News from the near future

A Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities (news from the near future)

Can the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ever be more than a set of aspirations, which do not reflect the world we live in? The UDHR has been in place since 1948. More than 70 years later, there is still no mandate behind it and only around 50 countries – out of the 192 sovereign States that comprise the United Nations – are members of the Human Rights Council.

One might reasonably argue that unilaterally enshrining the 30 Articles of the UDHR within the laws of any society, nation or country is a step in the right direction, but would that go far enough? What would happen if we reinterpreted those rights as a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities?

As you'll see below, my version is surprisingly authoritarian, underlying the cliché that the further to the left you venture, the more to the right you become.

 

R1. Everyone will respect the dignity and rights of others, with conscience and reasoning. (No issues here, as long as we all play fair.)

R2. Everyone will respect everyone else’s race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. (Not sure quite how we'd respect the opinions of bigots – give them their own TV network, maybe?)

R3. Everyone is responsible for his or her own life, liberty and security. (Ooh, guns.)

R4. No one will enslave another or hold another person in servitude. (Wave goodbye to your cheap clothes and electronic goods.)

R5. No one shall torture, be cruel to, degrade or punish another person. (That’s Reality Television, several newspapers, and a few news shows out of business then.)

R6. Everyone must recognize everyone before the law. (Maybe a microchip or ID card would help that process...)

R7. You must afford everyone equal protection of the law. (Even if they don't have money or influence with the judiciary.)

R8. Everyone is responsible for ensuring tribunals are fair. (Maybe we could televise them.)

R9. No one shall arbitrarily arrest, detain or exile another. (Even if they are non-Caucasian. I envisage a lot of retraining here!)

R10. All public hearings must be fair, independent and impartial. (Even the ones for unlawful wars or lying to Congress.)

R11. You have a responsibility to be innocent according to law in a public trial. (Hooray, an end to crime.) And you can only commit an offence if it wasn’t a penal offence, under national or international law, when you did it. (Erm…run that by me again?)

R12. Don’t interfere arbitrarily in other people’s privacy, family, home or correspondence. Don’t attack their honor and reputation. (To put it another way: Don’t print or read tabloid newspapers, and avoid social media sites.)

R13. You are responsible for finding your own place to live, in your own country. You are also responsible for going to another country if you don’t like it, and you can come back if you don’t like it there either.

R14. You are responsible for seeking asylum if you’re being persecuted. You cannot do this if you’ve committed non-political crimes or gone against the purposes and principles (and responsibilities!) of the United Nations.

R15. Everyone has the responsibility to support his / her / their nation. Alternatively, they can change their nationality and support that one instead. (The really wealthy people can just go live on an island.)

R16. If you form a relationship and have a family, you are responsible for them, first and foremost. Not the State – you. You must recognize and protect the family, as the natural and fundamental group unit of society. No fertilization without representation.

R17. You are responsible for getting your own property, either alone or with others. And you cannot take someone else’s property. (Even if you call their land your land.)

R18. You must decide what to believe and follow those beliefs. Or have no beliefs and do likewise. Or change your mind. (And so must everyone else – they don’t need you to tell them what to believe and how to live. It’ll be just like that scene in Monty Python’s Life of Brian.)

R19. You must think for yourself and ensure others do the same without interference from people like you – or like them. (Bye bye TV evangelists.)

R20. You must meet peacefully. (Is this an end to bars?) You must not compel others to join your association or be compelled by someone else. (No more protests in the street or online petitions.)

R21. You must take part in the government of your country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. (In a word: vote.) You must use and support public services. (E.g. The Library.) You must ensure that any government abides by the will of the people, and again don’t forget to vote.

R22. You must take only the social security to which you are entitled. (Or, as it’s also known: taxpayers' dollars. Not sure if tax cuts amount to social security for wealthy folks.)

R23. You must work, but you can choose which job you do. When you’re unemployed, don’t take more than your fair share. Everyone must demand equal pay for equal work completed. (Smokers, slackers and Facebookers, take note.) Everyone must pay or receive favorable remuneration, for a dignified life for themselves and their family. (It’s not just for bankers, celebrities, sports stars, models and politicians anymore.) Everyone must form or join a trade union. (However, as you can't compel anyone else now, you may have to form your own union and hope for the best.)

R24. Everyone must take responsibility for their own rest and leisure, for keeping to their working hours and for taking their paid vacations. (And hopefully there’ll be a job to come back to.)

R25. You are responsible for creating an adequate standard of living for the health and well being of you and your family. This includes feeding and clothing them, keeping a roof over their heads, keeping them healthy and providing for their long-term well being. Mothers and children must seek special care and assistance where required. And treat all children the same whether they’re born in marriage or not. (You created them, so you deal with them for life.)

R26. You have a responsibility to acquire an education – to turn up, pay attention and learn. (If you enter higher education, you better damn well do the studying and pass the exams. Gap year, my ass.) While being educated, develop yourself and respect and befriend others. Parents must be actively involved in the education of their children, preferably before they start school. (Parents’ night, the Christmas school concert and a PTA meeting won’t even scratch the surface.)

R27. Everyone must participate in their community’s cultural life, enjoy the arts and share in scientific advancement and its benefits. (That means leaving your house.) Everyone must protect the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of themselves or others. (So no more illegal streaming or file sharing.)

R28. Everyone must support and maintain the social and international order that these responsibilities create. (Whether you like it or not!)

R29. You must serve your community and take responsibility for your own development. You must obey the law, respect rights and freedoms of others and meet standards of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society - as long as it doesn’t violate any of the other responsibilities. (Not sure what happens for the undemocratic societies.)

R30. You must not cite this document as an excuse for any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights, freedoms and mandatory responsibilities set forth herein. Good luck with that.

Enjoy your utopia – I give it two weeks, at best.