For all that certain countries seem inclined toward bickering, posturing and outright hostility, I think it might be interesting to compile a statement which is built entirely from quoting the founding documents of different nations. You may or may not recognize these words as coming from your own country’s most sacrosanct legal framework.
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[The state] is a sovereign Republic, the constitution of which shall guarantee the inviolability of human dignity and the freedom and rights of the individual as well as promoting justice in society. All citizens have equal social dignity and are equal before the law, without distinction of sex, race, language, religion, political opinion, personal and social conditions. All persons are entitled to protection of their life, body and dignity.
The fundamental objectives of [the state] are: to build a free, just and unified society; to guarantee national development; to eradicate poverty and substandard living conditions and to reduce social and regional inequalities; and to promote the well-being of all, without prejudice as to origin, race, sex, color, age and any other forms of discrimination.
It is the duty of [the state] to remove those obstacles of an economic or social nature which constrain the freedom and equality of citizens, thereby impeding the full development of the human person and the effective participation of all workers in the political, economic and social organisation of the country. No free person shall be taken, imprisoned, outlawed, banished, or in any way destroyed, nor will [the state] proceed against or prosecute him, except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land.
[The state] shall establish diplomatic as well as political, economic and cultural relations with all friendly countries, on principles of complete equality, independence, mutual respect, noninterference in each other’s affairs and mutual benefit. [The state] shall promote unity with the world public defending independence, resolutely support and encourage the struggle of all peoples who oppose all forms of aggression and interference and fight for their countries’ independence and national and class emancipation.
[The duties of the state include]: raising the level of public awareness in all areas, through the proper use of the press, mass media, and other means; free education and physical training for everyone at all levels, and the facilitation and expansion of higher education; and strengthening the spirit of inquiry, investigation, and innovation in all areas of science, technology, and culture, as well as [religious] studies, by establishing research centres and encouraging researchers.
[The state] shall: guarantee equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all civil, political, social, cultural and economic rights, including the right to equal pay for equal work and other related benefits; promote women’s rights through affirmative action; combat harmful customs and traditions which undermine the dignity and the status of women; provide maternity and child care and medical care for pregnant women; and protect the rights of the child as provided in the international and regional conventions ratified by [the state].
Every person shall have the right freely to express and disseminate his opinions in speech, writing and pictures, and to inform himself without hindrance from generally accessible sources. Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by means of broadcasts shall be guaranteed. There shall be no censorship.
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All things considered, there’s some pretty good stuff in there, isn’t there? Sure, it’s by no means complete, but it seems like an awfully good start.
So…. would it surprise you to learn that in compiling this I have drawn from the highest laws of Iran, North Korea, Israel, Brazil, the Sudan, Finland and more?
Perhaps we would all be wise to see what we can learn from our fellow nations instead of assuming a priori that we are better than they are.
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