“Perhaps the time has come to formulate a moral code which would govern our relations with the great cetaceans of the sea as well as with those on dry land. That this will come to pass is our greatest wish. If human civilisation is going to invade the waters of the earth, then let it be first of all to carry a message of respect, respect for all life.” Jaqcues-Yves Cousteau
In recognition of the special relationship that exists between cetaceans and humans, we seek the extension of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (United Nations, 1948) to include whales and dolphins. We at the Dolphin Society see this as the first stage of a Universal Declaration that will include all marine mammals, and maybe one day, all life on Earth.
Whales and dolphins, the ‘People of the Sea’ – large-brained, intelligent and highly socialised – have an ancient and unblemished history of offering us, the people of the land, only joyful friendship, compassion and good humour, despite our continual transgressions against them and their environment.
In extending the concept of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to whales and dolphins, it should be noted that Cetacean Rights are not new – we have not invented them. We cannot give them to cetaceans because they are theirs already – they are their inheritance from birth. We can only re-declare them, and re-echo the fact that they belong to the cetaceans.
The joy and healing that whales and dolphins bring us is a gift offered to all humans. We must not only treasure and respect such a gift; we must honour it.
In building bridges of friendship and love to the People of the Sea, we can invoke the following Articles, inspired by those in the Universal Declaration for Human Rights.
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF MARINE MAMMAL RIGHTS
CHARTER ONE: CETACEANS (Whales and Dolphins)
1. All whales and dolphins are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and act towards one another in a spirit of brother and sisterhood.
2. Every whale and dolphin is entitled to all the rights and freedom set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind such as species, sex or other status.
3. Every whale and dolphin has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
4. No whale or dolphin shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
5. No whale or dolphin shall be subjected to misfortune or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
6. No whale or dolphin shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
7. Every whale and dolphin has the right to freedom of movement and residence in the sea and the right to return unhindered to its home territory.
8. Every whale and dolphin has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
9. Every whale and dolphin has the right to a clean environment for the health and well-being of self and family and the right to the bounty of the ocean, ie. food.
10. 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.
Thank you for reading the Declaration.
