PRINCIPLES AND CODES OF CONDUCT
All societies are founded on laws of one kind or another, which in turn, are partially based on the society's general perception of moral principles. These are often explicit or implied within a written constitution. Also, many businesses and professional bodies such as associations of medical professionals or business associations, have codes of conduct of their own which guide their practices along accepted principles. These would generally be geared towards the benefit of the customers, patients, or any individuals which the particular business or association serves.
It is important to note the great difference between the laws which govern societies and principles. Principles are not created but discovered or accepted as truths of the natural order.
Laws are made to direct man's actions in conformity with these truths or, more accurately, to guide him away from the transgression of these truths. Each law has specific punishments recommended for those who transgress it. Laws almost always stipulate just the minimum requirements for moral action. For example, the principle of honour and respect for human life might only be served by a law against murder. Principles are more transcendent while laws are limited to specific spheres of action. Laws are not 'good' in themselves, they are good in as much as they serve to promote a principle which is the 'good' accepted by society. The truly moral person therefore does not only obey laws but takes note of their purpose. Although the truly moral person would faithfully observe the legal code, he or she is primarily a person of principles.
It is quite possible that in certain situations, a law created to serve a particular principle might actually work against it
The following is an example:
A certain country, acknowledging the value of religious beliefs in the social life of its citizens, required by law that everyone file personal information forms with the government. In these forms each person was to state among other things, his or her religion. The government would then use this information to calculate how much financial assistance should be given to each religion. This was done on a pro rata basis. But a time came when a new government with a different view on religion came into power. They used the forms to systematically exclude citizens of certain religions from social services.
Although the perception of morality may vary from generation to generation and person to person, there are general principles most people accept as good and moral such as honesty, respect for others, freedom of expression, and a person's right to life. The United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is an example of explicitly listed principles on which a society (a universal society) is based. It is the first international statement to use the term "Human Rights" and is particularly important as it has been adopted by Trinidad and Tobago along with most of the other countries in the world, and forms the basis of many local and international laws and conventions. Also, the preamble's directives make it binding on Member States to educate its citizens on the contents of this document. For these reasons it is given below in its entirety for study.
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Preamble
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as the last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realisation of this pledge,
Now therefore,
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
ARTICLES:
1) 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.
2) Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
3) Everyone has the right to life, liberty and the security of person.
4) No one shall be held in slavery, servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all its forms.
5) No one shall be subject to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
6) Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
7) All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection against discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against incitement to such discrimination.
8) Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or law.
9) No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
10) Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charges against him.
11) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence under national or international law at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
12) No one shall be subject to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home, correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
13) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. Everyone has the right to leave any country including his own and to return to his country.
14) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries, asylum from persecution. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecution genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
15) Everyone has the right to a nationality. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
16) Men and women of full age, without any limitations due to race, nationality, religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state.
17) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
18) Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
19) Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
20) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. No one may be compelled to belong to any association.
21) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. Everyone has the right of equal access to public services in his country. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
22) Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realisation, through national effort and international cooperation and in accordance with the organisation and resources of each state, of economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
23) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. Everyone without any discrimination has the right to equal pay for equal work. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
24) Everyone has the right to leisure, including reasonable limitations of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
25) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
26) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least up to the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations of maintenance of peace. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
27) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits. Everyone has the right to protection of the moral and material interests resulting from scientific, literary or artistic productions of which he is the author.
28) Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realised.
29) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect of the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and general welfare in a democratic society. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
30) Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any state, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
The UDHR calls on Member States to uphold individual human rights and freedoms and so it is necessary for States to devise laws prohibiting the transgressions of these (our) rights and freedoms. But this protection of our rights and freedoms which we enjoy from law cannot exist without our support for the State. There is then in society what is called our Social Contract which is the necessary (symbiotic) relationship where each citizen supports the State, especially in keeping its laws, while the State protects each and every citizen with its laws.
Activity: Write a short list of principles to be followed for an army going into battle. Create at least one law to support each principle listed.