Singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder’s long career has reflected his concern with humanitarian issues. Wonder, who has been blind since birth, was appointed a U.N. Messenger of Peace from the United States in 2009. On December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, he gave a stirring, personal speech about human rights violations at the United Nations.
During his speech, he admitted that the U.N. have helped a lot in improving the lives of people who are differently abled, but also noted that “persons with disabilities continue to face discrimination and even horrendous human rights violations.”
He added: “What troubles me today is that some political leaders are taking us backwards to a time and place where we are once again being handicapped by the negative and divisive labels that divide us.” He then called on political leaders to end “hatred and bigotry of any kind everywhere.”
During the U.S. presidential campaign, Wonder was an outspoken advocate for Hillary Clinton, who eventually lost the elections to Donald Trump. On the eve of election night, he said on an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: “I believe in my mother, I believe in this woman, that’s all I can tell you.”