Of all her contributions , Bernardino is best known for arguing in favor of gender-inclusive language in the early stages of the UN 's development . At the 1945 United Nations Conference on International Organization , although she was technically a delegate of the Dominican Republic — sent by dictator Rafael Trujillo as a " low-risk opportunity to appear progressive " — Bernardino entered the conference with her own agenda , representing the interests of the Inter-American Commission of Women ( IACW ) . Bernardino and her colleague Berta Lutz were acknowledged as " instrumental " in the inclusion of the phrases " equal rights of men and women , " " faith in fundamental human rights " and " the dignity and worth of the human person " in the preamble to the UN 's charter . She is also credited with the wording " equal rights of men and women " in the preamble for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — she believed that omitting " and women " would have seemed intentional and invited discrimination
United Nations Conference on International Organization
United Nations Conference on International Organization
Minerva Bernardino