International Human Rights Petition

There is a lot of discussion about human rights that are shared by all people in all countries, but there is little enforcement of them. Fortunately, there is one example in the world today of a system that provides for the genuine enforcement of human rights in 47 countries: the European Convention of Human Rights, which includes countries as diverse as Turkey, France, Romania, England, the Netherlands and Russia. The European Convention includes the European Court of Human Rights which has judges from 47 countries and hears cases in Strasburg, France. Almost all of the decisions of the European Court have been followed in the 47 countries, and lawyers in all 47 countries stand before judges every day and use the exact same European Bill of Rights to protect rights for the people of those countries. What works for 47 countries can work for 192. The goal of the International Bill of Rights Association is to spread the word about a system that is working, and have people sign a document that will ensure the enforcement of rights in the courts of all countries. Declarations of rights are no longer enough. It's time to make rights enforceable in the courts of all countries. Some governments will not do this on their own. The people must lead them. That is why we ask you to be a leader and sign this document.

Rights can be made enforceable in the courts of all countries through the strengthening and expansion of regional human rights documents and courts such as the African Convention on Human Rights, and the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights. Such regional courts will need an International Court of Human Rights to harmonize regional decisions by taking a few cases for that purpose. The International Bill of Rights creates a concrete judicial framework along these lines, while leaving it to the local courts of all countries to be the primary source for enforcement of rights. The local courts will remain the primary guardians for the rights of all people.

It is important to recognize that the idea of an International Bill of Rights is not new. It is part of the ongoing evolution of enforceable human rights documents that began with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which went into force in 1948 with the unanimous approval of all countries. The Universal Declaration is the foundation for humanity's agreement to live together, however, it remains unenforceable and it is no longer sufficient for governments, or for nonprofit organizations, to go about reciting the Universal Declaration as if enough recitations will somehow give it enforcement. It is insufficient to pour a little more cement upon the foundation of the Universal Declaration. The European Convention, and other regional Bills of Rights with regional courts, has begun the building of an actual structure on that foundation and it's time to complete that structure.

The World Wide Web is awakening the power of human consciousness and shared beliefs for equal rights for women, freedom to say what we want about government officials, a healthy environment, and the ability to have a decent education and health care in times of illness. As Eleanor Roosevelt said the night the Universal Declartion was passed, "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." The International Bill of Rights Association empowers people everywhere, one by one, to read for themselves, to sign for themselves, and to share what they are doing with others. The decision you make is a personal one. Through your particpation we can live together in peace and prosperity, with protection for our environment, based upon a set of legally enforceable universal human rights.

Thank you for signing and sharing the International Bill of Rights with others by asking them the same three questions that we have asked you.