The mission of Unite for Rights is to unite people, nonprofits, businesses, and governments to create an International Bill of Rights.
From the beginning, it is important to recognize that Unite is not starting from scratch. There is a long history of fundamental rights being put into a document so that they can become enforceable in court. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a good example.
Eleanor Roosevelt is one of the great leaders in the evolution of the UDHR. When her husband, United States President Franklin Roosevelt, died, Eleanor said “great leaders can show the way, but others must come along and do the building.”
This quote applies equally to her: Eleanor’s work, with others, on the UDHR is the foundation upon which Unite for Rights is built. Eleanor explained: ““that nothing of what has happened to me, or to anyone, has value unless it is a preparation for what lies ahead.”
What lies ahead is for the UDHR to become “fully realized” as an International Bill of Rights enforceable in the courts of all countries.
Eleanor Roosevelt holding the UDHR on the night of its unanimous passage, December 10, 1948.
The UDHR can be thought of as a plan for humanity. There is much yet to do, but the plan is unfolding. Unite for Rights takes the list of rights in the UDHR, along with new rights that belong on the list like the environment, and makes them legally enforceable through an International Bill of Rights, with Regional Courts, and an International Court of Human Rights.
The result is that the rights in the UDHR become genuine for all, no longer only an aspirational statement as in the UDHR.
Making rights enforceable in the courts of all countries may seem difficult, and it is, but it’s time. Eleanor was a champion of a World Court after World War I, and then again pushed for enforceable rights after WWII. She saw that leaders of all nations need to heed the rights of all people. Authoritarians must be restrained by courts before they become too strong to stop.
Authoritarianism is increasing internationally. It’s time to act before humanity deteriorates into police states, or WWIII results. As Eleanor said, “We will all go ahead together, or we will all go down together.” Eleanor saw enough of war first hand to know this is true – she visited every military hospital in the South Seas during WWII.
Following her lead, we have the means to connect and write the rules for those who govern, then put those rules in the hands of impartial people, Judges, to enforce them. Together we can do this.
The timing is right. People, Nonprofits, Businesses and Governments recognize that our present incrementalism approach is failing. It is leading us to war, the desecration of the biosphere of our planet, gross economic disparity, and athoritarian despots running countries – among other things. Restructuring our social order, not tinkering with it, is needed.
Unite for Rights is working with people, nonprofits, businesses and governments who want to be leaders, not just victims. There is a spinning globe on the homepage of Unite for Rights. Whenever a person, nonprofit, business or government enters their name and country, a light ignites on the globe wherever they are showing their support for the UDHR: purple for a person; green for a nonprofit; blue for a business; and orange for a government.
It’s no longer enough for people to sing about rights, or even just to vote, a movement for rights is needed to transfer the energy of singing, acting, writing, caring, into law – not something we talk about, but something whereby we can enforce our rights in court against those who govern.
There will always be war, discrimination and ruin of the environment without the rule of law. Rights are not given us; they are a demand we make, and put into writing to enforce in courts with impartial Judges, prior to giving people the power to govern.
When combined with others, your small act of becoming a “Light for Rights” on the Unite for Rights website is one of the most powerful things you will do in your life. Some things, like an International Bill of Rights can only be achieved through a collaborative effort.
Join us on the globe! Over time, the goal is for 1% of people, nonprofits, businesses and governments globally to become lights supporting an International Bill of Rights.
Once 1% has been achieved, there will be a movement with sufficient strength to then ask/demand that an International Bill of Rights be implemented as a treaty for governments internationally.
The draft International Bill of Rights on the Unite for Rights website can serve as a starting point. This is the realization of Article 28 in the UDHR which envisions that future documents will be created to make the rights in the UDHR enforceable in the courts of all countries.
Again, Eleanor guides us. She said: “You cannot live for yourselves alone. You depend on the rest of the world and the rest of the world depends on you.” Acting together, we can do something grander than any of us can do individually, whatever our wealth or position: create an International Bill of Rights!
So Welcome. Bring others. Eleanor also reminded us: “We must do the thing we think we cannot do.” Let’s unite to create a world of well-being for all on Earth.
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