High-Level Expert Group Meeting
March 20-21, 1998
Frankfurt, Germany
Chaired by Malcolm Fraser
1. The preparatory meeting for the 16th Plenary Session of
the InterAction Council took place in Frankfurt on March
20-21 to consider how the Universal Declaration of Human
Responsibilities can be further disseminated. The
participants were aware that it will take years before the
moral appeal of the document will be accepted by the
multitude of people around the world. The Council's
objective is to present the core message of the
Declaration to entice people around the world to accept
moral principles. Members also realized that there will be
alterations before the document is broadly accepted.
2. Global reactions to the Universal Declaration of Human
Responsibilities have been mixed and wide-ranging from the
very encouraging and strong support from numerous
prominent individuals and several governments (the
Declaration is now in 17 languages); to hesitancy on the
part of several major Western governments despite their
endorsement of the moral principles themselves; to the
outright opposition from some corners of the Western
press.
SUMMARY OF REACTIONS
Governments
3. Supporters recognize that the Declaration is a moral
appeal trying to set ethical standards essential in a
globalized age, and they understand that responsibilities
are required in exerting rights. The governments of
Finland, Greece, Cyprus, and Brazil (where the Declaration
is well known and there are no heavy opposition) plus a
host of Asian governments have indicated their willingness
to sponsor the document in the United Nations, provided a
major Western government is also involved. Finland, for
example, would consider the introduction of the
Declaration into the United Nations, if a group of
countries with a good record of human rights issues can
jointly co-sponsor it. The question was whether these
governments would be able to edit the document and whether
the Responsibilities Declaration could be introduced to
the United Nations for a debate as a subordinate document
to the Human Rights Declaration.
4. It was suggested that Canada, a G7member, and perhaps
the Netherlands should be approached.
5. The main problem of reluctant governments, in paying
due consideration to human rights activists, is their
erroneous notion that the promotion of the
Responsibilities Declaration will weaken the issue of
human rights, while the intention of the Council is to
strengthen the concept of human rights through a broader
acceptance of the concept of responsibilities that goes
with rights.
6. Human rights are not often realized because there is
not enough moral impulse behind it. Political will is
often ethical will. Ethical motivations are very basic for
the realization of human rights. In order to realize human
rights in many countries, the people with political will
and moral will are essential. Realization of human rights
in most cases depends upon a sense of responsibility,
without which human rights will fall to the ground.
7. Some in the West are concerned that Asian governments
may readily embrace the concept of human responsibilities
as a substitute for the advancement of human rights. This
attitude is adversely affecting some Western countries. It
shows a significant misunderstanding of what we are about
and of the nature of our proposal. Since the exercise of
responsibility is essential for the full implementation of
human rights, our proposed Declaration can only enhance
the advancement of human rights. To suggest otherwise is
misconceived.
8. During the 1990s alone the world has seen 25 limited
wars stemming from social injustice mixed with religious
and ideological elements. It is foreseen that more wars
will break out in the future. It is essential to at least
get some political and intellectual elite of the West
understand that the people on the other side, who believe
also on higher authority, basically have the same ethical
principles in the back of their mind, the golden rules for
instance . It is in the interest of the West, if some of
these clashes are to be avoided, if they become more aware
that there are remarkable concurrence between the East and
the West.
9. The original motivation of the Universal Declaration of
Human Responsibilities was to have the world understand
the necessity of establishing universal ethical standards.
It is essential for all people to understand that human
rights and human responsibilities are complementary.
10. An American participant pointed out that 80 percent of
Americans believe they are conservatives but recognize the
missing concept of responsibility. The concept of
self-responsibility has become an important theme in the
United States; that in celebrating rights, they have
neglected responsibilities. He asserted that if the
Council comes to the United States and highlights this
theme, significant support will be found.
Human Rights Activists
11. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has
questioned the introduction of the proposed Declaration of
Human Responsibilities on the ground that much more
progress needs to be made in human rights. The High
Commissioner seems to have suggested that introduction of
another Declaration may be a distraction. This again is
misconceived. It is important for us to argue the
complementary nature of both rights and responsibilities.
It is necessary to gain support of human rights activists.
This will occur to the extent that they understand that
acceptance of human responsibilities will advance the
acceptance of human rights. Those who suggest that
acceptance of human responsibilities will weaken the Human
Rights Declaration misunderstand the purpose of the
Council.
12. Many have pointed out that the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights is designed as a bulwark against excessive
use of power and authority by governments and other
established authority. The Declaration of Human
Responsibilities is significantly different. It is not an
attempt to proclaim rules or to codify a set of
responsibilities. It is much more a moral appeal, an
attempt to set basic standards and goals. The suggestion
that the Declaration of Human Responsibilities could be
equivalent to the Declaration of Human Rights may have led
to misunderstanding and to belief that the documents are
rivals, rather than complementary.
