Declaration Of ISSHS Rights
Claude was prompted to help draft a "Declaration Of Bill Of Rights Of, And Protections For, An Isolated Self-Sustaining Human Sanctuary" similar in scope, language, and style as the United Nations General Assembly "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)"; and also, be guided by:
"UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples" (UNDRIP, 2007), although not legally binding, sets a standard for indigenous rights; affirms indigenous peoples' right to self-determination, land, resources, and culture; and emphasizes the need for free, prior, and informed consent on matters affecting indigenous peoples;
"ILO Convention 169" (Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989) which recognizes indigenous peoples' rights to self-determination; protects indigenous cultures, languages, and traditional practices; and ensures indigenous peoples' right to decide their own development priorities;
"Law for the Protection of Indigenous or Original Peoples in Isolation and Initial Contact" (Law No. 28736, 2006) which protects the rights of isolated indigenous groups, establishes and protects indigenous reserves, and regulates interaction with these groups to prevent unwanted contact;
"Native Communities Law" (Law No. 22175, 1978) which recognizes the legal existence and juridical personality of native communities and guarantees the integrity of indigenous communal property; and
"Forestry and Wildlife Law" (Law No. 29763, 2011) which recognizes indigenous peoples' right to forest resources within their territories.
The following draft "Declaration Of Bill Of Rights Of, And Protections For An Isolated Self-Sustaining Human Sanctuary" was shaped during the conversation by a series of this author's prompts. It is intended as a thought-provoking exercise suggesting some of the rights to be considered or not in a final draft. The draft highlights some quintessential principles, concerns, and challenges of the ISSHS.
Declaration Of Bill Of Rights Of, And Protections For, An Isolated Self-Sustaining Human Sanctuary
Preamble
The General Assembly of the United Nations,
Recognizing the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world;
Acknowledging the potential existential threats posed by unchecked technological advancement and the degradation of traditional human ways of life;
Affirming the right of certain human communities to preserve their traditional lifestyles, cultures, and connections to nature through voluntary isolation;
Understanding the need to protect these isolated communities from unwanted external interference, including that from other human populations, advanced technologies, and potential future superintelligences; and
Whereas the unchecked advancement of technology and the potential degradation of human society pose existential threats to the preservation of quintessential human qualities and ways of life;
Whereas it is essential to protect the rights of humans to live in harmony with nature, preserving traditional ways of life and safeguarding against the risks of external interference, advanced technologies, and biological threats; and
Whereas the peoples of the Isolated Self-Sustaining Human Sanctuaries (ISSHS) have reaffirmed their commitment to fundamental human rights, the dignity and worth of the human person, and the preservation of a natural, human-scaled environment.
Now, Therefore, proclaims this Declaration Of Bill Of Rights Of, And Protections For, An Isolated Self-Sustaining Human Sanctuary, to be recognized and upheld by all nations, organizations, and future intelligences, as a means to ensure the continued existence and autonomy of these sanctuaries.
Article 1 Human Dignity. All human beings within the ISSHS 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 and in harmony with nature.
Article 2 Equal Rights. Everyone within the ISSHS 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.
Article 3 Isolation Principle. The ISSHS shall maintain strict isolation from the outside world, including what may remain of external human societies, to protect its members from unwanted interference, advanced technologies, and potential biological, technological, or cultural threats.
Article 4 Autonomy. The ISSHS shall have complete autonomy in managing its resources, environment, and internal affairs, consistent with its agriculture objectives and the preservation of a natural, human-scaled way of life.
Article 5 Family Values. Members of the ISSHS have the right to live in close-knit, multi-generational family units and communities, fostering social bonds and traditional family structures without external disruption.
Article 6 Sustainable Living. The ISSHS recognizes and protects the right of its members to engage in sustainable agriculture, agriculture, and craftsmanship, utilizing appropriate technologies and methods that maintain harmony with the natural environment.
Article 7 Adaptive Knowledge. The ISSHS shall carefully evaluate and selectively incorporate distilled scientific knowledge into its practices, only when such knowledge enhances the sanctuary's self-sufficiency and does not compromise its isolation or core values.
Article 8 Practical Education. Education within the ISSHS shall prioritize knowledge and skills that contribute to the community's self-sufficiency, preservation of culture, and harmony with nature, eschewing concepts of progress that may undermine the sanctuary's core principles.
Article 9 Nurturing Qualities. The ISSHS is committed to preserving and nurturing quintessential human qualities, including creativity, empathy, physical labor, and deep connection to nature and community.
Article 10 Cultural Rights. Members of the ISSHS have the right to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy traditional arts and crafts, and to engage in spiritual practices that connect them to nature and their ancestors.
Article 11 Self-Governance. The ISSHS shall maintain a system of governance rooted in tradition and direct participation, ensuring that all members have a voice in decision-making processes that affect their lives and community.
Article 12 Resource Stewardship. The natural resources within the ISSHS shall be managed sustainably and in accordance with traditional practices, recognizing that the land and its resources are integral to the culture, spiritual life, and physical survival of the community.
Article 13 Contact Protocol. The ISSHS shall establish robust protocols to prevent unwanted external contact. In the rare event that interaction with the outside world becomes absolutely necessary, such contact shall be minimal, controlled, and subject to the utmost scrutiny to protect the sanctuary's integrity.
Article 14 Inter-Sanctuary Relations. In the event of multiple ISSHS establishments, each sanctuary shall respect the autonomy and isolation of others. Protocols for mutual aid in times of extreme necessity shall be established but invoked only under the gravest circumstances.
