Promoting Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities

by Dr Laksiri FernandoThe purpose of this article is limited to discuss the 'Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities' (a second UDHR) proposed by the InterAction Council (IAC) in 1997. The intention of the IAC was to bring to the attention of the UN and the international community the importance of promoting universal human responsibilities along with universal human rights. There was no intention at all to reject, undermine, or counter what the UN or the international community endorsed and promotes as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

While proposing this new Declaration as a 'common standard for all peoples and nations' on universal human responsibilities, it further said,"We, the peoples of the world thus renew and reinforce commitments already proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: namely, the full acceptance of the dignity of all people; their inalienable freedom and equality, and their solidarity with one another."Who Proposed It?Helmut Schmidt, former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, was the Chair of the IAC at that time.

The other members included Malcolm Fraser, former Prime Minister of Australia; Jimmy Carter, former President of the United States; Mikhail Gorbachev, former Chairman of the Supreme Soviet and former President of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; Kenneth Kaunda, former President of Zambia; Lee Kuan Yew, former Prime Minister of Singapore; Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister of Israel; Pierre Elliott Trudeau, former Prime Minister of Canada; Valery Giscard d'Estaing, former President of France; and Lord Callaghan of Cardiff, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. These were the most prominent leaders in the 26 member Council.

The others in the Council included 16 former Presidents or Prime Ministers of countries like Netherlands, Thailand, Costa Rica, Mexico, Switzerland, Spain, Lebanon, Colombia, Portugal, Brazil, Republic of Korea, Finland, Sweden, Cyprus and Austria.There were other 27 distinguished supporters.

Some of them were former Ministers in different countries or prominent heads of different international organizations. Among them were Henry Kissinger, former U.

S. Secretary of State; Robert McNamara, former President, World Bank; and Richard von Weizacker, former President of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Being the Director-General of UNESCO, Federico Mayor also gave his support and Ali Alatas, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia also joined in...