Theology and human rights

I. The Theological Basis of Human Rights

We appreciate the "Theological Basis of Human Rights" of WARC as the first step on the way toward an ecumenical "Christian Declaration on Human Rights". We therefore recommend that the executive committee should take initiative to enter into dialogue with Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Orthodox and CCIA-study groups in order to develop the "Theological Basis". The discussion with other theological traditions such as the tradition of "natural law", of the "two Kingdoms" etc. would broaden and deepen our theological approach. Such a study should also seek to listen to the questions posed to the Christian faith by secular concerns for human rights, and ask what do they say to our understanding of God and of man. It would furthermore serve to find common theological grounds for the public, the social and political responsibility of Christians and churches in the area of human rights and the humanity of human beings.

II. The Role of Member churches in the Struggle for the Recognition and Realization of Human Rights.

Further studies should be made on how the churches and Christian communities

• can serve in particular dehumanized people in society ( discriminated, marginalized, oppressed, handicapped and under-represented people)
• can protest prophetically against inhuman acts, structures and power in society
• can pray for the victims of human rights violations and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves
• can participate, where possible, in the constitutional process of translating human rights into civil rights and positive laws
• can cooperate with secular human rights movements, with Amnesty International and with human rights' concerns of people of other faiths.

An educational programme for the promotion of human rights by congregations should be drawn up, in cooperation with other church bodies if possible.

III. The Role of the State and Government in the Struggle for Human Rights.

As the reality of the human rights problem is that of the way in which governments and states give particular expression in legislation and in practice to human rights articles, this area presents itself as one demanding study and action. Various questions seem to demand clarification:

• how can human rights be translated into civil rights and liberties?
• the ideology of national security - civil rights and martial law - relation of national security and supranational interests - the question of whether there are certain human rights which may never be suspended under any circumstances
• the relation between national law and international law - the participation of the state in the securing of fundamental human rights for humankind
• the state and its education programmes for civil liberties.

IV. WARC and the Implementation of Human Rights.

We would suggest an information and communication centre whereby member churches of WARC might offer for the intercession and action of the other member churches, cases of severe violation of human rights, especially the names and situations of our imprisoned sisters and brothers.

V. Specific Situations

I. South Africa

We ask the executive committee to

1. write to South African member churches, pledging solidarity on human rights issues.
2. write to the Government urging the implementation of Article 9 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights (ie no one to be subjected to detention without trial), and protesting against the high rate of death of those in detention.
3. to call upon the member churches to urge their governments to join the general boycott of South Africa on levels of arms trade, economic and financial support.

2. South Korea

We ask the executive committee to express disapproval to the South Korean government in whatever way possible because of the violation of the human freedom of opinion, dissent and expression and to call for the release of political prisoners.

3. Helsinki agreement (1975)

We ask the executive committee publicly to appreciate the agreement of the Helsinki Conference (CSCE) in 1975 and to bring to the attention of the Belgrade Conference the importance of human rights, individual and social, including the right of religious freedom.

4. Right to Employment

We ask the executive committee of WARC to request all member churches to work in their nations to the end that the Right to Employment (Universal Declaration, Article 23; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Article 7) be recognized as a human right, and be incorporated into the constitutions and that the governments make the realization of this right into a goal of their social politics.
Reasons

1. The recognition of the one, indivisible dignity of human beings as being in the image of God demands that human rights be considered as an indivisible unity.
2. Consequently a basic right to employment must correspond to the basic right to "free development of personality". Without the social possibility of employment, the freedom of a person cannot be realized.
3. The basic right to employment must at least receive equal ranking with the right to property because otherwise social justice (in conflict between capital and labour) cannot be desired or reached.
4. In the light of the threat of massive unemployment - also in the industrial nations - the time has come to make full employment a goal of national and international social politics through the recognition of the human and civil right to employment.