Promoting Adoption
Rights and Humanity has formed a number of strategic partnerships with professional and faith communities bodies in order to encourage wider adoption of the Rights and Humanity Principles of Responsibility.
We held a series of focus group meetings during 2003-6, in order to explore individuals’ understanding of the Principles of Responsibility and to encourage people within these different communities to adopt the Principles as a guide for their own actions.
The workshops with specific faith communities have confirmed the theological basis of the principles. Our aim is to continue these workshops in order to hold one with each of the world’s main religions.
The Armed Forces: Encouraged by the Adjutant General of the British Army, Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Irwin KCB, CBE, Rights and Humanity held a workshop for senior members of the Army, Navy and Air Force in November 2003, at The Royal College of Defence Studies in London, with the involvement of Brigadier Philip Mostyn. The workshop was entitled “Rights and Humanity: From Principles to Practice”. This meeting explored the Rights and Humanity Principles and the Values and Standards of the Armed Forces, with a view to sharing mutual experience and ensuring that ethical principles are put into practice.
The Legal Community: We held two meetings in London to explore the Principles of Responsibility in the context of legal work in the UK. The meetings were addressed by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC and Mr. Ramón Mullerat OBE, Chair of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, in November and December 2003 respectively. These meetings prompted students of University College London to establish ‘Lawyers for Rights and Humanity’.
Judaism: On 11 February, 2004, Rights and Humanity and the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain (RSGB) co-hosted a seminar on Judaism and Human Rights at the Sternberg Centre for Judaism in London. Cherie Blair QC delivered the keynote address to an audience of Rabbis, activists and members of the legal community. Based on our Principles, the Planning Committee identified 6 key areas – Justice, Freedom from Fear and Oppression, Universal access to goods and services, Education, Asylum and Freedom of Expression. Copies of all documents and notes from the meeting were sent to all Reform Judaism synagogues, to educate and motivate congregations to become involved.
Islam: Rights and Humanity and The Muslim College in London co-hosted a workshop on ‘Islam and Human Rights’ at the College in June 2004. The meeting reviewed the Rights and Humanity Principles in the light of the tenets of Islam and developed strategies and priorities for their implementation. The keynote speech was given by Lord Ahmed of Rotherham and the meeting was also addressed by HRH Princess Badiya El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan. The workshop concluded that it was feasible and desirable to set up a Muslim working group on implementing the Principles of Responsibility at the grass roots level. The participants welcomed our Principles as an opportunity to improve dialogue with non-Muslims.
Christianity: In November 2005, Bishop Hugo de Waal convened an ecumenical meeting of senior clergy at Church House, Westminster to discuss with Rights and Humanity the Christian Churches’ role in promoting human rights. Rev Dr Nicholas Sagovsky, Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey, presented the keynote speech, and Canon Dr Christopher Lamb interviewed our President in a forum discussing the relevance of the Principles to the Church. In break-out groups, the delegates discussed how our Principles could be applied to multi-faith engagement, education in values and responsibilities in schools, and human rights issues such as the treatment of asylum-seekers.