SUPPORT OUR CALL ON GOVERNMENTS!

The following CALL ON GOVERNMENTS issued by members of the Forum on Ethics & Responsibilities appeals to Governments of Member States of the United Nations to take the historic and courageous decision of starting up a process toward the creation of a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities as a complement to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Peoples all around the globe expect governments to respond to the current crises by overcoming national interests and creating an international reference text pertaining to the obligation to assume responsibility, to evaluate the impacts of far-reaching decisions and to account for the consequences of actions.
Individuals and organizations are invited to sign this CALL as well, thus multiplying and reinforcing the voice of the peoples of the world.

You can download the printed version of the following text as well as the Charter draft so you can read it. If you wish to support this call, contact Edith Sizoo (click on her name and scroll down to the end of the page to get a message form) to let her know that you would like to sign, mentioning:
 your name
 your country
 your e-mail address (it will not be made available on line)
 your organization and/or occupation, and please specify if you are signing as an individual or for your organization
 any further comments (we are interested in your opinions!) if you so wish

The list of signatories in the online text does not display e-mail addresses, only names and organizations/occupations.

Call on Governments

For a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities To be put on the agenda of the international community

The undersigned, members of the international Forum of Ethics & Responsibility, [1] who represent professional and social networks nationally and internationally, call on their respective governments to show determination to address the current crises facing humanity and the planet.

Growing exasperation
In numerous countries of the world pressures on the population have been aggravated by environmental disasters and the consequences of the financial and economic crises. There is also little hope of reaching effective agreements at the international political level.

A missing link
The protection of Human Rights is laid down in the Universal Declaration of 1948 and the subsequent conventions for its implementation that gave rise to national and international jurisprudence. There is no such international reference text pertaining to the obligation to assume responsibility, to evaluate the impacts of far-reaching decisions and to account for the consequences of actions, whether the actors are individuals, organizations, corporate businesses or governments.
And yet, responsibility for safeguarding the environment and ensuring a life of dignity for the present and future generations is a common task that has to be shared by all, be it at different degrees.

Filling a gap
A new international ethical founding text is needed, a “third pillar” for international life, as an indispensable complement to the Charter of the United Nations, which covers peace and development, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A Charter of Universal Responsibilities will be certain to stimulate the application of the principle of precaution, to encourage sustainable use of natural resources, and to enhance social equity and well-being. Moreover, it can provide an international legal base to counteract breaches of responsibility at various levels and sectors of human activity.

1992… a moment of hope
Twenty years ago, the first Earth Summit took place in Rio. Many of the people involved had high hopes for global progress. Three years earlier, the Berlin wall had fallen and a new peaceful world order was supposed to emerge, supported by a worldwide extension of democratic rule and the free market. At the same time, the 1992 Rio Summit acknowledged that climate change and environmental degradation had to be addressed. The concept of sustainable development was introduced. It was meant to guide efforts to bring about consistency among environmental, economic, and social activities.

2012… disenchantment
Twenty years later, who could deny the disenchantment? The global economy has produced prosperity, but high levels of poverty remain, and inequality has increased significantly. In many countries social cohesion is at risk. And in spite of the idea of sustainable development, the actual negative impact of human activities on the biosphere and its subsequent impact on human beings are ever growing. All this is raising doubts regarding the dominant development model and the space it is leaving to financial capitalism.
High hopes that the UN Conference called RIO+20, held in June 2012, would turn the tide, proved to be unfounded. Among citizens, it was generally felt that the final Declaration of the Heads of State entitled “The future we want”, showed that another historical moment had dramatically been missed.

After Rio+20: which way forward ? All around the world, there is widespread concern about the unsatisfying outcome of the Rio+20 Conference. At the same time, there is great desire emerging from civil societies to find a way forward to meet the challenges of this millennium. How?
First, the issue of global interdependence has to be squarely addressed. Political and economic leaders, whose actions affect the whole world, are only accountable to their constituency or shareholders, and they are legally bound only in terms of their national laws. Global interdependence, however, requires accountability at the international level.
Second, the current international agenda addresses issues like: a) green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and b) the institutional framework for sustainable development. These are valid issues indeed. However, the question is whether the discussions on these themes will address the fundamental crisis underlying the current environmental, economic, financial and social crises, i.e. the absence of an unequivocal agreement on the essential question of who is responsible for what and accountable to whom.

