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CCharter ofharter of HHuman uman RResponsibesponsibiilitieslities

Let our InukshukInukshuk, , guide

you through this bird’s eye view of

how we are bridging the divide

between rights and responsibilities

around the world.

…is all about you and everything that affects your life.

Take part in this global initiative of reflection and action!

Your knowledge and experience make all the difference!

To find out more about the Canadian experience and say it in your own words in our Blog

Visit our web site at www.respoinfo.org

Cécile Sabourin Fabienne Preséntey

The many projects associated with the Charter reflect a great diversity of implication and implementation.

It’s up to us to come together and choose the most appropriate approach (s). The Charter is a “pre-text” – that serves as a pretext for discussion concerning our responsibilities.

The Charter is what we make of it … wherever we are !

There is no prescribed way of doing things, however, all the projects share a common point of reference.

The Charter is not bound by an exclusive set of ideas or views.

It’s all about bridging the gap between rights and responsibilities.

As Edith Sizoo, one of the founders of the Charter points out …..As Edith Sizoo, one of the founders of the Charter points out …..

“In the beginning, we were most concerned with initiating ‘a callfor responsibility’ – towards a culture of responsibility, in order toattract attention to the need for an international charter dealing with ‘our collective responsibilities’ (Kofi Annan) on every level, including international institutions.”

We decided to take an approach facilitating the

creation of local socially oriented groups, in a variety of sectors,worldwide.

Our goal is to develop a civil society initiative building a culture of responsibility.

With the Charter we work together to : 1. find ways by which to make the “taking of responsibility” part and parcel of “having the right to”!

2. engage a citizen’s call for governments to put in place a set of guidelines, encouraging those concerned, to comply.

EGYPT

NEW ZEALAND & SOUTH PACIFIC

CHINA

Translated into 16 languages and available on every continent, the Charter is ultimately intended to be adopted by the citizens ofthe world and international institutions.

The Charter is not a given ! It is a dynamic ‘work in progress’ engaged in translating the many ways in which we define responsibility into constructive actions. It is distributed, discussed and drawn on, in a variety of ways.

There are as many definitions, as there are ways of implementing responsibility - the Charter initiative recognizes that a western based reference is far from universal!

INDA

PHILIPINES

SOUTH AMERICA

AFRICA

NORTH AMERICAEUROPE

GEORGIA

IRAN

““In Zimbabwe we have the word ‘UBUNTU’, which means In Zimbabwe we have the word ‘UBUNTU’, which means ‘togetherness of being” - responsibility implies being ‘togetherness of being” - responsibility implies being responsible for life, respect for tradition and rejection of any responsible for life, respect for tradition and rejection of any imposed will.”imposed will.”

Responsibility is viewed quite differently from an African perspective, as Responsibility is viewed quite differently from an African perspective, as John Stewart points out. Westerners start off from the point of view of "I“ John Stewart points out. Westerners start off from the point of view of "I“ whereas, for Africans, each person exists because everyone exists.whereas, for Africans, each person exists because everyone exists.

Sudha Reddy has worked to put into place leadership workshops for women. 250 women, coming from differing castes, religious and linguistic communities use the principles of the charter as a pedagogical guide. Even though it is impossible to translate the

exact meaning of each word, the women link the principles directly to their daily lives – illustrating them both in drawing and in writing.

The Charter supports the struggle for the recognition of the rights of the Maori, as written in the treaties, as well as on the questions of water and other environmental issues.

Betsan Martin introduced the notion of responsibility into research projects dealing with the question of indigenous titles of Lake Taupo.

In the Ivory Coast, Senegal,In the Ivory Coast, Senegal,Benin and in Burkina Faso, Benin and in Burkina Faso, socio professional collegessocio professional collegeshave associated themselveshave associated themselvesto the activities of the to the activities of the Charter.Charter.

In Senegal, The Charter has In Senegal, The Charter has been adapted with been adapted with background rap music, in background rap music, in Wolof, French and English! Wolof, French and English! This has given an This has given an opportunity for the youth to opportunity for the youth to take over and disseminate take over and disseminate its principles, in several its principles, in several countries.countries.

It is also used as an audio-It is also used as an audio-tool in post literacy tool in post literacy programs.programs.

The time-honoured folk telling The time-honoured folk telling culture and that of listening to culture and that of listening to the radio,inspired the the radio,inspired the FM Koungheul’, radio station to use radio station to use this form of the Charter, as the this form of the Charter, as the musical intro of one musical intro of one of it’s programsof it’s programs..

A recent regional meeting in Lomé, underlined the A recent regional meeting in Lomé, underlined the complementarities between the values put forth by complementarities between the values put forth by the the Charter of African UnityCharter of African Unity, the , the African Charter of Human African Charter of Human andand People’s Rights People’s Rights and the and the Charter for Human Charter for Human ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities. .

A few of the musicians invloved

The Charter Committee co-sponsored a workshop on Black-Brown Alliances, aimed at identifying commonalities in the experiencesof Black and Brown (Latino) people in the US and promoting ways of working across racial lines to ensure respect for human rights and the needs of children and families.

A project was developed bringing young cultural workers

to the first US Social Forum, where

they shared their creative expressions of responsibility

and convened a discussion around

“What are our responsibilities as artists?”

In the United States

Members of the Carpet Bag Theatre

The Charter takes an inclusive approach The Charter takes an inclusive approach to our many local, regional, cultural and to our many local, regional, cultural and linguistic points of view. linguistic points of view.

The 10 principles are intended as a The 10 principles are intended as a guide for the practice of human guide for the practice of human responsibilities.responsibilities.

Every sector of human activity defines Every sector of human activity defines responsibility differently, according responsibility differently, according to their particular history and currentto their particular history and currentsocio political and economic contexts.socio political and economic contexts.

Established in over 16 countries and on Established in over 16 countries and on every continent; the Charter is a tool for every continent; the Charter is a tool for bridging bridging the gap between rights and the gap between rights and responsibilities andresponsibilities anddeveloping a culture of responsibilitydeveloping a culture of responsibilitySculpture by Uta Stengel, Terre des Hommes