“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world . . . “

The above are the opening words of the Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — a document adopted by an overwhelming majority of the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948 — 48 votes in favor, eight abstentions and two countries, Honduras and Yemen, failed to vote or abstained. Additional paragraphs in the Preamble give voice to the intent of the universal pledge in support of human rights and are followed by thirty Articles that proclaim and enumerate the specific rights of the human family.

It is an amazing document — uplifting to read yet sobering when one considers what has transpired within the human family since the post-World War II years. Yet from the start there is a disclaimer concerning the lofty ideals agreed to by a United Nations committee that drew up the document: “the Universal Declaration was not a binding treaty, only “a standard of achievement” to which nations should aspire.” (Comment by Richard N. Gardner of Columbia University.) As a matter of record, ratification of all the Articles by the governments of the signing nations has not yet been achieved. In this respect the debate continues as nations apply and/or disregard the Declaration pursuant to their own interests. In terms of the actions by the U.S. Senate the United States is a signatory to and/or has ratified only parts of the International Conventions dealing with international conduct since 1949.

The document, following the creation of the United Nations by a few years, was in direct response of the horrors and injustices of World War II. In addition, the Articles in the Declaration of Human Rights express the hope and determination by populations of many countries and countries-to-be to achieve a progressive change in their lives. “In San Francisco the creators of the UN ardently sought, in addition, to establish common standards of human behavior by which all societies could be measured, especially in the field of civil rights. The UN Charter hence embraced the notion of fundamental civil rights, justice, international law, social progress, self-determination, lack of discrimination, and “larger freedom” for all.” (From an article by Stephen Schlesinger in “Charter of the United Nations” published by the Yale University Press, 2014.)

As you read the complete document and additional articles on the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights it becomes clear that we have much work to do — and it seems to me that we cannot rely on our U.S. legislators to take the lead in affirming and putting into practice the Articles of the Declaration. I believe that each of us has the responsibility to engage in that work — not only for the sake of ratification of the 30 articles, but for the sake of honoring and putting into practice the work of the Drafting Committee as embodied in the opening words of the Preamble . . the inherent dignity of each member of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

Greater Brunswick PeaceWorks is taking a step towards this goal by inviting Brunswick and its adjoining communities to observe and celebrate Human Rights Day with music, information and words on Wednesday, December 10, 2014, at 7 p.m. at St. Charles Church on McKeen Street, Brunswick. We ask each participant in this observance to contribute and share a snack or dessert. Please join us and begin a movement to make the Universal Declaration of Human Rights a reality — we don’t have any time to lose.

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Christine DeTroy is a member of PeaceWorks. She lives in Brunswick.