In a time of perpetually raging war and increasingly disproportionate education, freedom, health and wealth standards has the day come to demand every United Nation Member Country, Trans-National Organization, Non-Governmental Organization and the World Trade Organization as well as other leviathan Trade Organizations be legally bound by process of formal signature to uphold the Articles of this Declaration?
If the answer is yes, what is to be done with those who refuse to formally sign on?
The principal author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was a native of New Brunswick, Canada, John Peters Humphrey. He wrote the first draft of what eventually became perhaps the most important human rights document in history. The Declaration was unanimously passed by the United Nations’ General Assembly on December 10, 1948. To mark this milestone, December 10 is recognized worldwide as Human Rights Day. In 1998, special events were held throughout the world to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Universal DeclarationJohn Humphrey was born in Hampton, NB and went to school in Rothesay, NB. John did not have an easy childhood. His father died before John was one year old and his mother when he was eleven. His left arm was amputated when he was six because of a severe burn. Undeterred by these handicaps, John Humphrey pursued his studies at Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB and then at McGill University in Montreal. He earned four degrees at McGill and later became a professor and dean of law.
In 1946, Humphrey was asked to set up the UN’s Division for Human Rights, of which he became the Director. In this capacity, he prepared a 400 page background paper for the proposed Universal Declaration and wrote its first draft in 1947. After further drafts and revisions by various UN officials and committees, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN in 1948. Humphrey was Director of the Human Rights Division until 1966.
Humphrey then returned to McGill, where he devoted himself to human rights teaching and advocacy. He was the founding president of the Canadian Section of the International Commission of Jurists and he helped establish Amnesty International Canada and the Canadian Human Rights Foundation.
Humphrey authored numerous articles and several books. He received 13 honourary degrees and, in 1974, was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. In his honour, the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development established the $25,000 John Humphrey Freedom Award, which is presented each year. Humphrey died in 1995 in Montreal. Canada Post issued a stamp in his honour in October 1998.
14 responses so far ↓
earthpal // February 28, 2007 at 7:30 am |
Huge Kudos to John Peters Humphrey.
I am always uplifted when I read about such people.
Peter Benenson, the founder of Amnesty International is another inspiring person. He died in 2005.
Thanks Loneranger. I enjoyed reading this.
Jose // February 28, 2007 at 11:55 am |
Yes, 1loneranger, we always speak about the Human Rights and they seem so natural to us that we never wonder who we are indebted to for working them out.
Thank you for reminding us.
1loneranger // February 28, 2007 at 3:15 pm |
Hi Jose and earthpal-
I was ignorant that Humphrey penned the Declaration until just recently. I’m ashamed of myself, being that I’m living in Canada. I’d love to see this Declaration’s message honored on monuments all around the world.
Human Rights Day deserves a bit more recognition don’t you think? I’d love to see it promoted in schools as an informative celebration topic, something like African History Month (February) here in North America, with a national/international off-day of observance. Give it some real legitimacy, you know?
What are your thoughts about the idea of Declaration signatories?
Boldscot // March 1, 2007 at 1:08 am |
Jose, a lot of that stuff came from this guy.
Robert Burns.
‘Is there for honest poverty
That hings his head, an a’ that?
The coward slave, we pass him by -
We dare be poor for a’ that!
For a’ that, an a’ that!
Our toils obscure, an a’ that,
The rank is but the guinea’s stamp,
The man’s the gowd for a’ that.
What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hodding grey, an a’ that?
Gie fools their skills, and knaves their wine -
A man’s a man for a’ that.
For a’ that, an a’ that,
Their tinsel show, an a’ that,
The honest man, tho e’er sae poor,
Is king o men for a’ that.
Ye see yon birkie ca’d ‘a lord,’
Wha struts, an stares, an a’ that?
Tho hundreds worship at his word,
He’s but a cuif for a’ that.
For a’ that, an a’ that,
His ribband, star, an a’ that,
The man o independent mind,
He looks an laughs at a’ that.
A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an a’ that!
But an honest man’s aboon his might -
Guid faith, he mauna fa’ that!
For a’ that, an a’ that,
Their dignities, an a’ that,
The pith o sense an pride o worth,
Are higher rank than a’ that.
Then let us pray that come it may
(As come it will for a’ that),
That Sense and Worth o’er a’ the earth,
Shall bear the gree an a’ that.
For a’ that, an a’ that,
It’s coming yet for a’ that,
That man to man, the world, o’er
Shall brithers be for a’ that.’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Burns
Boldscot // March 1, 2007 at 1:11 am |
Is there for honest poverty
That hangs his head, and all that?
The coward slave, we pass him by -
We dare be poor for all that!
For all that, and all that,
Our toils obscure, and all that,
The rank is but the guinea’s stamp,
The man’s the gold for all that.
What though on homely fare we dine,
Wear course grey woolen, and all that?
Give fools their silks, and knaves their wine -
A man is a man for all that.
For all that, and all that,
Their tinsel show, and all that,
The honest man, though ever so poor,
Is king of men for all that.
You see yonder fellow called ‘a lord,’
Who struts, and stares, and all that?
