Human Rights Promoted by the Association of World Citizens

By president Douglas Mattern

The Association of World Citizens (AWC) has promoted Human Rights since our first international peace conference in 1975.

This meeting was held in honor of the 30 th anniversary of the United Nations, and appropriately took place in San Francisco , the founding home of the UN.

Through the years AWC has promoted the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, which is one of most important historical documents that states in clear language what must be the social, economic and political rights of all people.

Country branches of AWC have made a significant contribution to Human Rights with their own documents and activities.

Examples of the work to promote human right from AWC headquarters in San Francisco are as follows:

In 2003 AWC reissued the document A Human Manifesto that was originally published in 1972 through the inspiration of U. Thant, who was the United Nations Secretary General at the time.

The original issue of A Human Manifesto was endorsed by a myriad of highly respected individuals around the world.

This included Pablo Casals, Buckminister Fuller, Yehudi Menuhin, Linus Pauling, Arnold Toynbee, Leonard Bernstein, many Heads of State, religious leaders, Nobel prizewinners, educators, and more.

When AWC reissued A Human Manifesto in 2003 it was endorsed by highly respected individuals from around the world.. This included 4 Heads of States, and 10 Nobel Peaceprize winners.

Former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali was an endorser, along with Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, famous conductors Zubin Mehta, and Rostropovich, former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, His Holiness the 14 th Dalia Lama, President Oscar Arias Sanchez, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Elie Wiesel, Stanford University President John Hennessy, Walter Cronkite, and many others of equal stature.

The Manifesto is short with a fundamental Human Rights message. Statements include:

We have the obligation to place human rights the primary concern of society. The Manifesto states our planet is in jeopardy because the air is being fouled and the waters and soil are being poisoned and the human increase in population . The Manifesto states: We have the obligation to safeguard the delicate balances of the natural environment and to develop the world's resources for the common good.

Of special importance to AWC are the statements: We have the obligation to free our world of war by creating an enduring basis for world peace and We have the obligation to create a world order in which man neither has to kill or be killed. Another important statement: We declare our citizenship to the world community and our primary allegiance to each other in the family of man .

AWC is working to have A Human Manifesto publicized throughout our communities and particularly in the school system.

AWC's latest contribution to the human rights campaign came this year as a co-sponsor to the Golden Rule Proclamation that was initiated by Mussie Hailu, who is AWC vice-president and AWC Ambassador to Africa .

Mr. Hailu is also the Regional Director for Africa for the United Religions Initiative. This Proclamation is being presented to the United Nation with the goal of the UN proclaiming Golden Rule Day as a yearly celebration.

The Golden Rule has long been a fundamental concept for human rights as it is the same message for all religions.

Christianity: In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you.

Islam: Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.

Judaism: What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.

Buddhism: Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.

Confucianism : Do not to others what you do not want done to yourself.

The same Golden Rule is in Hinduism, Jainism, Native Spirituality, Sikhism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, Unitarianism, Baha'i Faith.

The theme of the UN Golden Rule Proclamation campaign: There will be peace and harmony on earth if we all act according to the Golden Rule.

Last to mention for AWC is our continuing work to achieve a world that is free of all nuclear weapons.

Human rights can never be fully achieved as long as nuclear weapons continue to threaten our very existence.

The total elimination of nuclear weapons remains our highest priority and this goal must be achieved in the shortest possible time.

In this context, stay tuned for the documentary film THE MAN WHO SAVED THE WORLD . The Association of World Citizens performed an important role in this film.

Production of the film began in 2004 when AWC presented the World Citizen Award to Stanislav Petrov, the main character in the film whose decision made at the height of the Cold War may have saved the world from total disaster.

As the conditions today are the same as when Colonel Petrov made his historic decision, it is our hope that this film will initiate a new worldwide movement to eliminate nuclear weapons.

The film will be released this year (2010) to movie theaters, DVD, and a shorter version to television. The film company is Statement Film.

n conclusion : We must continue to work together a World Citizens to build a world free of war and weapons of mass destruction, with a healthy and sustainable environment, and where human rights are honored in every country for all people.