Rights and responsibilities: the global frameworks for ethical action

The emergence of global citizenship is reshaping the worlds of art, business, culture, education, human and labour rights, religion, public health, and politics, as well as our interaction with the natural environment. And being part of this emerging, sustainable world community entails a specific set of rights and responsibilities. In this article, Dr Vicky Kapogianni, Lecturer in EU & International Law, explains the responsibilities of global citizens and how rights are enforced.

Rights

As you saw in Step 1.4, the rights of global citizens are rooted in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, established in 1948 post-World War II. While the fundamental principles of this declaration — focusing on individual liberty, equality, and equity — have remained constant, the application of human rights evolves as the political, economic, and social fabric of society changes. And new rights, such as digital access rights, LGBT+ rights, and environmental rights, have emerged since the initial drafting in 1948 (you’ll find more information about these in the See Also section below). Some argue that the evolution of rights and shifting political landscapes make a reconsideration and even an update of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights necessary.

Enforcement of Rights

The key challenge facing everyone working in the realm of human rights is how to enforce them¹. Enforcement requires both reporting and adjudicating abuses and a growing array of international mechanisms has been put in place to facilitate these processes.

International mechanisms like the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and regional bodies such as the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) provide essential platforms for reporting and addressing human rights violations. However, their impact is often limited by issues related to legal jurisdiction, compounded by the reluctance of numerous States to participate. This demonstrates how important a comprehensive review and update of existing human rights policies and programmes is, addressing geopolitical considerations, varying levels of State participation, and the need for a more universally embraced framework for enforcement.

International Criminal Court, The Hague © OSeveno via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Responsibilities

Cultivate global relationships

As well as having rights, a global citizen has moral, ethical, political, and economic responsibilities. Among these is the obligation to develop personal intercultural competencies (see Step 1.9), fostering connections and relationships with individuals from diverse countries and cultures. Given the complex interweaving of various ethnic, social, political, and economic perspectives in global issues, it’s essential for global citizens to understand and engage with these diverse viewpoints, working towards consensus in problem-solving, and solutions that are equitable. Another reason for cultivating global relationships is to counteract the isolationism phenomenon you looked at in Step 1.13, especially in communities with narrow and conflict-prone perspectives on global issues. Establishing diverse networks enables individuals to better understand both their similarities and differences, and work towards collaborative solutions for global challenges faced by all.

Advocate for global standards of equity and justice

Global citizens are responsible for actively endorsing the ratification and implementation of global agreements, conventions, and treaties by their nations. This involves advocating through various means, such as public awareness campaigns, engaging with policymakers, and taking part in civil society initiatives². Through these channels, individuals can play a vital role in encouraging their politicians to turn international commitments into concrete actions, policies, and practices. Advocacy efforts like these contribute significantly to creating a culture of compliance with global norms and principles at the national level.

Global citizens also have a responsibility for promoting global equity and justice. Addressing challenges such as the worldwide surge in military expenditures, disparaties in access to technology, and inconsistent national immigration policies requires the implementation of universal standards of justice and equity. It’s the responsibility of global citizens to collaborate and advocate for equitable and just global solutions to these issues.

Finally, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their 169 targets represent an important and practical set of guidelines for global citizenship. They embody the aspiration to create a world characterised by sustainable peace, free from poverty and hunger, with universal access to health and education. This vision extends to a world where biodiversity is honoured and protected.

Sustainable Development Goals ©UN. Click to expand diagram. (The content of this publication has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States.)

Attaining the SDGs requires:

1. a profound understanding of our interconnectedness on a global scale
2. strengthening our sense of care and commitment to the broader world community
3. preparing future generations through the education of empowered learners capable of addressing and resolving global challenges, which is what this course aims to do!

Optional game

If you want to, you can try out the SDGs memory game which aims to inspire local action as well as to raise awareness of the goals. You can download and print the memory cards from the link in the See also section below.

You are now about half way through this course on Global Citizenship. Has what you’ve learnt so far revealed any apects of global inequity and injustice that you feel inpired to address or advocate for? If so, please share your thoughts here, or note them down, so that you can bear this in mind as you progress through the rest of this Week.

References

1. Qixuan Sun, The Enforcement of International Human Rights Law: Challenges and Solutions. Journal of Education Humanities and Social Sciences 8:491-498. 2023
2. Scott Carlin & YuKang Choi, The Role of Civil Society in Advancing Global Citizenship. UN Chronicle. 2016