| . Address by Mr. Malcolm Fraser at the UNESCO Conference, March 1998 |
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| . Address by Mr. Malcolm Fraser at the UNESCO Conference, March 1998 |
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Malcolm Fraser March 30, 1998
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A DECLARATION ON HUMAN RESPONSIBILITIES? |
The government of Japan had asked that we always meet shortly before the G7 meetings, so that we could provide a commentary on events that would be given not only to the Japanese government but also to other G7 members.
The most important task of the Council began in 1987 when I and other members, including Takeo Fukuda, Helmut Schmidt and Olusegun Obasanjo, now imprisoned in Nigeria, met with significant people from the world’s major religions - Buddhists, Muslims, Methodists, Roman Catholics, Protestants, Hindus, and the Jewish faith were all represented. Religious leaders came from countries as diverse as Sri Lanka, the United States, Indonesia, Austria, the People’s Republic of China and India.
Our purpose was to explore with religious leaders the possibility of establishing a common ethical standard. We were conscious that innumerable wars had been conducted in the name of religion. Since we met in 1987 the terrible conflict in the former YugoICS1 a[C,q>>0 med a great moral and democratic victory over communism and which, as a consequence, has become more assertive in promoting values which are thought to advance American interests.
We know quite well that, at some point, the Chinese economy will pass that of America. No great power has ever enjoyed seeing another climbing up the greasy pole to displace it. The possibility of significant problems between America and China are real and in our part of the world it is not difficult to point to issues which could trigger a major calamity.
Our original meeting in Rome with leaders of the world’s major religions was prompted, not only by a consciousness of past religious bitterness and hatreds but also by a consciousness that, in a world that was becoming increasingly globalised in trade, in movements of capital, in inter-dependence, there needs to be a new spirit of cooperation if significant dangers are to be avoided.Exploring areas of agreement with significant leaders of major religions was a testing ground for the InterAction Council in determining whether or not a common ethical base could be established.
We were encouraged to believe that that was a possibility. The initial exchange of views resulted in a striking degree of common perception of the valuation of present dangers and on the recognition of the need for action built on a widely shared ethical basis. The need for peace is easily stated but to see people from extraordinarily diverse backgrounds agreeing about the major ingredients for peace, was encouraging.
The need for a more equitable economic structure to reverse the present appalling poverty which affects such a large part of humanity, was agreed. Dialogue predicted on enlightened self-interest between industrialized and developing countries, was and remains important.
The need for moral values for the family was accepted by everyone, the recognition that a common responsibility of both men and women is indispensable in dealing with these issues.
Responsible public policies require systematic projections of population, environmental and economic trends, with recognition of their interaction.
The group in Rome was clearly aware of the approaches of different religions to family planning yet all the leaders there agreed that present trends make the pursuit of effective family planning inevitable.
The Rome meeting provided a foundation. In the Intervening years, the Council considered how it could take matters further, how it could advance a common belief in basic ethical standards.
The 50th year after the passage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights addresses itself to the inalienable rights of humanity and to the protection of all people against abusive power by governments or institutions of government.
Three years after the end of the world war,
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From an ethical perspective, the Declaration of Human Responsibilities supports and re-enforces the Declaration of Human Rights. We cannot dispute the fact that the rule of law and the promotion of human rights depend upon the readiness of men and women to act justly and to accept the responsibility for so doing.
It is valid to argue that in many cases the weakness of human rights is not grounded in the concept but in the lack of political and moral will on the part of those responsible for implementing them. Ethical behaviour is required for an effective realisation of human rights.
Some might argue that the concept of responsibility can be abused. In Europe especially the sense of duty has been significantly misused in quite recent history. Duty towards the Fuhrer, the Volk, the Party, has been emphasised by totalitarian and authoritarian ideologies. But that is no argument to avoid the basic and necessary sense of responsibility, without which civilised, humane society could not operate. Our Declaration of Responsibilities would provide a framework whereby the distortionof such “duties” would be clear.
In any case, the concept of rights can itself be abused and could lead to anarchy. Rights and responsibility are closely intertwined. Most rights imply responsibilities for their effective implementation but the converse is not true: there are responsibilities which do not follow from rights. For example, the freedom of the press or of a journalist is guaranteed in a modern constitutional state. There is the right to report freely. The state must support this right and, if necessary, act to enforce it. The state and the citizen have the responsibility to respect that right, however, the right to report freely does not impinge on the responsibility of the journalist or of the media.It can be seen therefore that rights entail responsibilities but the converse is not necessarily true. There are ethical responsibilities grounded in the dignity of the human person and which do not flow from specific rights.
The West should put aside its hesitancy. There are some I believe genuinely wondering what the impact on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights would be. There are others who see responsibilities spelt out in clear and ethical terms, which have particular application for the wealthy and the powerful, whether they be governments or corporations. That the United States has not acceded to the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights may well be a pointer.
The intellectual arguments for rights and responsibilities are well based. Some in the West may believe that to accept both will weaken their effectiveness against other countries whom the West believes inadequately protects human rights. PICS1 v)r7q>>0 ICS1 /?/>>0 to the single most generous act of any nation at any time, the Marshall Plan. There should be no suggestion that human rights or human responsibilities should be played for specific national objectives or advantage.
A demand for rights is widespread throughout the world. Many people in nearly every country are well aware of their rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The sense of responsibility in many places is much less well understood. Our proposed declaration would redress that. In addition it is worth noting that, while the Universal Declaration of Human Rights properly addresses itself to the protection of individuals against the abusive power of governments, our proposed Declaration of Human Responsibilities places obligations on governments, on institutions and corporations as well as on people themselves. The totality provides a balance which, it could be claimed, is presently lacking.
Our hope is that the proposed Declaration on Human Responsibilities will be introduced in to the United Nations for debate. It has been well received in political circles in Asia and in the developing world. It has been well received by academics and religious leaders in many parts of the world. It is the political leadership of the West that appears to be hesitant and doubtful. That hesitancy is wrongly based. The constant pursuit of rights without a sense of responsibility will not achieve our desired objectives. Both rights and responsibilities are essential to each other. Both should be adopted and a better world will result.
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