Responsibility… a universal idea
The idea of responsibility can be found in every culture. It is the core of social fabric, the basis of reciprocity in human relations, and the corollary of human rights. And just like global interdependence among all countries, responsibilities have become universal.
We are thinking of Bangladesh and other low-lying countries or island states. With the rising of the sea due to greenhouse gases and climate change, their very existence is at stake. Is this the outcome of their own actions, or a result of wider negligence? Who to turn to when it comes to setting up a coordinated plan to diminish this silent crime against humanity? Identifying responsibilities is needed in order to build paths to the solutions to such disasters.
We see a call for responsibility emerging everywhere, typically illustrated by a worldwide movement in favor of corporate social responsibility. These calls need to be supported; they need to be given a political response at the international level. Otherwise, the response may only be to search for scapegoats.
The time has come to accept the fact that global interdependence must be translated into international directives. This is why the UN General Assembly should assume the responsibility of building a third pillar to sustain the global community.

Civil societies have taken the lead …
Over the last ten years, the undersigned, participants in the international Forum of Ethics & Responsibilities, have initiated, with a number of social and professional groups, a process in some twenty countries around the world aiming to generate “cultures of responsibility.” Given the unprecedented seriousness of the situation humanity is now facing, we feel that the time has come to turn to our governments to ask them to follow up on these initiatives, and to consolidate and reinforce them by establishing an international reference text on human responsibilities.

… Will governments follow up?
We are calling on national and international leaders to exercise courage and discernment in their duties to the people who elected them. We call on them to commit themselves through a new and concrete approach to the creation of a “community of destiny” based on the recognition of the challenges to be shared.
We are at the crossroads of history. In order to bring about a moment of decisive change, we are asking our governments to support any initiative from a country or a group of countries aiming to start up a process at the international governmental level that sets out a roadmap to the adoption of a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities. . [2]

Call

Charter draft

Charter draft

Photo credits:
(above) Community Art - Responsibility by Roland Tanglao
(below) Pen & Ink by Luca Zappa

This Call on Governments is issued by partners of the Forum of Ethics & Responsibilities and supported by the persons and organizations mentioned below

To contact someone in this list, click on his or her name. You will get a page with a form through which you can send a message.

Partners of the Forum of Ethics & Responsibilities

General Coordination team
 General Coordinator: Edith Sizoo
 Communication Officer: Nadia Gianoli

Representatives of Professional or Social Networks
 Asian Alliance for Solidarity Economy: Ben Quiñones (Philippines)
 IRESCA – Company Managers: Michel Dessaigne (France)
 European SPES-forum – Business Ethics: Hendrik Opdebeeck (Belgium)
 World Forum Lille / Responsible Economy – Corporate Social Responsibility: Climène Koechlin (France)
 RESPONSE – Governance & Environmental Responsibility: Te Kawehau Hoskins (New Zealand)
 International Network in Environmental Education: Yolanda Ziaka (Greece)
 Human Rights and Responsibilities: V.J. Byra Reddy (India)
 Jurists Network: Philippe Pedrot
 International Alliance of Military for Peace and Security: Manfred Rosenberger (Germany/France)
 International Alliance of Journalists: Manola Gardez (France)
 Association Monde Pluriel and Global Classroom Initiative – Youth Sector: Pinky Cupino (Philippines), Lydia Nicollet (France), and Delphine Leroux (France)
 Community Organizers: Nina Gregg (USA)
 Social Pacts: Diego Escobar (Colombia)
 Migrants: Ricardo Jiménez (Chile)
 International Alliance of Inhabitants: Cristina Reynals (Argentina) and Cesare Ottolini (Italy)
 Retirees: Pierre Caro (France)
 Global Ethics Network for Applied Ethics: Christoph Stueckelberger (Switzerland) and Nadia Gianoli (Switzerland)

Regional Representatives
 ASIA: Sudha Reddy
 LATIN AMERICA except South Cone: Isis de Palma
 LATIN AMERICA South Cone: Ricardo Jiménez
 PACIFIC: Betsan Martin

Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation (FPH)
 Chairman of the Board, Pierre Calame

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Persons and Organizations supporting the CALL ON GOVERNMENTS