13. The distinction must be made between rights which, in
many cases, are considered rules and responsibilities
which are ethical standards or goals. The Declaration of
Human Responsibilities, as a moral appeal, does not have a
direct binding character of international law, but it
proclaims to the world public some basic norms for
collective and individual behaviors which apply to
everyone. While the appeal is also meant to have an effect
on legal and political practice, it does not aim at any
legalistic morality. This is the key feature of the
Declaration of Human Responsibilities.
14. Legal codification is impossible in moral attitudes
like truthfulness and fairness. It aims at voluntarily
taking responsibility. The Responsibilities Declaration is
morally rather than legally binding. All these are the
question of conscience and not the question of law. The
Declaration appeals to the ethical impetus of
individuals.
15. Ethical impulse is needed for the realization of human
rights. This is the key point for the Council's efforts to
convince those who fear that the Human Rights Declaration
will be in jeopardy. The full enjoyment of the rights can
be realized if only people recognize that they have
responsibilities toward each other .
16. The members of the InterAction Council belong to those
generations of politicians who served the cause of human
rights in their own countries. The Council (with a sense
of detachment from day-to-day politics and its unavoidable
tactical maneuvering) is recommending that a further step
be taken to reinforce human rights.
Press
17. The Western media has attacked the Responsibilities
Declaration, as embodied in the World Freedom Press
Committee's joint letter to the U.N. Secretary-General.
The underlining issue of the media opposition is freedom
of the press. Their concern is "Who is to judge whether
they are writing responsibly?" They misinterpret the IAC
Declaration as suggesting the authority, the established
power does.
18. If the media themselves must be responsible, Article
14 of the Declaration must be redrafted clearly to say the
press is to judge when they are being responsible, that it
is up to them to have the sense of responsibility, and
that it is not for the established power to judge. In
order to give the sense of ethical impulse, it should be
made clear that the impulse must come from the people
themselves, not for the power, not from the authority. A
sentence should be added in the preamble which will
clarify that the Human Rights Declaration seeks to protect
people from power, whereas the Responsibilities
Declaration seeks to address the exercise of conscience,
which is not to be judged by governments but by people
themselves.
19. The desirability of discussion with a broad segment of
the press, including the World Freedom Press Committee,
was recommended. However, once the Council defines the
position clearly on "not governmental judgment of
responsibility" and on treating the press as a profession
with its own code, it can build upon where it has natural
support, rather than only liming to turning around those
who are declared enemies.
20. As the first step, Mr. Kalevi Sorsa will represent the
InterAction Council in the 47th Annual Meeting of the
International Press Institute in Moscow at the end of May
to exchange views with journalists. Inviting 10 leading
columnists who are either open-minded or sympathetic to
begin with (i.e., William Pfaff, George Will) was
suggested. They could help the Council in creating the
climate that will isolate the extremists. The American
Newspapers Publishers Association and the American
Managing Editors Association, big, major groupings of all
prints, have committees on press responsibility, on press
ethics. Inquiring them where they stand on this issue
would be useful and they might appreciate being
consulted.
Modification of the Immediate Objective
21. The initial objective of having the Responsibilities
Declaration presented to the U.N. General Assembly for
adoption as a resolution on the 50th anniversary of the
Human Rights Declaration will have to be modified to
discussion in the U.N. Since the western support needed
for the adoption of the document within 1998 cannot be
guaranteed, the Council should consider modifying the
immediate objective of the introduction of its Declaration
to the General Assembly by a group of appropriate
countries. It may also be suggested that the document be
referred to a special commentate for reporting back to the
General Assembly. It is hoped that such a procedure could
lead to a widespread acceptance of the Declaration and its
principles.
Revising the Draft Declaration:
22. It was agreed that some revision of the Declaration is
essential, particularly to remove legitimate concerns
expressed by the media. Deliberate efforts should be made
to explain the proposed changes and the intent of the
document as a whole to the media groups, especially those
who have expressed concern . A cover sentence should also
be provided on "ethical impulse" to distinguish the
Declaration from the perception of "imposed obligations."
Below are the proposed amendments to the Declaration:
23. Amendment 1: (The proposed amendment is placed as an
additional clause at the end of the Preamble.)
Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
addresses itself to the inalienable rights of humanity,
and to the protection of all people against abuse of power
by governments or institutions of governments, this
proposed declaration is a moral appeal which addresses
itself to issues of conscience and ethical behaviour.
While governments are clearly responsible for just and
equitable laws, there are many matters of conscience for
which we must be our own judges.
24. Amendment 2: On the third line, the word shall
contribute should be changed to should contribute. That is
the only change suggested in this paragraph.
Explanation: As written, the word shall is mandatory and
strongly suggests that some means of ensuring compliance
is to be established. The change to should removes that
implication.
25. Amendment 3: Article 4: It is suggested, that the word
must in the first line is to be replaced by should.
Explanation: The word must again suggests that some means
of ensuring compliance will be established when in these
moral and ethical matters, it is more a matter of
individual conscience.
