Üsküdar University and Kazakhstan L.N. Gumilev Eurasian National University prepared a joint ‘Universal Human Values and Rights Manifesto’ and opened it for signatures.
The manifesto, which draws attention to the events in the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and most recently Gaza, and aims for 25 THOUSAND signatures, will be submitted to the UN General Assembly and Security Council at the end of this year.
In the manifesto, consisting of 10 articles, it was stated: “As two universities, based on the events experienced, we foresaw that universal concepts and ideas needed to be re-evaluated. As L.N. Guliyev National Eurasian University and Üsküdar University; we thought 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 burden. We wanted to make our voice heard through an institutional consensus rather than an individual reaction and express our thoughts with a manifesto.”
Üsküdar University and Kazakhstan L.N. Gumilev Eurasian National University, inspired by the lives, works, and legacy of great thinkers Farabi and Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, other world thinkers, the United Nations (UN), UNESCO, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, prepared a joint Universal Human Values and Rights Manifesto and opened it for signatures.
The manifesto, which aims for 25 THOUSAND signatures, will be submitted 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…
In the Manifesto, which states that the main objectives 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 were noted:
“Within the scope of the international ‘Living Values Education Program (LVEP)’ project supported by UNESCO, living values have been prepared by the UNICEF education cluster and recognized by UNESCO under 12 headings: ‘Happiness, honesty, humility, cooperation, freedom, love, peace, respect, responsibility, simplicity, tolerance, unity’. 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 then states, ‘There is also an emphasis on the right to life, the right to a fair trial, the right to equality, the right to liberty, the right to access health, the right to asylum, the right to protection from torture, the right to obtain essential 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 duties and responsibilities towards the community.’”
Virtues from Farabi and Khoja Ahmed Yasawi…
In the Manifesto, which explains that the virtues of Abu Nasr Muhammad al-Farabi, one of the leading thinkers of the Islamic Golden Age, author of metaphysical, psychological, and political theories, the Second Teacher of the world, a world-renowned scholar and philosopher from the Turkic World, are dealt with under two headings: ‘Ethical’ and ‘Intellectual’, the following views were included:
“He classifies ethical virtues as; ‘Temperance, - Courage, - Generosity, - Justice’, and intellectual virtues as; ‘Wisdom, -Emotional Intelligence, -Social Intelligence’. Therefore, according to Al-Farabi, the most important points of ethics define true happiness as possessing all these 7 virtues. Furthermore, Al-Farabi calls virtuous people free by nature and summarized that ‘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.’
The Sayyid Sufi poet Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, world-renowned theologian, spiritual guide, religious scholar, educator, Turkish poet, philosopher, the most prominent religious figure in the history of Sufism, founder of the first Turkic Sufi Order, emphasizes in his poems the importance of virtues such as wisdom, patience, and perfection, and how they contribute to true dignity and personal development, highlighting the virtues of love and trust in humanity, homeland, and the divine.”
6 virtues 24 character strengths
In the Manifesto, it is stated that Howard Earl Gardner, the developer of the multiple intelligences concept, places values under 6 virtues as 24 character strengths, and 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 peril”
In the Manifesto, which noted that humanity had hoped the 21st century would herald a new era of global cooperation, it continued as follows:
“However, at the end of the first quarter, we unfortunately saw that this did not happen. Racism and xenophobia, inequalities, and terrible human rights violations are rapidly increasing. In fundamental respects, the world has turned upside down and is once again in peril. The risks cannot be underestimated as the threat is a deadly war on a global scale. Because conflicts have deepened and new dangers have emerged. Global concerns about nuclear weapons are at their highest level since the Cold War. Furthermore, climate change is advancing rapidly and significantly.
On the other hand, the year 2025, opening the door to the second quarter of the 21st century, will be a turning point representing 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 arise especially if the international community fails to establish a completely new peaceful, secure, safe, and prosperous discourse, philosophy, architecture, geopolitical, geo-economic space, and order for our fragile planet is noteworthy.”
The situation of “humanitarian, social inequality” threatens global peace
In the Manifesto, which emphasized that after examining all these human values, a serious situation of “humanitarian, social inequality” created by the psychopolitical events of recent years has come to threaten global peace, it was stated: “It is time to turn to ourselves rather than the enemies politics shows us, and to make an enemy of the hatred, racism, colonialism, discrimination, othering, and feelings of silence towards evil within us. After analyzing the serious 'humanitarian 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 that politics shows us, and to make an enemy of hatred, racism, colonialism, discrimination, othering, and silence against evil. Only together can we define, promote, and practice our universal virtues, resolve conflicts, overcome hatred, and defend common universal values.”
Neglected values recalled
In the Manifesto, it was pointed out that the aim was to remind “the neglected values” for our generous planet to be more livable, just, peaceful, and sustainable, without distinction of race, color, religion, language, belief, culture, and country, and the following 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. Guliyev National Eurasian University and Üsküdar University; we thought 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 burden. We wanted to make our voice heard through an institutional consensus rather than an individual reaction and express our thoughts with a manifesto.
1/ We resolutely oppose wars blinded by political, ethnic, religious, sectarian, and ideological ambitions, as well as acts of terror and violence originating 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 problems can be solved through dialogue. We strongly object to humanity being judged by primitive dogmas.
4/ We bear witness to economic history that our beautiful blue planet possesses a generosity and abundance sufficient to satisfy everyone.
5/ We strongly reject the political “God Complex” that gives rise to greed, insatiability, irresponsibility, and ruthlessness. No one can attribute divinity and sacredness to themselves. Everyone is equal in terms of rights and opportunities.
6/ There is a strong 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 liberal, participatory, and egalitarian democracy. We emphasize that “Positive Politics” is the solution for humanity.
8/ We propose the establishment of a “World Parliament” where all world states are equally represented.
9/ The most important thing distinguishing civilized societies from uncivilized ones is not using violence as a method for seeking rights and solving problems. We fundamentally reject the method of violence, a remnant of humanity's savage 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 to self-destruct.
In conclusion, in this day and age when faith in human rights has greatly weakened, the senates of the two universities have deemed it appropriate to discuss, sign, and declare this manifesto to all sensitive individuals. Accordingly, we are opening our Manifesto for signatures.”
For the "UNIVERSAL HUMAN VALUES AND RIGHTS MANIFESTO":