Children serving as soldiers in militaries—a clear
violation of children's rights. What is being done to abolish this
practice? In this special section, we explore three important
international efforts to promote liberty and advance social
justice for both children and adults.
The Advance of Human Rights
by Fred Edwords
As we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, we need to appreciate that this
document is the product of four centuries of social evolution and
that its ideals are only beginning to be realized in a still
troubled world.
Second-Class Citizens?
by Catherine Langevin-Falcon
Opposition from conservative groups is preventing the
United States from joining the rest of the international community
in ratifying the vitally necessary Convention on the Rights of the
Child.
Establishing an International Criminal Court
by Beth K. Lamont
The foundation for prosecuting the most serious
international crimes has been laid but, without support from the
United States, can a system of world law and order be implemented?
Also:
The Perils of Sole Superpower Status
by John M. Swomley
The United States continues to spend trillions of dollars
and risk millions of lives to remain the world's leading
superpower. But it had better own up to the
responsibilities of such status as well.
Materialism and Morality (The Problem with Pinker)
by Thomas W. Clark
What if neural materialism—the idea that mind is
brain—is fully confirmed by science? And what if this shows that
free will is only an illustion? Will we lose all ethical grounding
for a stable moral order?
The Continuing Symposium on Humanist Manifesto II
by Norman Hall, Lucia K. B. Hall, Sherwin Wine, and Marvin
Kolb
Are we humanists losing our nerve or are we ready to
stand by our scientific and ethical conclusions, show personal
courage, and commit to overriding human values? What we put in a
third humanist manifesto will constitute our answer to this
question.
