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Thoughts for the 65th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights & the Post-2015 Development Agenda                                   

                                    MOVING CHARITY TODIGNITY

                                    By Shulamith Koening - Founding PresidentPDHRE

                                   

Those whoare working diligently to put together the post-2015 Development Agenda have anenormous responsibility, for they are drafting a roadmap for nothing less thanthe future of humanity. Big words but, when you think about it, what we dobetween now and 2030 will determine the chances of a decent life for billions onthis planet for generations to come.

Governments, international institutions, academics and civil societyorganizations have been called upon to develop the post-2015 development agendain a way that covers all development issues and concerns, while going beyond thestatistically-based targets of the fragmented MDGs, and at the same timeproducing a document containing a limited yet compelling enumeration of theissues facing humanity Many individuals and groups consulted about what shouldguide and ensure the success of the development process have stressed anundeniable imperative, which seems to be losing ground in the current draftingprocess. That imperative is that all the people of the world must understand,know and own human rights as interconnected, interrelated and indivisible.Over 160 nations have ratified theInternational Human Rights Covenants and all UN member states have pledged totake action to achieveuniversalrespect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for allwithout distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.But howmuch do WE, the peoples of the United Nations for whom the UN Charter wasadopted know about these human rights? Do we have the tools to enhance theirrelevance to our lives, to our future and the future of new generations?So, in order for human rights to speakto the aspirations and hopes of humanity, they must be part of the agreed agendafor economic, social and human development.

Letus join hands, to facilitate and integrate knowledge and ownership of humanrights as a way of life into the lives of all people everywhere and employ thepost-2015 development agenda to enable women and men across the globe to write anew narrative, to paint a new picture, to walk a new walk, guided by thisknowledge and ownership of human rights as a way of life.

Everythingis arbitrary and often it ends by being public policy. It is our responsibilityto take leadership and ask several more to join us in designing the first stepsto make it a reality. Such leadership needs to be vocal, credible and respected,charged to analyze and set forth the stages needed for imbedding in the world anongoing process of learning about human rights as relevant to all the post-2015issues. This must be well thought-out immediately!!It may lead to considering the next stepof creating yet another independent panel of social scientists, religious andcultural leaders and well-known community leaders to discuss and give guidanceto how practically integrate a process of ongoing learning throughout the world,to be across all issues and objective of the post-2015 development agenda.There is no other option!! – Indeed thefuture of the world can be the post-2015 development agenda. Human Rightslearning must become an overriding priority of the post 2015 development agenda,one that creates the opportunity for people across the world to join hands,guided by the holistic vision and practical mission of human rights as a way oflife, to free themselves from the shackles of neocolonialism, to take part inthedesign and implementation ofmeaningfuleconomic and socialtransformation.

pdhre@igc.orgwww.pdhre.org