Organizations

 INGENIEURS SANS FRONTIERES (France), Tanguy MARTIN, Chairman
 CENTRE DES JEUNES DIRIGEANTS pour une économie au service de l’Homme et de la Vie (France), Michel MEUNIER, Chairman
 Instituto Ágora em Defesa do Eleitor e de Democracia (Brazil), Gilberto de Palma, Institutional Director
 Alampyme.BR Associação Latinoamericana de Micro, Pequenas e Médias Empresas (Brazil), Sergio Miletto, Chairman
 APPEND (Philippines): Virginia P. Juan, President
 THAINES & BODAH CENTRE FOR EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT (USA): Eliane Thaines Bodah
 CHANGE MOB-Project solutions (Brazil): João Felipe Scarpelini, Chairman
 FICEMÉA Fédération internationale des centres d’entraînement aux méthodes d’éducation active (Belgium): Marc Geneve, Secretary General
 Maximo T. Kalaw Institute for Sustainable Development (Philippines): Sixto K. Rojas, Presidente
 K+e Ventures, Asia (Philippines): Eduardo Canela, owner
 Observatório da Mulher (Brazil): Rachel Moreno, General Coordinator
 On Eagle’s Wings Development Foundation (Philippines): Jeanne-Marie Obligacion-Bernardo,Executive Director
 Red Peruana de Comercio Justo y Consumo Ético (Peru): Alfonso Cotera Fretel, Executive Director
 Life Learning Organization of PEACE Foundation (Philippines): Pilar Habito, Chief Executive Officer
 Instituto Ecoar para a Cidadania (Brazil): Miriam Duailibi, Chairperson
 Instituto Polis (Brazil): Hamilton Faria, Director
 Instituto Hartmann Regueira (Brazil): Cecília Regueira, Executive Director
 Escola de Governo (Brazil): Maurício Jorge Piragino
 Fórum Educação “Infançias e Escolas da Natureza” da Unirio (Brazil): Léa Tiriba, Assistant Professor- Our Voice (Indonesia), Hartoyo
 Nova Centre per a la Innovació Social (Catalonia, Spain): Martí Olivella, Director
 AIM (India): Sanjay K. Rai, Director
 Centre for Social Research (India): Dr. Ranjana Kumari, Director
 Yaakah Enterprise (Nepal): Rajesh Bajracharya
 South Asia Peace Alliance (SAPA) (India): Vijay Bharatiya & Rita Roy, SAPA Secretariat
 Urban Research Centre (India): Gururaj Budhya, Secretary
 Centre for Sri Lankan Studies (Sri Lanka): Jagath Bandara, Director; Waruni Chandrasena, Secretary
 Sri Lanka United Nations Friendship Organisation (SUNFO) (Sri Lanka): Deshapriya S. Wijetunge, Director General
 Global Call to Action against Poverty - GCAP National coalition in Sri Lanka
 Global Youth Service Day Asia & Pacific Regional Partners Coordinating Center (Sri Lanka)
 Eco Nest – Asha Sadam (India): Ajit Muricken
 Yayasan Tanah Merdeka (Indonesia): LahmudinYoto, Director
 Amigos do Meio Ambiente (AMA) and Rede de Articulação e Mobilização em Comunicação Ambiental (RAMA) (Brazil): Liliana Peixinho, Founder and Coordinator
 Asamblea para la recuperaciòn del barrio Ejercito de los Andes (Argentina): Miguel Ojeda, Neighborhood representative for the organization in Buenos Aires
 Centro integral comunitario En-Haccore (Argentina): Bilma Acuña, Director
 [Asociación Civil Nuestro Hogar-http://www.redbocabarracas.org.ar/a...] (Argentina): Susana Funes, organization representative
 Movimiento en defensa de la vivienda familiar (Argentina): Ernesto Paez, Chairman
 Asociación Civil Hábitat y Vida (ACHYV) (Argentina): José Chuza Ledesma, representative
 Federación Todos Juntos (Argentina): Marina Thia, Chairperson
 Asociación Civil Sembrar Conciencia (Argentina): José Acuña, representative
 Organización Social El Salvador por un Movimiento Afrouruguayo (Uruguay): Rivero Ramón Orlando, Secretary
 Confédération Française Démocratique du Travail (CFDT) (France): Patrick Pierron, National Secretary
 Initiative citoyenne pour un mode de vie durable au Québec (Quebec, Canada): Jean Quimet, Spokesperson
 Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises & Development (FRIEND) (Fiji): Sashi Kiran, Founder and Director
 Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) (Netherlands, Germany, France): Margriet Samwel, Coordinator Water

