A RESOLUTION ON TRADITIONAL VALUES WOULD JEOPARDISE TOLERANCE AND PROGRESS

September 24, 2012

The human rights organisation, Article 19, has issued a statement urging the United Nations Human Rights Council members to reject a draft resolution that calls for the establishment of core principles around traditional values. The proposed resolution was proposed by Russia and it is already clear how the excuse of "traditional values" is being used there to stifle dissent and incarcerate opponents, such as the punk group, Pussy Riot. Article 19 is right to be concerned that traditional values are not always invoked to increase harmony and tolerance:

"ARTICLE 19 is particularly concerned that “traditional values” will be used to silence advocates for the rights of women, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT) and others challenging power hierarchies and inequalities."

The other problem with these unifying principles is that by the time a compromise is reached the results can be so wishy-washy, that they may be little more than a testimony to good will. The Declaration of the Parliament of the World Religions is a case in point. The first Council of the Parliament met in Chicago from August 28 September 4 1993; it declared:

"We affirm that there is an irrevocable, unconditional norm for all areas of life, for families and communities, for races, nations and religions. There already exists ancient guidelines for human behaviour which are found in the teachings of the religions of the world and which are the conditions for a sustainable world order."

Despite the wide range of attendees, or more likely because of it, the result was a handful of norms that were so bland that they could have almost been mistaken for the ground rules of a scout trip. Anything controversial was absent, particularly anything to do with sex. It was a good thing that Neo-pagans and other minority representatives were present, or the result could have quite easily been exactly what Article 19 cautioned against. Ultimately there is no such thing as permanent and universal "traditional values". Values change according to circumstances and time. Very often it has been the previous generation's traditional values that the great religious founders were up against in the first place. Unless we go to the very basics. And here, perhaps, the Dalai Lama summed it up best:

"Kindness is my religion."