Democracy Without Borders’ Post

🌍 The upcoming UN Summit of the Future presents a pivotal moment to reform international governance. Civil society is advocating for meaningful participation, including a global citizens’ initiative and stronger human rights protections. But will these proposals survive diplomatic negotiations? Opinion article, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation. #UNSummit #CivilSociety #PeopleAtTheCenter

The UN yesterday adopted a Pact for the Future that was negotiated for nearly two years based on consensus. In an opinion piece republished on our blog, the Permanent Observer of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance at the UN, Annika Silva-Leander, takes a look at the document from the perspective of democracy. She concludes: "The Pact for the Future has the potential to reshape global governance and address pressing global challenges, but it fails to emphasize support of democratic institutions, inclusive governance, and civil liberties. Without addressing the rise of authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic systems, the Pact may fall short in achieving sustainable peace, security, and development. To build a more just and stable world for future generations, the future of democracy should have been prioritized." Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e_RMxNpi Subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ekPGH6bx #SummitoftheFuture #PactfortheFuture

🌍 Global governance must be more inclusive to be sustainably effective. The exclusive nature of the United Nations dramatically limits its ability and legitimacy to mobilise effective collective action to confront the critical challenges of today and tomorrow in the best interest of all. The Pact for the Future – to be adopted at the UN Summit of the Future happening this coming week – suggests that they plan to renew their commitment to making the multilateral system more “inclusive to allow for the meaningful participation of relevant stakeholders”. We're one of a group of 160 diverse organisations and networks who want this promise firmed into actionable steps. They are: 🔲 A permanent Global Citizens’ Assembly which would give ordinary citizens, selected by civic lottery to be representative of the world’s population, a say on pressing global challenges. 🔲 A World Citizens’ Initiative, which would enable people to put proposals on the agenda of the UN General Assembly if they get a certain number of signatures globally. 🔲 A UN Parliamentary Assembly, which would include sitting members of national parliaments or directly elected representatives in the work of the UN and act as a watchdog that reflects a broad diversity of global viewpoints. 🔲 A UN Civil Society Envoy, which would enable greater participation, spur inclusive convenings and amplify the UN’s outreach to civil society, other major stakeholders, and the public. Join us in signing this petition for a truly democratic United Nations: https://bit.ly/3MTZ8em

#UNValues: After 79 years of extramarital affairs, political oblique triangles, asymmetrical arrangements, swinging betrayals, nonreciprocal sacrifices, humanitarian gang bangs and immoral proposals, the United Nations will stage a #Multilateralism themed mass wedding i.e., Summit of the Future to be held in September 2024. And then, Princes take Cinderellas to their zero-net castles ... and all will live happily and sustainably ever after. 1. Thought-provoking and exact to the point, the PassBlue's opinion piece, structured by a witty comparison, makes a good weekend reading. 2. Indeed, the free falling #UN system with its bleaker than ever credibility needs a few things urgently: something old - like honesty, something new - like youth and women empowerment, something borrowed - like nature resilience, and something blue - like peace and humanity. 3. A few things need to be eradicated at once: something old - like institutional and moral corruption, something new (actually old) - like another set of empty promises and ever-receding targets, something borrowed - like political and corporate greed, and something (dark almost black) blue - like humanitarian disasters and human suffering. #PactForTheFuture #HumanitarianCrisis #UNReforms #SummitOfTheFuture #UNGA79

The Populist Backlash Against Global Institutions May Be Good for Them “Yes, populism in the West sometimes calls into question or even directly attacks the legitimacy of multilateral bodies. But while populism is a hot topic, it simply isn’t the greatest objective threat to the future of principled, effective and cooperative problem-solving, standard-setting and dialogue-enabling institutions grounded in UN Charter values,” JOLYON FORD writes. “In fact, the greater risk, from an Australian and Pacific perspective, is being passive and naive in multilateral arenas while autocratic powers capture and re-shape the institutions and agendas of the post-1945 order. “If populist attacks help to break this Western sleepwalk and to catalyse much-needed engagement, reform and revitalisation of parts of that order, they might unintentionally offset some of the damage their own rhetoric may do the legitimacy of those bodies.”

