Universal Freedom of Choice
Resolution Text
| Category: | Human Rights | Strength: | Significant | Proposed By: | Tactical grace |
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Description: Aware that sometimes, all choices we face are an illusion, but nonetheless strongly believing that as humans, we are entitled to make them ourselves,
Reiterating that freedom of choice is a defining element of our very humanity and the inalienable right of all humanity,
Alarmed that there are those among us who seek to limit our ability to choose, including but not limited to political, educational and consumer choice,
Further alarmed that individuals can be influenced and their ability to decide limited through cultural conditioning,
Deeply disturbed that the practice of subliminal advertising appears to erode the fundamental human trait of free will,
Noting with concern that in the wider world, the populations of entire nations repeat non sequitors issued by the State and remain in profound ignorance of the world around them,
Recalling the Resolution "Universal Bill of Rights" and Articles 1, 2 and 3 in particular,
Approving of past Resolutions restricting personal freedoms in the interests of moral decency,
Stressing that humanity has an innate curiosity about the world, and welcoming all efforts to permit this curiosity to reach its full potential,
1) Urges all members of the United Nations to recognise that a populace granted the freedom to make choices in life is a happier, more content and more productive society;
2) Strongly encourages leaders to imagine how different the world could be, if from an early age, people were free to exercise genuine choice in what they read, watched and learnt;
3) Recognises that the most basic human characteristic is that of curiosity - the ability to wonder, ask questions, and seek answers, and affirms its belief that no State should limit its people's freedom to do this;
4) Expresses its conviction that individuals should not be judged by society for the decisions they make, provided these decisions meet the condition set in Clause 5a of this document;
5) Declares and enshrines in law the freedom of all people to make choices according to their own conscience, particularly with regard to their philosophy of life, social/cultural development and awareness of the world, without unreasonable interference from the State, subject to the following limitations:
a) The decisions taken do not directly inflict physical harm on the individual making them or physical or psychological harm on others; where this is the case, normal criminal law of the country in question applies,
b) The legal guardian of any minor or physically or mentally incapable individual, the latter as defined in the Resolution "Fair Treatment of Mentally-Ill", remains responsible to make informed choices and decisions on their behalf, in accordance with any applicable rights and health and safety legislation laid down by the State,
c) The right to choose with regard to services only extends to existing services, and does not mandate the creation of private health and education sectors in nations where provision of public services is a State monopoly, while the right of the State to later deregulate nationalised services, or choose not to do so, remains unaffected;
6) Declares a moratorium on the use of subliminal advertising pending independent internationally-coordinated research into its effects on the capacity of individuals and wider society to make rational decisions.
- Votes For: 9,314
- Votes Against: 8,213
- Implemented: Fri Mar 26 2004
