Intense Interest in the Universal Human Values and Rights Manifesto!

Launched in 2023 and opened for signatures in 2024, the ‘Universal Human Values and Rights Manifesto’ has garnered intense interest. Approximately 400 thousand people have signed the Manifesto to date. 

Üsküdar University, which has advanced with a focus on ‘Human Values’ since its establishment in 2011, continues its efforts to promote and adopt human values at a global level.  

In this context, Üsküdar University created a new awareness by opening the ‘Universal Human Values and Rights Manifesto,’ on which it began work in 2023, for signatures in 2024. 

Üsküdar University and N.L. Gumilev Eurasian National University of Kazakhstan, drawing inspiration from the lives, works, and legacies of the great thinkers Farabi and Hoca Ahmed Yesevi, as well as other world thinkers, the United Nations (UN), UNESCO, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, jointly launched the Universal Human Values and Rights Manifesto, which has been signed by approximately 400 thousand people globally to date.  

The Manifesto will be presented to the UN General Assembly and Security Council at the end of this year. 

Living values within the scope of the ‘Living Values Education Program (LVEP)’ project…

The Manifesto states that the main goals of the UN Charter are: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. The following was noted:

“Within the framework of the international ‘Living Values Education Program (LVEP)’ project supported by UNESCO, living values, including ‘Happiness, honesty, humility, cooperation, freedom, love, peace, respect, responsibility, simplicity, tolerance, unity,’ were prepared under 12 headings by the UNICEF education cluster and recognized by UNESCO. Article 1 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.’ 
It further states: ‘The right to life, the right to a fair trial, the right to equality, the right to freedom, the right to access health, the right to asylum, the right to protection from torture, the right to obtain basic necessities, the right to travel, the right to marry, the right to property, the right to freedom of thought-conscience-religion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly, the right to social security, the right to work, the right to education and learning, along with an emphasis on duties and responsibilities towards the community.’ ”

Virtues from Farabi and Hoca Ahmed Yesevi…

The Manifesto states that Abu Nasr Muhammed al-Farabi, one of the leading thinkers of the Islamic Golden Age, author of theories on metaphysics, psychology, and politics, the 'Second Teacher' of the world, and a scholar and philosopher of global stature from the Turkic world, discussed virtues under two headings: ‘Ethical’ and ‘Intellectual.’ The following views were presented:

“He classifies ethical virtues as ‘Temperance, - Courage, - Generosity, - Justice,’ and intellectual virtues as ‘Wisdom, -Emotional Intelligence, -Social Intelligence.’ Thus, according to Al-Farabi, the most important aspects of ethics define true happiness as possessing all seven of these virtues. Moreover, Al-Farabi calls virtuous people free by nature and summarized: ‘Our planet earth becomes virtuous and transforms into a perfect universal state only when all nations cooperate and help each other with the aim of achieving felicity.’  
Seyyid mystical poet Hoca Ahmed Yesevi, a world-renowned theologian, spiritual guide, religious scholar, educator, Turkic poet, philosopher, the most prominent religious figure in the history of Sufism, and founder of the first Turkic Sufi order, emphasizes the importance of virtues such as wisdom, patience, and perfection in his poems, highlighting how they contribute to true dignity and personal development, and promotes the virtues of love and trust in humanity, homeland, and the divine.”

6 Virtues, 24 Character Strengths

The Manifesto states that Howard Earl Gardner, the developer of the multiple intelligences concept, as a scientific reference, positioned values under 6 virtues as 24 character strengths. The 24 character strengths under 6 virtues are listed as follows:

“I-Wisdom; 1.Originality, 2.Curiosity, 3.Openness to Learning, 4.Open-mindedness, 5.Broad Perspective, 

II-Courage; 6.Honesty, 7.Bravery, 8.Resourcefulness, 9.Zest, 

III-Humanity; 10.Kindness, 11.Capacity to Love and Be Loved, 12.Social Intelligence, 

IV-Justice; 13.Fairness, 14.Leadership, 15.Citizenship, 

V-Temperance; 16.Forgiveness, 17.Humility, 18.Prudence, 19.Self-Regulation, 

VI-Transcendence; 20.Appreciation of Beauty, 21.Gratitude, 22.Hope, 23.Humor, 24.Spirituality.”