26. Amendment 4: Article 13: It is suggested that the last
sentence be replaced by a new one, which would read, It is
for the professions and their members to establish
appropriate ethical codes which reflect the priority of
general standards, such as those of truthfulness and
fairness. This amendment is suggested for internal
consistency and to make it perfectly clear that the
professions are responsible for their own internal
codes.
27. Amendment 5: Article 14 should be replaced by the
following: The freedom of the media to inform the public
and to criticize the institutions of society and
governmental actions is essential for a just society It is
the responsibility of those involved to exercise their
freedom with a sense of responsibility and discretion.
Explanation: This ammendment is critical to prevent
misunderstanding of the proposed declaration and of our
intentions. Many people have asked concerning this clause,
"who is going to make this judgement?" The purpose of this
ammendment is to place responsibilty clearly on the media
itself.
Promotion of the Declaration
28. The United Nations is not to be discarded totally, but
it is not the only body from which the Council can get a
resounding echo. A number of constructive ideas were
expressed. The proposals are designed to achieve
widespread understanding and support for the concept of
responsibility. However desirable such a process may be,
it could not be achieved without substantial resources and
a permanent staff to organize appropriate events.
29. Parliamentary debates by cross parties should be
initiated in various countries, which may arouse public
attention.
30. The Council's purpose is to instigate debates in may
different circles; the United Nations, scientific
articles, Foreign Affairs, leading national newspapers,
universities, etc. Discussion in many places are required
to make the core message understood. It should be
presented in a provocative way and entice upon people that
they should read it and criticize and make suggestions to
ameliorate the Declaration.
31. Several independent initiatives have been made on the
concept of human responsibilities, the International
Council of Human Duties (which can be considered a
scientific wing of the efforts), the University of
California, the Club of Rome, and UNESCO. Close
cooperation and communication are desirable since human
attention is disturbed by too many preachers. The goals of
the institutions are quite converging, whether coming from
scientific, religious, ethical, and philosophical. Time
will come for the broad acceptance of the notion that a
sense of responsibilities are essential.
32. Public education is necessary to support official work
and to persuade people to accept the concept. A part of
the strategy could be some 10 major events, in which the
Council could invite dialogues on the issue of
responsibilities. That could help at least in getting the
Declaration of Human Responsibilities known to the public.
Hopefully that would, in turn gain the support of the
responsible press, helping to create a climate in which
governments may be more inclined to act. Such events to
discuss the issue include:
- Moral Rearmament Movement in Crux, Switzerland, which has enlisted a number of well-to do industrialists; i.e. potential sponsors.
- The Plenary Session of the World Economic Forum.
- Convening inter-religious dialogues which inevitably could be heard and printed or televised.
- Crown Prince Hassan's foundation in Jordan which aims at reconciliation and understanding; if the Council wanted to suggest that this Declaration might be a subject of discussion in any meeting they would convene.
- A proposal to launch a series of unique concerts (such as Mahler's Symphony No. 8 held on Good Friday in 1999 in Munich, Germany, to be played by 1,000 musicians to launch a foundation specifically to sponsor activities of the InterAction Council) was made. A discussion meeting on Human Responsibilities, involving prominent Council members, before such an event is a possibility.
- The possibility of getting one or more heads of state to host in their palaces discussion meetings on this subject; royalties, in particular, have an irresistible appeal also on prominent journalists.
- Organizing a meeting with a prominent Western universities, like Oxford and Harvard.
- Joint events with other occasions, such as the international association of political scientists. A forum could consist of having someone from Asia to talk about responsibilities only, human rightists to exclusively focus on rights and a neutral third person to comment. If the press participation is desired, some controversy is essential.
- President Nelson Mandela to promote the Declaration by making speeches in different places.
- Conferences, including active politicians who are convincing but who would not have to speak out exactly for the declaration, could be held in Baden-Baden under the auspices of European industrialists.
- An Iranian-backed foundation in Cyprus which organized the world dialogue of religions might be interested in hosting a conference.
- Art exhibitions from the countries represented in the Council, assembled together which can be made into an event to disseminate the ideas of the Council.
- A major summit in Washington, D.C. in July 1999 where half a million people will congregate, might be one of the occasions in which the Council could bring this kind of dialogue.
- An American entrepreneur, who is very much in favor of the Council's proposed document, suggests for promotion a documentary, a congress, similar to Prague and Vienna, segments in network news shows, regional congresses, etc.
Funding
33. If the Council is to go down the above track, a
sufficient fund will be required to run an office with a
full-time high-quality professional who can promote
effectively all these ideas. The Council should try and
get funds for a three-year program of concrete proposals.
The Secretary-General was mandated to test the water, but
cooperation of all others is essential. Proposals must be
drawn up to sound out if potential donors can provide
funds to underwrite the program. Ideas are expensive;
money can be found on good ideas.