Global Integrity--12

Integrity for Global Citizenship

Moral wholeness for a whole world

Integrity is central to our identity and responsibility
as global citizens.

Integrity is moral wholeness—living consistently in moral wholeness. Its opposite is corruption, the distortion, perversion, and deterioration of moral goodness, resulting in the exploitation of people. Global integrity is moral wholeness at all levels in our world—from the individual to the institutional to the international. Global integrity is requisite for “building the future we want—being the people we need.” It is not easy, it is not always black and white, and it can be risky. These entries explore the many facets of integrity with a view towards the global efforts to promote sustainable development and wellbeing.

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Excerpt: 

Gyeongju Action Plan
"Education for Global Citizenship: Achieving the SDGs Together”

United Nations Department of Public Information/NGO Conference
Gyeongju, Republic of Korea 30 May – 1 June 2016

“In addition to literacy and numeracy, education must advance the cause of global citizenship which: promotes integrated development of the whole person emotionally, ethically, intellectually, physically, socially, and spiritually; imbued with an understanding of our roles, rights and responsibilities for the common good in service to humanity and the advancement of a culture of peace, non-violence, freedom, justice, and equality…“empowers learners to assume active roles to face and resolve global challenges and to become proactive contributors to a more peaceful, tolerant, inclusive, and secure world”[UNESCO 2014, reference in Applications below]; nurtures a sense of solidarity and empathy in order to end poverty, protect the planet, ensure human rights, and foster prosperous and fulfilling lives for all….We commit to…An education that teaches conflict resolution, a deep appreciation for diversity, ethical reasoning, gender equality, human rights and responsibilities, interdependence, multilingual and multicultural competence, social justice, sustainable development, and values.”

Global citizenship refers to our common humanity—our shared sense of identity and belonging as humans. It also refers to our shared sense of responsibility and rights as humans. Fundamental to global citizenship education is “the integrated development of the whole person” including “ethical reasoning…social justice...and values"(as the above quote states). 

Integrity is a core part of one’s identity and involvements as global citizens. We believe that integrity is both a character quality and a way of living that must be more explicitly emphasized in education for global citizenship (including “ethics” and “values” is not enough although it is certainly on the right track). Integrity is central to our identity and responsibility as global citizens. Global citizens are people of integrity.

You can watch a three minute overview-wrap up of the UN DPI/NGO conference here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5uppOnfdE0

Applications

--See also Global Citizenship Education: Preparing Learners for the Challenges of the 21st Century (UNESCO, 2014).