THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS: A SOURCE OF EMPOWERMENT AND A NEW VISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS “… we believe it is impossible to implement human rights without a sense of collective responsibility. Indeed, if the whole of humanity is one interconnected body, then an injury to any member is an injury to the body as a whole. Thus it behooves every individual member of the human family to take action whenever and wherever human rights violations occur. Some links between human rights and responsibilities are already generally accepted. Legal rights guaranteed by the existing human rights instruments are implicitly balanced by responsibilities, and states are obligated to respect human rights under international law. Likewise, the notion of responsibility is widely acknowledged in its narrow criminal and tort law sense. Yet in the Baháí perspective, the concept of responsibility in the context of human rights encompasses the responsibility devolving upon every person, as a divinely-created being, to recognize the essential oneness of the human race and to promote the human rights of others with this motivation. Thus, it seems to us essential to broaden the conceptual framework for addressing human rights problems from an adversarial paradigm -- pitting the government against the individual citizen -- to a cooperative one, where we consider relations among all human beings as members of one community. In this context, everyone has an essential role to play in implementing fundamental human rights. When individuals assume responsibility for ensuring each others human rights the foundation for unity will be firmly established. In addition, recognition of such a responsibility to promote human rights can empower ordinary people and give them a new sense of purpose and dignity. As stated in the Baháí writings: And the honour and distinction of the individual consist in this, that he among all the worlds multitudes should become a source of social good. Is any larger bounty conceivable than this, that an individual, looking within himself, should find that by the confirming grace of God he has become the cause of peace and well-being, of happiness and advantage to his fellow men? No, by the one true God, there is no greater bliss, no more complete delight. (Abdul-Bahá, Secret of Divine Civilization , pp. 2-3.) (Bahai International Community, 1993)
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 01:04:00 +0000
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