A Universal Declaration of Human Dignity and Mutual Flourishing

This is a living document, an attempt to articulate principles for human dignity that acknowledge both universal aspirations and particular contexts, both individual rights and collective responsibilities, both historical injuries and future obligations.

This is not

• A final statement
• A Western imposition
• A utopian fantasy
• A replacement for local wisdom

This is

• An invitation to dialogue
• A working draft
• A bridge between traditions
• A commitment to keep trying

Core Principle

"These principles are universal in spirit and particular in practice."

The Declaration

Read the current version: DECLARATION.md

🌍 Available Translations

The declaration is now available in 11 languages, covering over 4 billion native speakers:

• 🇬🇧 English - Original
• 🇪🇸 Español (Spanish) - es-ES.md - 559M speakers
• 🇨🇳 中文 (Mandarin Chinese) - zh-CN.md - 1.1B speakers
• 🇮🇳 हिन्दी (Hindi) - hi-IN.md - 602M speakers
• 🇸🇦 العربية (Arabic) - ar-SA.md - 422M speakers
• 🇧🇩 বাংলা (Bengali) - bn-BD.md - 273M speakers
• 🇧🇷 Português (Portuguese) - pt-BR.md - 264M speakers
• 🇷🇺 Русский (Russian) - ru-RU.md - 258M speakers
• 🇯🇵 日本語 (Japanese) - ja-JP.md - 125M speakers
• 🇫🇷 Français (French) - fr-FR.md - 310M speakers
• 🇩🇪 Deutsch (German) - de-DE.md - 134M speakers

Each translation includes cultural context notes to ensure the principles resonate authentically across different traditions and worldviews.

Repository Structure

universal-declaration/
├── README.md                 # This file - vision and invitation
├── DECLARATION.md           # The current version of the declaration
├── CONTRIBUTING.md          # How to propose changes thoughtfully
├── /translations/           # Community translations
├── /historical-context/     # The historical progression and influences
├── /discussions/           # Ongoing dialogues about specific articles
├── /adaptations/           # Local/regional interpretations
└── /docs/                   # HTML presentation

Quick Start

1. Read: Start with DECLARATION.md to understand the current principles
2. Reflect: Consider how these principles resonate with or challenge your context
3. Contribute: See CONTRIBUTING.md for how to add your voice
4. Translate: Help make this accessible in more languages
5. Adapt: Share how your community might implement these principles

Why This Matters Now

We stand at a convergence of crises:

• Ecological systems approaching irreversible tipping points
• Inequality deepening within and between nations
• Technologies reshaping what it means to be human
• Historical injuries demanding recognition and repair
• Global challenges requiring unprecedented cooperation

Previous declarations, however noble, have proven insufficient. We need principles that:

• Bridge individual and collective rights
• Honor Indigenous wisdom alongside other traditions
• Take seriously our obligations to future generations
• Recognize the Earth as partner, not property
• Address historical injuries, not just future aspirations

Who This Is For

Everyone. Specifically:

• Communities seeking alternatives to extractive systems
• Movements working for justice and regeneration
• Individuals questioning inherited assumptions
• Organizations trying to embody better values
• Future generations who will inherit what we build

How to Engage

For Individuals

• Read and sit with the principles
• Share with your community
• Propose refinements based on your experience

For Communities

• Translate into your language and context
• Create local adaptations
• Document how you implement these principles

For Organizations

• Use as a framework for institutional reflection
• Share practical applications
• Contribute learnings from implementation

For Scholars

• Add historical context and philosophical grounding
• Document connections across traditions
• Critique constructively with alternative formulations

Living Document Philosophy

This declaration is designed to evolve. Not through endless revision that dilutes meaning, but through thoughtful iteration that deepens understanding. Each contribution should:

• Strengthen rather than weaken core commitments
• Include rather than exclude voices
• Clarify rather than obscure meaning
• Connect rather than divide communities

Get Involved

• GitHub Repository: universal-declaration/human-dignity
• Live Website: Visit the declaration at GitHub Pages
• Discuss: Open an issue or start a discussion
• Translate: Add your language to /translations/ (help us reach more of the world's 7,000+ languages!)
• Adapt: Share regional interpretations in /adaptations/
• Document: Contribute to /historical-context/
• Build: Create tools or visualizations

Acknowledgments

This declaration builds on centuries of struggle and wisdom from countless communities. It draws from:

• Indigenous teachings about reciprocity and responsibility
• Ubuntu and other African philosophies of interdependence
• Buddhist concepts of interbeing and compassion
• Islamic principles of justice and stewardship
• Secular humanist commitments to reason and dignity
• Environmental movements centering Earth's rights
• Feminist ethics of care and relation
• Decolonial critiques of imposed universalism

License

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing." — Arundhati Roy

Join us in making that breath stronger.