Individuals

 Fábio Konder Comparato (Brazil): Professor Emeritus at the Law School of the University of São Paulo
 Pedro B.A. Dallari (Brazil): Professor of International Law
 Mireille ZUGMEYER, France, retired
 Carlinhos Antunes (Brazil): Musician and Historian
 Gisela GOROVITZ (Brazil): Lawyer and certified translator
 John Clammer (Japan): Professor at the United Nations University, Tokyo
 Melvyn P. Lopez (USA): information technology
 Maria Olivia Martin Santana (Brazil)
 Raimundo Jerusalem Marques Mota (Brazil): Cultural manager and producer
 Pierre & Mi Jo Chevalier (France): retired
 Brigitte Lesquier (France): trainer for elderly or disabled persons
 Pierre Tourme (France): retired
 Michelle Poirier (France): retired
 Médard Lebot (France): retired
 Benito Lopulalan (Indonesia): journalist and Program Advisor for Jayasan Aksi Kui Foundation
 Marisa Greeb (Brazil): Socio-Drama teacher
 Flávia Muniz Cirilo (Brazil): Singer songwriter
 Caio Magri (Brazil): Sociologist
 Luiz Gabriel de Pieri (Brazil): Physicist, 1st Municipal Secretary in São Paolo of the Socialist Party of Brazil
 Pedro Epifanio Syllos (Brazil): Assistant at Instituto Fluminense de Assistência Comunitania
 Malak Poppovic (Brazil): Economist and Human Rights Advisor
 Nicolas Gomez (Brazil): Specialist in Environmental Education and Sustainable Architecture
 Nathalie Gay (France): manager at the French national health insurance Sécurité Sociale
 Yanto Salim (Indonesia):Explorer oil and gas
 Ana Maria Wilheim (Brazil), sociologist
 Alberto Lacuesta (Brazil)
 Tri Hascaryo (Indonesia): member of Koperasi Realino
 Ari Primantoro (Indonesia): Bina Swadaya Ronsatta for Community Empowerment
 Dr. Ananta Giri (India): Asian Forum of Social Theory
 Asit Das (India): researcher & social activist
 Dr. Subhash Sharma (India): Professor at Indus Business Academy
 Naresh Pradhan (Nepal): COMMACT Nepal
 F. Bambang Kuntjoro (Indonesia): self-employed private businessman
 Yovita Hety Indriani (Indonesia): editor
 Budi Ain (Indonesia): Forum Studi Realino
 Robert EppeDando (Indonesia): Chairman of KOMPPALA (Komunitas Petani Pelestari Alam / Farmer Community for Nature Conservation), KOMPIGAR (Komunitas Petani Gaharu / Farmer Community for AgarWood Cultivation), and FlosMIC (Flores MUSIC Center)
 Lodewyk Heumasse (Indonesia): Quality Assurance Manager of PT. Konimex Pharmaceutical Laboratories
 Yana Ismayana (Indonesia): Researcher, B_Trust Advisory Group
 Greg S Uyanto (Indonesia): employee of a private company in Jakarta
 Suadi Sa’ad (Indonesia): Professor at Dosen dan Pembantu Rektor III (Bidang Kemahasiswaan) Lembaga, and at Institut Agama Islam Negeri (IAIN)
 Natalia Ita Septiana (Indonesia): works for Yayasan Bina Swadaya
 Carlos Cesar Armando (Argentina): Federación de las Villas y Barrios Carenciados
 Alexander Silvera Correa (Uruguay): member of Organización Social El Salvador por un Movimiento Afrouruguayo
 Placido Peñarrieta (Argentina): Graphic worker and grassroots leader at Cooperativa de Trabajo Chilavert Artes Gráficas Ltda.
 Gede Raka (Indonesia): Management Consultant at PT. Integre Quadro
 Agus Purwadianto (Indonesia): Professor in Forensic Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta; Chair of Ethics Reviewer Board - Indonesian Medical Association; Vice chair of Indonesian Bioethics Commission
 Hartoyo (Indonesia): Member of Ourvoice
 Ari Primantoro (Indonesia): Community empowerment activist at Bina Swadaya Konsultan
 Adriana Guazzelli Charoux (Brazil): Researcher
 Maria Lúcia Grossi Zunti (Brazil): Writer, historian, Master in Education / UFES, member of Academia Feminina Espírito-Santense de Letras - AFESL
 Muriel Auduc (France): Socio-cultural facilitator
 Amaury Gourde (France): Marine pilot
 Patrick Coeurdray (France): Organization leader (Révéa Club Seniors)
 Geneviève Caro (France): Retired nurse
 Chico Whitaker (Brazil): Member of Comissão Brasileira de Justiça e Paz, awarded Alternative Nobel Prize in 2006
 Rachel Trajber (Brazil): Antropologist, linguist and environmental educator
 José Domingos Teixeira Vasconcelos (Brazil): Physicist, researcher in scientific education
 Pedro Piccolo Contesini (Brazil): Sociologist
 Eliseu Gabriel (Brasil): Alderman São Paulo City Hall
 Adriana Guazzelli Charoux (Brazil: Researcher
 Antoine Garapon (France): Jurist