“The world has turned upside down and is once again in danger”

The Manifesto noted that humanity had hoped the 21st century would herald a new era of global cooperation, and continued:

“However, by the end of the first quarter, we have unfortunately seen that this has not materialized. Racism and xenophobia, inequalities, and horrific human rights violations are rapidly increasing. In fundamental aspects, the world has turned upside down and is once again in danger. The risks cannot be underestimated as the threat is a deadly war on a global scale. This is because conflicts have deepened, and new dangers have emerged. Global concerns regarding nuclear weapons are at their highest level since the Cold War.  Furthermore, climate change is progressing significantly and rapidly.

On the other hand, the year 2025, opening the door to the second quarter of the 21st century, will be a turning point, signaling a significant stance on issues of war and peace, security and development, the rule of law, and shrinking humanitarian space. The apocalyptic threat that will emerge if the international community fails to establish a completely new peaceful, secure, safe, and prosperous discourse, philosophy, architecture, geopolitical, and geo-economic space and order for our fragile planet is particularly noteworthy.”

“Human, social inequality” situation threatens global peace

After examining all these human values, the Manifesto emphasized that a serious situation of “human, social inequality” created by psychopolitical events in recent years has come to threaten global peace. It stated: “It is time to turn to ourselves rather than the enemies politics shows us, and to fight the hatred, racism, colonialism, discrimination, othering, and feelings of silent complicity with evil within us. After analyzing the serious ‘human and social inequality’ created by the psychopolitical events of the last 25 years and threatening global peace, it is time to turn to ourselves, not the enemies politics shows us, and to make hatred, racism, colonialism, discrimination, othering, and silence against evil our enemies. Only together can we define, promote, and implement our universal virtues, resolve conflicts, overcome hatred, and defend common universal values.”

Neglected values recalled

The Manifesto highlighted the intention to recall “the neglected values” for our generous planet to be more livable, just, peaceful, and sustainable, without discrimination based on race, color, religion, language, belief, culture, or country. The following points were emphasized: 

“As two universities, based on the events experienced, we foresaw that universal concepts and ideas needed to be re-evaluated. As N.L. Gumilev Eurasian National University and Üsküdar University, we believed that in such a situation, the silence of the university community, which is an environment where human rights and freedoms are experienced and discussed at the highest level, would be a moral failing. We wanted to make our voices heard with institutional consensus rather than individual reaction and express our thoughts through a manifesto.

1/ We resolutely oppose wars blinded by political, ethnic, religious, sectarian, ideological ambitions, and all acts of terror and violence stemming from any minority or majority.

2/ We strongly condemn the killing of unarmed people, civilians, and children through the excessive and disproportionate use of force.

3/ Humanity has reached a level of development in the 21st century where it can solve problems through dialogue. We strongly object to humanity being judged by primitive dogmas.

4/ We bear witness from economic history that our beautiful blue planet possesses generosity and abundance sufficient to satisfy everyone.

5/ We strongly reject the political “God Complex” that engenders greed, insatiability, irresponsibility, and ruthlessness. No one can attribute divinity or sacredness to themselves. Everyone is equal in terms of rights and opportunities.

6/ There is an urgent need for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to be re-read and internalized.

7/ No state should have privileges. If the goal is justice, the method in this era is a liberal, participatory, and egalitarian democracy. We emphasize that “Positive Politics” is the solution for humanity.

8/ We propose that the establishment of a “World Parliament” where all world states are equally represented is imperative.

9/ The most important distinction between civilized and uncivilized societies is not using violence as a method for seeking rights and solving problems. We categorically reject the method of violence, which dates back to humanity's barbaric era.

10/ We declare that if we fail to develop an egalitarian policy that considers the human rights and values mentioned above, the human species has the potential for self-destruction. 

In conclusion, in a time when faith in human rights has significantly weakened, the senates of these two universities, after discussion, deemed it appropriate to sign and declare this manifesto to all concerned individuals. Accordingly, we are opening our Manifesto for signatures.” 

For the "UNIVERSAL HUMAN VALUES AND RIGHTS MANIFESTO":