The gap between the wealthiest and everyone else has never been wider. Meanwhile, the billionaires of the mining and tech industries—many right here in Nevada—continue to amass fortunes without paying their fair share back to the communities whose resources and labor made their wealth possible.
It is time to ask: Why wouldn’t we fight for universal economic rights in the United States? If we believe these rights belong to all people, why do we accept anything less for ourselves and our neighbors?
My Commitment: Universal Economic Rights for All
I am the only candidate in this race talking about these issues as human rights. When I talk about universal economic policies, I’m not offering charity or handouts—I’m demanding fairness, justice, and dignity for every Nevadan and every American. It’s time to make universal economic rights a reality, starting with:
Universal Basic Income: A guaranteed monthly income of $1,300 for every adult, from cradle to grave. This is not just a policy; it’s a recognition that every person deserves the security to pursue their dreams, care for their families, and contribute meaningfully to society.
Fair Taxation: Funding for this program can and should come from those who have benefited most from our natural resources and our economy—billionaires in the mining and tech sectors. It’s time for them to pay their fair share and invest in the future of our communities.
Healthcare, Housing, and Education as Rights: No one should go without these basics in the wealthiest country on earth. These are not privileges—they are rights.
The Irony—and the Opportunity
Here’s the irony: The United States, the architect of the UDHR, is violating the very rights we fought to define. Today, we have an opportunity—and an obligation—to correct this course. By embracing universal economic rights, we can fulfill the promise of our founding documents and set a new standard for the world.
I am running for Congress not just to talk about change, but to make it happen. Together, we can lead Nevada—and America—toward a future where human rights truly include everyone. Let’s be the generation that makes economic justice more than a dream.
Thank you for your support. Let’s make history together.
In solidarity,
Gamy Enriquez, MPA
Independent Democratic Candidate for Congress, NV-2
