Thomas Nziratimana assembled stands of the IFFPD that came up during our first meeting in Istanbul:
The following is a summary of what transpired at the inaugural meeting.
Political parties – participation by youth, women and the handicapped
Problems identified were:
- The youth are being used merely to get their votes.
- Religion sometimes creates barriers to the participation of women in politics.
- Corruption creates a distance between politics and youth and women.
- The handicapped are often ignored in politics and by society.
- Class barriers in societies often prevent people from effectively participating in politics.
- Inexperience of the youth in politics results in them making mistakes.
- A conflict exists between conservative traditions and the views of the youth.
- Intransigent political regimes discourage the youth and women from participating in political life.
- The domination and gender bias of men has a negative effect on the political participation of women.
- In most societies women are expected to bear far too great a burden in respect of daily life.
One of the generally accepted short-term answers to the gender-bias problem was the quota system which delegates said had a vital role to play in the political empowerment of women. An initial target should be 33% female representation in all parlia! ments. <> In the long term women need to receive equal education and a level playing field in competing with men in politics. In addition pro-active positive discrimination to fast-track female political empowerment, all countries should be vigorously encouraged to apply the Rome Statute.
Similarly the youth who represent the future should be encouraged and assisted to become more assertive in politics in respect of their aspirations.
Handicapped people, whose handicaps do not necessarily preclude them from making meaningful contributions, should also be encouraged and assisted to become active in politics.
Delegates argued effectively that in the 21st century political parties did not need religious components in their ideologies. These tended to create inequality and discrimination at all levels of society. Religion was an extremely personal thing and should remain so.
Class distinction and discrimination remained a serious problem in many countries. Equal access to education, health services and property ownership were some of the critical prerequisites to combat and eventually abolish class discrimination.
Delegates resolved that political participation of the youth, women and the handicapped in po9litics worldwide was a critical issue that would require being kept at the top of the IFFPD agenda.
Economic Blocks
In Latin America regional economic organizations are grouped into NAFTA, MERCOSOUR and CAFTA.
In Africa the main economic blocks are ECOWAS, OMESA, SACD and the Arab League. Overarching all of these is the New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) which, amongst other things, has a Peer Review Mechanism which includes regular reviews of member countries’ adherence to democratic practices.
Political instability has precluded the creation of economic blocks in the Middle East .
The Asian region, particularly the former Soviet states, is also without effective economic blocks despite a more liberal approach to economics since the demise of the Soviet Union .
Delegates generally agreed that regional economic blocks are effective and beneficial organizations for under-developed and developing countries. They provide a platform of co-operation which creates stronger organizations able to make meaningful developmental and economic contributions to member countries.
Non Government Organisations
Delegates generally agreed that NGOs are critically important in respect of the role they played in support of human rights, good governance, anti-corruption and a host of other services.
The delegates expressed concern at the fact that NGOs often faced hostility from governments which should, in reality, be supporting and helping NGOs in their noble objectives. For their part, the NGOs needed to be careful about the sources of their funding lest money be used to manipulate them for ulterior motives.
There was a belief amongst delegates that NGOs were not co-operating sufficiently with each other.
They believed that countries without non-partisan NGOs could not be truly democratic. However, they also believed that NGOs could collaborate with political parties, provided such collaboration was patently non-partisan.
Human Rights
Amongst other factors delegates saw human rights as including the right of the poor worldwide to share in the unprecedented wealth and prosperity evident on the planet today.
Fundamental human rights had to include socio-economic rights like food and shelter, food, education, health, and freedom from exploitation.
This mindset called for a new rand of truly accountable leadership with legitimacy that does not stop at a certain level of society, but extends to embrace and meaningfully benefit the poorest of the poor.
Democracy Index
Delegates applauded the suggestion of a global Democracy Index which would regularly rate countries on carefully defined criteria. Independent and impartial researchers will determine to what extent countries are meeting universally acceptable standards of democracy and human rights.
Peace
Emphasis was placed on the need to provide the world’s youth with education against all forms of extremism while reinforcing this with the essence of the true values of democracy.
Many leaders and countries today neglected this vital aspect of education in respect of the youth. Much more importance needed to be attached to this aspect of education to deter youth from the extremism and radicalism whose destructive force in society was becoming a leading global problem
Prosperity
.Many of the world’s most serious problems were due to their huge – and growing economic disparities – between the haves and have-nots.
The world’s majority were have-nots whose financial predicament was a fertile breeding ground for violent rebellion and radicalism.
While many in the world were prospering, they were leaving behind and ignoring huge islands of poverty which are tinder boxes for instability.
The reality is that the world has the resources to address this problem; what is needed is the political will and courage.
Global Environment
Delegates agreed that paying lip service to the threat posed by global warming and other sensitive environmental issues was no longer an option.
Democrats the world over are now required to stand up and be counted in respect of meaningful action to avert the cataclysmic result of a continuance of the practice of the past to repute environmental issues completely, or pay lip service to them and do nothing of any consequence.
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