The mission of Unite for Rights is to unite people, nonprofits, businesses and governments (“Uniters”) to create an International Bill of Rights (IBOR) that is enforceable in the courts of all countries. 
From the beginning, it is important to recognize that Uniters are not starting from scratch. There is a long, history of human rights being put into a document so that they can become civil rights enforceable in court. A good example is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Eleanor Roosevelt is one of the great leaders in the evolution of an International Bill of Rights (IBOR). When her husband, United States President Franklin Roosevelt, died, Eleanor said “great leaders can show the way, but others must come along and do the building.” This quote applies equally to her: Eleanor’s work, with others, on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is the foundation upon which Unite for Rights is built. Eleanor explained: ““that nothing of what has happened to me, or to anyone, has value unless it is a preparation for what lies ahead.” What lies ahead is that through work by Uniters, the UDHR will become an International Bill of Rights that is enforceable in the courts of all countries.
Like the UDHR, an International Bill of Rights can be thought of as a plan for humanity. There is much yet to do, but the plan is unfolding. Unite for Rights takes the list of rights in the UDHR, along with new rights that belong on the list like the environment, and makes them legally enforceable through an International Bill of Rights, with Regional Courts, and an International Court of Human Rights, so that the rights in the UDHR become genuine for all, no longer only an aspirational statement as in the UDHR.
Making rights enforceable in the courts of all countries may seem difficult, and it is, but it’s time. Eleanor was a champion of a World Court after World War I, and then again pushed for enforceable rights after WWII. She saw that leaders of all nations need to heed the rights of all people. Authoritarians must be restrained by courts before they become too strong to stop. The invasion in Ukraine is a good example, and it’s not alone. Authoritarianism is increasing internationally. It’s time to act before humanity deteriorates into police states or WWIII results. As she said, “We will all go ahead together, or we will all go down together.” Eleanor saw enough of war first hand to know this is true – she visited every military hospital in the South Seas during WWII.
Following her lead, we have the means to connect and write the rules who govern, then put those rules in the hands of impartial people, Judges, to enforce them. Together we can do this. The timing is right. People, Nonprofits, Businesses and Governments recognize that a fragmentary approach is leading us to war and the desecration of the biosphere of our planet through climate change.
Timing is not enough; work and funding are needed. Unite for Rights is working with people, nonprofits, businesses and governments who want to be leaders, not just victims. There is a spinning globe on the homepage of Unite for Rights. Whenever a person, nonprofit, business or government enters their name and country, a light ignites on the globe wherever they are: gray for a person; green for a nonprofit; blue for a business; and brown for a government. It’s no longer enough for people to sing about rights, or even just to vote, a movement for rights is needed to transfer the energy of singing, acting, writing, caring, into law – not something we talk about, but something whereby we can enforce our rights in court against those who govern. There will always be war, discrimination and ruin of the environment without this. Rights are not given us; they are a demand we make, and put into writing to enforce in courts with impartial Judges, prior to giving people the power to govern.
When combined with others, your small act of becoming a “Light for Rights” on the Unite for Rights website is one of the most powerful things you will do in your life. Some things, like an International Bill of Rights, can only be achieved through a collaborative effort. The goal of Unite for Rights is to have 10,000,000 Uniters on the globe by December 31, 2025. Join us on the globe! With the achievement of 10 million lights, the goal will become 1% of people, nonprofits, businesses and governments globally to become lights for rights.
Once 1% has been achieved, there will be a movement with sufficient strength to then ask/demand that an International Bill of Rights be drafted and implemented as a treaty for governments internationally. The draft International Bill of Rights on the Unite for Rights website can serve as a starting point. This is the realization of Article 28 in the UDHR which envisions that future documents will be created to make the rights in the UDHR legally enforceable in the courts of all countries.
Again, Eleanor guides us. She said: “You cannot live for yourselves alone. You depend on the rest of the world and the rest of the world depends on you.” Acting together we can do something grander than any of us can do individually, whatever our wealth or position, and create an international community at peace instead of war.
So Welcome. Bring others. Eleanor also reminded us “we must do the thing we think we cannot do.” Let’s unite to create a world of well-being for all, including other species and life, on Earth.
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