Although some philosophers and NGOs have put forward strong arguments in favor of defining the measure of people’s responsibility and have even presented “codes” and “declarations” in defense of this argument, the human rights community as a whole has remained silent on this debate. The reason is that many governments make the “bestowal” of rights conditional on certain duties imposed on people by a government or ruler, making the very idea of human rights inherently meaningless. And yet, of course, all of us – individuals and groups – must take the rights of others seriously, not abuse them, but respect them as our own. And in this light, Article 29 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes that: “1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible. 2. 2. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
Why are we talking about people’s rights and not their responsibilities?
