In 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a deeply inspiring document that has been translated into over 300 languages and dialects. But because its provisions are not enforceable, its promise has not been fulfilled. Human rights violations continue in every corner of the globe, the cause of countless individual tragedies as well as large-scale disasters like war, poverty and environmental ruin.

It’s time to take the next step. 2048 sets out a visionary, audacious, but, Kirk Boyd insists, achievable goal: drafting an enforceable international agreement that will allow the people of the world to create a social order based upon human rights and the rule of law. Boyd and the 2048 Project aim to have this agreement, the International Convention on Human Rights, in place by the 100th anniversary of the Universal Declaration.

Written documents have always played a key role in advancing human rights: the Code of Hammurabi, the Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence. The express purpose of the International Convention is to safeguard what Boyd calls the Five Freedoms, adding freedom for the environment to Franklin Roosevelt’s famous Four Freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
Boyd skillfully anticipates objections to the notion of a universal and enforceable written agreement—that it would be culturally insensitive, too expensive, unacceptably limit national sovereignty—and convincingly answers them. In fact some promising first steps have already been taken. He describes existing transnational agreements with effective compliance mechanisms that can serve as models.

But Boyd wants to inspire more than argue. In 2048 he urges everyone to participate in the drafting of the agreement via the 2048 website and describes specific actions people can take to help make it a reality. “What you do with what you read” Boyd writes, “is as important as what this book says.” Little by little, working together creatively with the tools now available, we can take the next step forward in the evolution of human rights.

“2048 raises an important question: can humanity reach a written agreement to live together? This is a question worth asking and discussing—2048 is a book worth reading.”
—Bertrand Ramcharan, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

"It's time for a serious dialogue about an international framework for human rights and business. 0 furthers that dialogue,"
—Robert Haas, Chairman Emeritus, Levi Strauss & Co.

"All great human achievement seems impossible until it happens; and then it was inevitable. 2048 offers us the gift of advanced hindsight. The book provides one vision for how future generations may look back and see just how we met the great challenge of securing human rights in all nations.”
—The Honorable Jeffrey L. Bleich, former Special Counsel to the President of the United States

“Kirk Boyd’s vision of a global, binding human rights compact underpinned by a system of courts of law, or an International Court of Human Rights, is not just one of the many possible future scenarios. It is essential if international law is to make the quantum leap from a mere system of laws to a true legal order.”
—Cesare Romano, Professor, Loyola Law School and Assistant Director, Project on International Courts and Tribunals

“There is nothing more fundamental than for humanity to reach an agreement to live together. The European Convention on Human Rights already works for forty-seven countries. Kirk Boyd points the way to a universal approach along similar lines.”
—Jurriaan Kamp, publisher, Ode

“It's time for economic and social rights such as education and health care for women and men in all countries — 2048 shows how we might achieve this goal.”
—Joan Blades, cofounder, MoveOn.org and MomsRising.org

“2048 has a grand participatory vision, which will change not only the way we view the world but the way we interact with it and with each other. It is a project that must succeed if we are to have a more decent human future.”
—David Krieger, President, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

“People working for social change should read 2048. It gives a new perspective on how some of the resources currently channeled toward solving the problems arising from our flawed existing social order might be better repurposed toward restructuring the system that is creating these problems. 2048 shows the way.”
—Caroline Avery, President, Durfee Foundation

“Human rights are a permanent vocation. Even after the wonderful work of codification by the United Nations and of the regional human rights commissions and courts, reflection goes on, because we need better mechanisms of implementation, such as the World Court of Human Rights envisaged by Project 2048. This is a noble task that should reflect the views of all of humanity, including the approaches of the thinkers and lawyers of Central and South America."

—Jose Ayala Lasso, first United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

“It's heartening to see a global dialogue developing through 2048 that can lead humanity to an agreement to live together. With this inspiring, visionary book, Kirk Boyd not only raises awareness of the unfolding 2048 story, he provides a catalyst for people all over the world to join in the conversation themselves.”
—John Esterle, Executive Director, Whitman Institute

“Many great, but unenforceable, legal opinions have been written by the committees within the United Nations. It's time for a project such as 2048 that will build enforceable decisions upon this foundation.”
—Alfred de Zayas, legal counsel for the United Nations Human Rights Committee

“Harry Truman wanted there to be an International Bill of Rights, and I'm glad to see one coming into existence through the 2048 Project.”
—Frank Kelly, author and speechwriter for President Truman

"I'm glad to be working through 2048 to equip barristers in all countries with an International Bill of Rights they can use to enforce rights in their courts of law."
—James J. Brosnahan, Trial Lawyer, Morrison & Foerster

"Boyd proposes an ambitious new social contract for humanity which could serve as a tipping point for enforcing human rights worldwide"
–Jill Van den Brule, Communications Specialist, Education and Gender Equality, UNICEF and international child rights advocate

ISBN9781605095394

Published onApr 05, 2010

Published byBerrett-Koehler Publishers

Pages240

Dimensions5-1/2 x 8-1/2

2048

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Success!

By J. Kirk Boyd