Global Democracy and the United Nations: The Summit of the Future – What Next?  Register at https://lnkd.in/dpi57_Qf to join the public dialogue hosted by the Institute for Justice Reconciliation & Democracy Without Borders on 27 November 2024, 17h00 to 18h30 at #IJR, 105 Hatfield St, Gardens, Cape Town. On 22-23 September 2024, the United Nations convened a Summit of the Future and adopted a Pact for the Future that was said to be a “once in a generation” opportunity to “forge a new global consensus” on what humanity’s “future should look like”. This event will provide a critical analysis from the vantage point of global democracy and a transformation of global governance. It will discuss democratic representation and participation at the UN, global democracy promotion as well as the (potential) role of South African foreign policy in these fields. Finally, it is an opportunity to present the 2nd edition of the book “A World Parliament: Governance and Democracy in the 21st Century” with co-author Andreas Bummel in attendance. This event is in-person only. Use the link https://lnkd.in/dpi57_Qf to register.

📍 Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and the European Union have now signed an agreement on a new funding period for the EEA and Norway Grants. 👉 For the 2021–2028 period, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are providing 3.2 billion to 15 EU Member States to enhance cohesion in Europe. A total of EUR 183 million has been earmarked for measures to help address the ramifications of Russia’s war on Ukraine in the Beneficiary States. 🎯 The three priority areas that have been designated are:  • European green transition  • Democracy, rule of law and human rights  • Social inclusion and resilience 

The Center for American Progress has been sounding the alarm of the potential harms to freedom and democracy from the Heritage Foundation’s extreme, far-right Project 2025 policy agenda. Unfortunately, Americans don’t need to theorize about the consequences of such an agenda: We can see right now the devastating effects of that game plan in backsliding democracies elsewhere.  Hungary, Turkey, Poland, Italy, and Tunisia are all case studies of how far-right leaders have exploited the democratic process to win at the ballot box and then move quickly to consolidate power, roll back rights, and undermine institutions. Let’s be clear: the policy proposals in Project 2025 present a similar threat to American democracy. These examples serve as urgent warnings, underscoring the need to counter far-right extremism, preserve hard-earned yet fragile freedoms, and defend democracy.

For many decades, states have been referring to the veto powers of P5 and an enhancement of membership as per new global realities. Perhaps another way forward should be a regional representation model, with regional organisations (e.g., OAU/Africa, ASEAN/SAARC (Asia), EU (Europe), the Americas, Oceania as permanent members for a wider reach. Instead of P5, the Council should adopt 2/3 or 3/4 voting pattern and abolish Veto Power. Also, it should establish independent oversight bodies to review the council’s decisions and actions, ensuring adherence to international law and ethical standards.

Worth reading: "First, it would be useful to reduce the ambiguities in the relationship between the rules-based order and international law. All the basic rules necessary for a stable international system are found in the UN Charter and the multiple treaties anchored in the UN. Clear support for this body of law would allay most of the suspicions about possible hidden motives behind the concept. It would also assist the work of the international courts, which have come under severe strain in the geopolitical era. Second, Western politicians should underline that the rules-based order is not about protecting and perpetuating the status quo. The rules are not set in stone but should be developed through an equitable process open to all interested parties. The attractiveness of the concept would be much enhanced if its proponents committed to reforming international governance and addressing the legitimate grievances of Southern countries. Third, and related to the above, promoting the rules-based order should be combined with a credible offer to modernize the existing multilateral system to allow developing countries and emerging economies to participate in a more equitable manner. This would involve fairer representation in multilateral forums and institutions, such as the UN Security Council, the G20, and the international financial institutions; thorough reform of multilateral development banks by ensuring adequate capitalization, improved debt resolution mechanisms, and an updated quota system; and the mobilization of significant additional funding for the climate transition and the achievement of the UN sustainable development goals." https://lnkd.in/dYP7X5bC