Leadership for the Future

Human Duties International Centre

Leadership for the Future of Humanity

Advancing education, research and institutional dialogue to strengthen responsibility in public, private and civic leadership.

Discover Our Mission The Declaration
Who We Are

A Foundational Dimension of Responsible Leadership

The Human Duties International Centre is an independent, non-profit institution dedicated to promoting a global culture of Human Duties as a foundational dimension of responsible leadership and sustainable governance.

The Centre operates at the intersection of education, research and institutional cooperation, advancing structured reflection and practical engagement around the role of responsibility in contemporary public life.

Human Duties International Centre
Why Human Duties

The Cultivation of Responsibility

The long-term sustainability of legal and institutional systems depends not only on the recognition of rights, but also on the cultivation of responsibility.

Human rights and human duties constitute indivisible and mutually reinforcing components of a coherent normative order. By strengthening the articulation of duties, societies reinforce the ethical and civic foundations necessary for the effective realization of rights.

The Centre contributes to the progressive development of this framework through leadership formation, intellectual inquiry and structured dialogue across sectors.

Five Pillars

Our Areas of Work

Responsible Leadership Education

Structured programs centered on responsibility, ethical governance and decision-making grounded in stewardship.

Research and Intellectual Development

Academic and policy-oriented research addressing the philosophical, legal and institutional foundations of Human Duties.

Institutional Promotion and International Cooperation

Engagement with civil society actors, governments, private sector institutions and international multilateral organizations to foster dialogue, collaboration and strategic partnerships aligned with the principles of Human Duties.

Normative Development

Conceptual and normative reflection aimed at strengthening governance systems through the articulation of Human Duties as a complementary normative framework.

Project Support and Initiative Development

Coordination and support of initiatives aligned with the Centre's mission across regions and sectors.

Institutional Identity

Established in 2026, Republic of Panama

The Human Duties International Centre Foundation is an independent, non-profit institution established in 2026 in the Republic of Panama.

The Centre was created to advance the study, promotion and institutional development of Human Duties as a complementary normative framework within contemporary international governance systems.

Its work is grounded in the conviction that responsible leadership and civic accountability are essential to the sustainability, legitimacy and long-term coherence of institutional and legal frameworks.

Our Mission

To promote, develop and disseminate a global culture of Human Duties grounded in dignity, responsibility and intergenerational continuity.

The Centre advances this mission through education, research, institutional cooperation and normative development aimed at strengthening responsible leadership in public, private and civic spheres.

Strategic Pillars

1. Responsible Leadership Education

The development of structured educational programs centered on responsibility, ethical governance and the practical application of human duties in public, private and civic leadership contexts.

2. Research and Intellectual Development

Academic and policy-oriented research addressing the philosophical, legal and institutional foundations of human duties as an integral component of contemporary governance frameworks.

3. Institutional Promotion and International Cooperation

Structured engagement with civil society actors, governments, private sector institutions and international multilateral organizations to foster dialogue, collaboration and institutional alignment around the principles of Human Duties. This pillar includes the development of strategic partnerships designed to support the responsible implementation of Human Duties across sectors.

4. Normative Development

The advancement of conceptual and normative reflection aimed at strengthening the coherence, legitimacy and sustainability of governance systems through the articulation of human duties as a complementary normative framework.

5. Project Support and Initiative Development

The encouragement, coordination and support of initiatives aligned with the Centre's mission, facilitating the practical implementation of responsible leadership standards across sectors and regions.

Institutional Origin

Universal Declaration of Human Duties for Leaders

Adopted by Junior Chamber International (JCI) in October 2022 during the JCI World Congress in Hong Kong.

Origin: Introduced under the leadership of 2022 JCI President Argenis Angulo and subsequently developed through a global consultative process engaging members across continents.

Status: Unanimously approved and incorporated into the JCI Constitution, establishing Human Duties as part of JCI's global leadership framework.

Conceptual Foundation

Grounded in the recognition that the realization of rights requires the articulation of responsibilities, the Declaration defines seven normative duties intended to guide ethical leadership and institutional conduct.

The Seven Normative Duties

  • 01 Preserve Life
  • 02 Serve Humanity
  • 03 Sustain for the Future
  • 04 Pursue Prosperity
  • 05 Respect Human Personality
  • 06 Educate Yourself, Teach Others
  • 07 Lead Responsibly

Together, these duties constitute a coherent ethical framework integrating dignity, sustainability and accountability.

International Development

From Declaration to Global Movement

Following its adoption, the Declaration became the foundation of the International Human Duties Initiative led by JCI.

In 2024, under the presidency of JCI President Kaveen Kumar Kumaravel, the global campaign toward the institutional recognition of July 10 as International Human Duties Day was significantly advanced.

Subsequent institutional milestones and structured engagement efforts have positioned the concept of Human Duties within contemporary international and multilateral policy discussions.

July 10
International Human Duties Day

Adopted unanimously by JCI members across continents.

Position of the Centre

A Formative Stage in a Broader Framework

The Human Duties International Centre formally recognizes, supports and promotes the Universal Declaration of Human Duties for Leaders of JCI as a significant milestone in the contemporary articulation of responsibility within global civil society.

Originally adopted within the framework of leadership, the Declaration represents an initial structured step in the development of a broader normative reflection on Human Duties. While its scope was directed toward leaders, its conceptual foundation reflects principles applicable to all members of society.

The Centre advances the understanding of this Declaration not as an endpoint, but as a formative stage in the progressive development of a more comprehensive global framework of Human Duties — one that aspires to engage citizens, institutions and communities worldwide.

Through research, education and institutional dialogue, the Centre contributes to the long-term objective of fostering a universal culture of responsibility consistent with international governance principles.

Governance

Governance & Leadership

The Human Duties International Centre operates under a structured governance framework established in its founding charter, ensuring institutional continuity, strategic direction and normative integrity.

Foundational Council

The Foundational Council serves as the principal strategic body of the Centre. It is responsible for guiding institutional development, programmatic direction and long-term strategic alignment in accordance with the Centre's statutory objectives.

Board of Protectors

The Board of Protectors safeguards the foundational principles and ethical commitments of the Centre. It ensures normative coherence, institutional integrity and alignment with the Centre's mission and long-term vision.

Argenis Angulo

Argenis Angulo

Founding President

Argenis Angulo serves as Founding President of the Human Duties International Centre. He previously served as 2022 World President of Junior Chamber International (JCI), a global leadership organization operating in more than 100 countries and holding General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

During his presidency, the Universal Declaration of Human Duties for Leaders was formally introduced and unanimously adopted within JCI, marking a significant milestone in the contemporary articulation of responsibility in global leadership.

With more than two decades of international experience in leadership development and communication, he has delivered educational programs and institutional engagements across more than 60 countries, collaborating with multinational corporations, universities, governments and civil society organizations.

Master's in Communication Sciences Wharton School, UPenn ATD Certified
Contact

Human Duties International Centre

Help us foster a universal culture of responsibility consistent with international governance principles.

Headquarters

Republic of Panama

Email

info@humandutiescentre.org
Website

humandutiescentre.org

© 2026 Human Duties International Centre Foundation. Independent, non-profit institution.