MODULE 2, TOPIC 4 ACTIVITIES

Group or class discussion or essay

Why is ‘a common understanding of these rights and freedoms’ between individuals and countries of the greatest importance for the full realisation of the pledge by all the countries signing the UDHR?

Here, the Preamble flags up the importance of human rights education, which is made explicit in the next and final paragraph of the Preamble; if you pledge something but don’t really know and understand what you are pledging, you are unlikely to be able to keep faith with the pledge you have made.

Why do countries, communities or individuals need to have ‘ideas and principles in common’? This is the essence of the shared reality necessary for a peaceful planet Earth —- and there are forces at work that do not want to see a peaceful planet.

Who and why? Much of geopolitics is carefully choreographed by the power-hungry and the greedy. Dictators are decried by governments that operate as the mouthpieces of corporations that make huge fortunes from conflict. Corrupt politicians are kept in power by their paymasters, who sell them arms and turn a blind eye to tyranny and corruption.

This is why ‘a common understanding of these rights and freedoms’ between individuals and countries is of the greatest importance for the full realisation of this pledge. As you study the Articles of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, consider which of the rights and freedoms are necessary for the full realisation of this pledge. The power brokers would rather you didn’t know.