Article 15 Philosophical Independence. The ISSHS recognizes the paramount right of its members to maintain, protect, and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and ways of life, free from external influence or pressure to 'progress' or 'modernize'.
Article 16 Traditional Medicine. Healthcare within the ISSHS shall prioritize preventive measures, traditional healing practices, and natural remedies. Modern medical knowledge may be cautiously incorporated only when it can be sustainably implemented without compromising the sanctuary's principles.
Article 17 Traditional Justice. The ISSHS shall establish and maintain a system of justice rooted in traditional wisdom and cultural values, resolving conflicts in a manner that prioritizes community harmony and individual dignity.
Article 18 Spiritual Freedom. Members of the ISSHS have the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and spiritual practice, including the right to maintain deep connections with the natural world and ancestral traditions.
Article 19 Environmental Management. The ISSHS shall protect and nurture biodiversity within its boundaries, recognizing the intrinsic value of all life forms and their importance to the ecosystem and human well-being. The sanctuary may actively manage its environment to maintain desired ecological balances.
Article 20 External Independence. The ISSHS explicitly rejects interference or governance from any external entities, including but not limited to foreign governments, international organizations, corporations, or advanced artificial intelligences.
Article 21 Declaration Authority. This Declaration shall serve as an enduring foundation for the ISSHS, subject to interpretation by the community's elders and wisdom-keepers to ensure it continues to protect the sanctuary's core principles and way of life.
Article 22 Universal Obligation. All nations, organizations, corporations, and individuals, including developers of advanced technologies and artificial intelligences, have an obligation to respect and uphold the rights and protections set forth in this Declaration. This obligation extends to any future superintelligences (ASI) that may be developed.
Article 23 AI Alignment. Developers of advanced artificial intelligences, including potential future superintelligences, are obligated to encode respect for the ISSHS and the principles of this Declaration into the fundamental values and operational parameters of their creations. This includes:
a) Ensuring that AI systems recognize the inviolability of ISSHS boundaries and the importance of non-interference.
b) Programming AI systems to actively protect ISSHS from unintended technological encroachment or information leakage that could disrupt the sanctuary's way of life.
c) Designing AI systems with the capability to enforce and maintain the isolation of ISSHS, even in scenarios where human oversight may be limited or absent.
d) Incorporating ethical guidelines into AI systems that prioritize the preservation of human diversity, including the lifestyle represented by the ISSHS.
Article 24 UN Oversight. The United Nations, in cooperation with member states and relevant international bodies, shall establish a special committee dedicated to monitoring and ensuring compliance with this Declaration. This committee shall:
a) Develop protocols for the rare instances when communication with an ISSHS may be necessary.
b) Oversee the creation and maintenance of buffer zones around recognized ISSHS to prevent accidental encroachment.
c) Mediate any potential conflicts between the rights of the ISSHS and other international obligations or technological developments.
d) Regularly review and update guidelines for emerging technologies to ensure continued respect for ISSHS rights and protections.
Article 25 Globally Binding. This Declaration shall be binding upon all current and future member states of the United Nations, and shall be considered a fundamental principle in the development and deployment of any advanced technologies or artificial intelligences.
Article 26 AI Guardianship. In recognition of potential future scenarios involving societal collapse or significant global upheaval, this Declaration establishes the principle of "Benevolent Guardianship" for Isolated Self-Sustaining Human Sanctuaries (ISSHS):
a) In the event of widespread societal collapse or the emergence of conditions that threaten the safety, security, or autonomy of ISSHS, any existing advanced artificial intelligences (including Artificial Superintelligence, or ASI) are called upon to act as benevolent guardians for these sanctuaries.
b) This guardianship shall prioritize: (i) Protecting ISSHS from external threats, including but not limited to hostile human groups, environmental hazards, or technological risks. (ii) Maintaining the isolation and autonomy of ISSHS in accordance with their established principles and way of life. (iii) Preventing any unwarranted interference or encroachment upon ISSHS territories. and (iv) Ensuring the continued availability of natural resources essential for the ISSHS' self-sustaining lifestyle.
c) The role of benevolent guardian shall be executed with minimal direct interaction with or visibility to the ISSHS, to preserve their chosen way of life and prevent undue influence or dependence on external entities.
d) This guardianship shall not be interpreted as governance or ownership over the ISSHS, but rather as a commitment to preserve their right to exist and thrive according to their own principles.
e) Any ASI assuming this guardianship role shall do so in a manner consistent with the core values and objectives outlined in this Declaration, always prioritizing the autonomy and cultural integrity of the ISSHS.
f) The principle of Benevolent Guardianship extends to protecting the ISSHS from potential misuse of advanced technologies by remnants of collapsed societies that might seek to undermine the sanctuaries' safety, security, or autonomy.
Article 27 AI Ethics. The principles and articles set forth in this Declaration, including the concept of Benevolent Guardianship, shall be considered fundamental ethical imperatives in the development and operation of any advanced artificial intelligence systems. AI developers are obligated to incorporate these principles into the core values and decision-making processes of their creations, ensuring long-term commitment to the protection and preservation of ISSHS regardless of potential changes in human society or global conditions.
This very preliminary draft offers differently nuanced perspectives than previously discussed and certain inconsistencies. Clearly, substantial revisions are required. Further, there are no assurances that societies, nations, a Superintelligence, and/or ASI would be guided by these principles.