UN Declaration of Human Rights: Article 2

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

This is a big statement.

It should be noted now that the Declaration is not a convention which means that member states cannot sign up to it. It’s merely, as it says, a declaration. Declarations are important however as they are statements of intention. This Declaration was intended to establish these rights and freedoms without distinction. In other words to override any concept of sovereignty. Which is probably why most countries have ignored it, in part or whole. Which is why it is important for us to revisit this not just to celebrate it every 10 years but to actual scrutinise it.

Is it workable? Would member states all be happy to stand up and make this Declaration out loud in front of the General Assembly? If the answer is no then it needs to be looked at again to establish its relevance.

UN Declaration of Human Rights: Article 1

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

What I love about children is their innocence and their ability to accept people as they see them. The idea that we are all the same resonates with them. Sure we all look different on the outside but the key here is that we are born free and equal. At that moment of birth anything is possible. Then its a descent into society, culture and the rest.

The key here is equality in dignity and rights. It doesn’t mean we are all the same as clearly we all have different abilities. But just because someone can run faster than me doesn’t make them a better person. This is the key to dignity and rights.

We all deserve those. If we get them early in our life its likely we will turn out ok. At least that’s what I hope for.

UN Declaration of Human Rights: Preamble

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and “to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories.”

PREAMBLE

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Well it’s a grand start, a huge sweeping statement of love, peace and freedom. The advent of a new world, freedom from fear and want.

Freedom from tyranny and oppression?

It’s too easy to list the abuses, killing and destruction of the last 60 years. I think what is important here is to revisit the vision and imagine it then and now. Is it relevant? Is it too aspirational? What have we learnt about human nature, the institutional arrangements we live with, the way we are ruled or governed?

Are we a big happy human family?

The UN feels like a marriage made in haste and on the rocks. It’s lost its will, its purpose and its values. Its time to refresh and renew those vows or move on to something new.

Here’s another questions for those in school or with kids in school: How many of your schools display the UN Declaration of Human Rights?

Take the opportunity now to send them a link to it or try and get a poster from your local Amnesty team or Human Rights Commission.

10 years ago on the 50th Anniversary I displayed a copy of the wall of the dealing room I worked in. People thought I was nuts; my American colleagues thought I was a commie….but very few people wanted to read it, to understand it, to think about it.

And maybe that’s the problem. We don’t want to think about it, it’s too hard. We might have to take some action, be accountable, question ourselves and our attitudes.

Sometimes I wonder how many member states have read this recently.

Well it’s never too late.

Human Rights Watch: 31 Verses

The 1940s was a tumultuous time for the world. A war which saw millions of lives lost and destruction on a global scale.

We saw the construction of a new financial system in Bretton Woods and the formation of a extended global brotherhood, The United Nations. But for me the real action was on December 10th 1948 when the UN made a Declaration of Human Rights.

As we approach the 60th anniversary of this hopeful statement it is time to reconsider the Declaration, examine its content and intent and ask ourselves how we see Human Rights today.

From today I’ll be posting up one article daily with some commentary and invite all readers to think about what it means for them and whether it is still relevant today or some hopeless outdated and optimistic posturing.

If you’re looking to get involved in some way then just look up your local Amnesty office and check it out.

I’ll leave with a quote from Edmund Burke,

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”.

View from above: it’s mad world after all

I haven’t blogged for some time now. One reason is that I have been very busy and when you get busy sometimes the creative juices don’t run fast enough. Having said that what’s new to write about? It feels a little like groundhog day…….

I’m sitting comfortably at 39,000 ft on the new A380 heading for London. It’s a lovely machine. It’s amazing what we can build and the technology we can put together and yet………….

A dictator pounds along the well worn route to genocide, societal collapse and the ignominy of international tribunals and exile in some foreign land whilst the international community looks on in horror and wonders what to do.

The sad fact is that people like Mugabe will always appear. They are our shadow, our dark side. They come as saviours representing hope but become corrupted by power, insecurity and self loathing. Democracy is damned messy, it’s painful but one thing is for sure it gives space for us to address our shadow, to address our short comings, our weaknesses and our frailties. Nothing can be done for Zimbabwe now. The play has been written long ago and we are into the final act. Mugabe like Amin before him is unravelling in a paranoiac binge of violence. It’s painful to watch the people there suffer so much.

The Burmese catastrophe simply reinforces this never ending drama. It’s like Alice in Wonderland, curious and curiouser, as those generals walk around in their own fantasy creation. Is this really happening? Can you lock up the democratically elected leader forever? Are these generals real people or some kind of virtual reality?

I say carpet bomb the country with food parcels and emergency kit. Shower the place like a mid winter storm. Get Santa and his reindeers involved.

Invasion of national sovereignty they say wringing their hands with diplomatic concern.

Bollocks….we need an invasion of humanity. Now.

The Necklace: Back in Fashion

It’s tragic to see South Africa descend back into violence and disharmony. Necklacing, a one time favourite method of killing in the apartheid era, is back in vogue. As economic pressures mount in the townships rage has intensified towards the old maxim of “last in first to get it in the neck”.

The huge wage of immigration from other African states, such as Zimbabwe, has seen tensions rise at the same time that unemployment has risen to almost 4 million. Soldiers are out in the streets and even the prosperous Cape Town has been affected by unrest.

It’s poignant that Mbeki has been propping up Mugabe’s regime of fear which has accelerated the flow of Zimbabweans fleeing the violence and impoverishment in Zimbabwe.

It seems in their efforts to erase colonialism and restore their rightful sovereignty they have developed a high level of tolerance for violence and repression. This is the same story in Burma.

It’s a sad time for South Africa which has made such progress in recent years. One can only hope the Zimbabwe situation is resolved soon and the post-Mugabe rebuilding process can begin.

That should take the pressure off the situation is South Africa as the situation calms.