Item Detail
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19409
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2
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0
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English
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The Principles of the Proclamation : Ten Years of Hope
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BYU Studies
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2005
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44
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no.3
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5-37
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"The Family: A Proclamation to the World" was presented at a General Relief Society meeting in 1995 by President Gordon B. Hinckley. Wilkins argues that although the Proclamation upholds long-standing values, it is not a static and regressive document, and it has proven to be a powerful influence in the international community. Wilkins' shows the need for legal and academic arguments that support the Proclamation's principles. These arguments will be essential in preserving the family as the basic unit of society throughout the world, even as society is attempting to destroy it. While serving as a delegate to the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements in Istanbul, Turkey, Wilkins was able to give a presentation on International Law and the Family, which he based on the Proclamation. Those attending the conference were deeply moved by Wilkins' presentation and accepted many of the concepts found in the Proclamation. International law has had an increasingly strong influence on society and domestic policies. Three developments demonstrate this influence: 1) international treaties now can deal with individual rights; 2) The UN is creating a great deal of "soft laws" (used to just be suggestions), which now can become "hard laws"; 3) many judges are becoming more willing to consider international norms in their cases. This increase in the influence of international law means that international law will also play a significant part in influencing national laws related to the family.