Though hundreds worship at his word,
He is but a dolt for all that.
For all that, and all that,
His ribboned, star, and all that,
The man of independent mind,
He looks and laughs at all that.
A prince can make a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, and all that!
But an honest man is above his might -
Good faith, he must not fault that
For all that, and all that,
Their dignities, and all that,
The pith of sense and pride of worth
Are higher rank than all that.
Then let us pray that come it may
(As come it will for a’ that)
That Sense and Worth over all the earth
Shall have the first place and all that!
For all that, and all that,
It is coming yet for all that,
That man to man the world over
Shall brothers be for all that.
Boldscot // March 1, 2007 at 1:16 am |
‘The honest man, though ever so poor,
Is king of men for all that.’
…
Bush is rich and Blair is rich and little lambs eat ivy.
earthpal // March 1, 2007 at 7:40 am |
Boldscot, thanks for those verses. It’s inspired me to read poetry again. Some apt choices there for this subject.
Loneranger, the declaration is a wonderful global ethos and if only every nation would sign up to it. Of course, many nations who would sign up would find it very hard to live by and adhere to. How many so-called democratic nations are violating international law and agreed treaties as we speak?
The question Humphreys asks at the end about what’s to be done about those nations who refuse to sign on is a good one but it also begs the question…what’s to be done about those who do sign but then violate it.
Jose // March 1, 2007 at 9:33 am |
Boldscot,
I never knew what the origin of “Auld Lang Syne” was until now that you have given the link to Burns. As I can see a universal Scot with a deep consideration for the most spiritual traits of man.
I won’t go to bed today without having learnt something new, for which I thank you.
Boldscot // March 1, 2007 at 3:38 pm |
http://www.constitution.org/scot/arbroath.htm
Coming back to Jose’s original point about sources of these ‘modern’ declarations, I would also recommend a look at the following :
‘For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.’
From The Declaration of Arbroath 1320.
1loneranger // March 1, 2007 at 4:15 pm |
Going way back, back before Robbie, back before Arbroath there was Cyrus’ Cylinder.
[The Cyrus Cylinder has been described as the world’s first charter of human rights, and it was translated into all official U.N. languages in 1971.A replica of the cylinder is kept at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City in the second floor hallway, between the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council chambers.
Passages in the text have been interpreted as expressing Cyrus’ respect for humanity. It promotes a form of religious tolerance and freedom. He allowed his subjects to continue worshipping their gods, despite his own monotheist beliefs.The historian R.N. Frye wrote in 1963.
“In the victories of the Persians… what was different was the new policy of reconciliation and together with this was the prime aim of Cyrus to establish a pax Achaemenica… If one were to assess the achievements of the Achaemenid Persians, surely the concept of One World,… the fusion of peoples and cultures in one ‘Oecumen’ was one of their important legacies."]
From wikipedia: Cyrus Cylinder
1loneranger // March 1, 2007 at 4:25 pm |
earthpal-
That statement and question at the top of this post was actually mine, not Humphey’s.
I’d say, we should demand all mentioned sign on that want to be a member of the tolerant world at large. If you don’t want to sign on for religious beliefs or what have you, then don’t. But that means you’re out of the club, and if you sign on and break the rules….. well, then you get strung up or cut off. I know I’m contradicting myself here and I don’t sound very tolerant, but the world is divided into tolerant and non-tolerant communities and individuals. There has to be some sort of accountability for those who preach tolerance and then commit the offences that destroy it. This includes Western as well as Eastern nations and Corps as well of course.
Might seem a bit harsh, but we’re living in a harsh world.
Boldscot-
Thanks for the Burns. I wasn’t really familiar with his writings before I moved to Canada. Canadian pub goers love to celebrate Robbie Burns Day with song and verse as well as a pint or five.
earthpal // March 1, 2007 at 8:19 pm |
Loneranger, sorry. Serves me right for trying to keep up with all the blogs I visit with too little time. Hey ho. Never mind.
You’re not being intolerant. If a nation voluntarily signs up to a declaration that legislates against certain actions, then it must accept that there will be consequences for any violations of those laws. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Jose // March 2, 2007 at 9:52 am |
Do we know of any cases of violations of human rights where the violator has been punished in any way? A condemnation is only what I have seen to happen, but beyond that nothing really serious.
Or am I wrong?
John // November 1, 2007 at 2:17 pm |
There seems to be a little misunderstanding here. The UDHR is not something a country signs on to – it was simply a UN declaration of principle which all members past and present must acknowledge. Nations sign (or don’t sign) the number of Conventions stemming from the Declaration, which are binding treaties on subjects such as on Civil/Political rights, Economic/Social/Cultural rights, convention against torture, etc. etc. The third and final part of the ‘International Bill of Rights’ after the declaration and the Treaties, are means of implementation – how do you handle offenders? These means can vary from arbitration by an international committee and prosecution of individuals through economic sanctions to a UN sponsored invasion. All have been used.
I knew John Humphrey for the last seven years of his life and I am his literary executor. He was a great Canadian and a great citizen of the world.