Universal Rights

Recognizing the inherent dignity, worth, and Value of All as members of One Family of Life, a basic list of Universal Rights can be articulated, which flow from the Universal Law and Universal Values derived from the Logos of the Universe.

These Rights are distinct from the Universal Aspirations, which are not guaranteed, but rather are the Ideal we are striving towards.

United Nations Declaration of Human Rights

The UN Declaration of Human Rights sets forth the following general concepts:

1. All human beings are born free and equal, and should act towards one another in the spirit of one family.
2. Everyone is entitled to the same rights and freedoms without discrimination.
3. Everyone has the right to life and to live in freedom and safety.
4. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.
5. No one shall be subjected to torture, or to cruel or degrading treatment.
6. Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
7. The law is universal, and should be applied in the same manner to all.
8. Everyone has the right to obtain access to systems of justice.
9. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.
10. Everyone has the right a fair, equal, public hearing by an independent and impartial jury.
11. Everyone has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a fair and impartial public trial. Consequences should correspond to the laws and penalties defined at the time of the offence.
12. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with their privacy, family, home, correspondence, honor, or reputation.
13. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement within and between countries.
14. Everyone has the right to seek asylum in another country.
15. Everyone has the right to a nationality, and the right to change nationality.
16. Everyone has the right to voluntarily marry and found a family, which is entitled to protection by society and state. No one may be compelled to marry.
17. Everyone has the right to own things, which cannot be arbitrarily taken away.
18. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, and the right to manifest their beliefs in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.
19. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and frontiers.
20. Everyone has the right to peaceful assembly and association, and no one may be compelled to belong to an association.
21. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of their country, equal access to public services, and universal and equal voting rights in regular, secret, and free voting procedures.
22. Everyone, as a member of society, has a right to social security and is entitled to realization of the economic, social, and cultural rights indispensable for dignity and development.
23. Everyone has the right to work in just and favorable conditions, with just, favorable, and equal pay for equal work, at a level that when supplemented by other means of social protection ensures them and their family of a dignified existence.
24. Everyone has the right to rest, leisure, reasonable working hours, and periodic holidays.
25. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of them and their family, including food, clothing, housing, water, medical care, and social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age, or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond their control, with special care and assistance due to mothers and children.
26. Everyone has the right to education that helps them rise towards the full development of their human personality and potential. Education should promote universal values, understanding, tolerance, and friendship among all. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
27. Everyone has the right to freely participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts, and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
28. Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth can be fully realized.
29. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of their personality is possible. The rights and freedoms of each individual shall be limited by law solely for the purpose of securing the rights and freedoms of others and meeting the just requirements of morality, public order, and the general welfare. Rights and freedoms may never be exercised contrary to the universal purposes, principles, and values of society.
30. No individual, group, or state has the right to destroy universal rights.

These Universal Rights Are Not Manifest in the Old World

While this articulation reasonably represents the basic rights and freedoms that a heart of Love would desire for one it Loves, we have struggled to operationalize them.

In every country of the world, we find massive inequalities, corruption and unequal treatment in society and law, and percentage of society struggling for survival, let alone flourishing.

Clearly, despite our progress, the way we are organizing and governing our Selves is not causing the fruits of joy, justice, and abundance to rain down upon All.

What Kind Of Society Could Guarantee Such Rights?

The question again returns to what kind of a Society could guarantee such rights?

If we All desire those rights and freedoms, and desire them for All, what kind of a Society would we have to design and build such that those rights and freedoms could manifest for All?

And what kind of Way would we need to Co-Operate such that every being on earth had the genuine freedom and opportunity to develop in an environment and society in which they could realize the fullness of their unique potential as part of a harmonious and familial Whole?

---