Loading...

Senator Silvia Hernandez described the dichotomy between global North and South as 'the obscenity of our generation', calling on PGA members lead their national constituencies in demonstrating the political maturity necessary to tackle problems of

1995 provided a host of round-number anniversaries. Foremost was the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. Hopes were high that the 50th would bring major reform of the UN System. Unfortunately, hopes that rely on numbers are rarely realized.

As we near the dawn of the 21st century, political and economic decision-making has become more complex and more sophisticated than ever before in history. Indeed, the process of governing now needs more vision, conceptualization, communication, and intellect. And governing is still more complicated in a democracy where governments and legislators must satisfy so many diverse segments of society.

1997 proved to be a monumentally successful year for Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) . Remarkable advancements were made in our program work as well as our membership development.

In the 1990's, PGA pioneered parliamentarians' involvement in conflict prevention and management in countries such as Haiti, Togo and Burundi. PGA also mobilized consensus on key controversial issues at the global UN conferences of 1990-1996.

This year PGA held its 21st Annual Forum entitled 'Eradicating Global Poverty' on September 29-30, which struggled with the heartbreaking and unnecessary issue of poverty.

Although it has taken more than a decade, the road started by PGA members Mr. Arthur N.R. Robinson, currently President of Trinidad and Tobago, and U.S. Rep. James Leach in 1989 to set up an International Criminal Court is now closer to becoming a reality, with President Clinton signing the ICC statute on December 31, 2000.

Scarred by the tragedy of September 11th, the year 2001 has become a turning point in the world history. The focus on counter-terrorism and security must be retained in balance with respect for civil liberties and Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) must take a prominent role in ensuring that in each of our parliaments the balance in maintained.

2002 has proven to be a year of great achievements for the global community, one of which was the ratification and entry into force of the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court (ICC). Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) has played a viral role in the ratification process of the Statute.

Over the past 25 years, Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) established itself as a unique organization driven by individual legislators addressing pressing global issues such as peace, democracy, international law, human rights, nuclear disarmament, sustainable development and population.

This past year marked the 20th Anniversary of the Six Nation Peace Initiative on nuclear disarmament. In 1984, PGA brought together six presidents and prime ministers from Argentina, Greece, fudia, Mexico, Sweden and Tanzania, to work together and call on leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to halt their production, testing and deployment of nuclear weapons.

The year 2005 was strategic for PGA as we embarked on new programme initiatives in addition to continuing progress on our ongoing activities.

At the end of its first quarter century, PGA has demonstrated that the concept on which it is based - that a results-oriented global network of legislators can be a powerful and effective force for peace and progress - is both valid and sustainable.

You can download our brochure for more information about us and about what we do.

This publication tells the story of the men and women who have taken part in missions - organized by PGA's Task Force on Peace & Democracy - to Burundi, Cote d'lvoire, Haiti, Tanzania, Togo and elsewhere, in response to requests for assistance from the parliaments themselves or from Special Representatives of the United Nations Secretary-General.

The International conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo in September 1994, was a watershed for global population and development initiatives. In an unprecedented move, government officials from 179 countries unanimously adopted a Program of Action.

As the millennium approaches, the globe has never been more connected: technology and business rush forward, partnerships cross borders, the Internet breaks old barriers of communication - and yet at the same time, poverty has sharply increased. Development and underdevelopment have reached hyperbolic peaks.

Postponed from the previous year, due to the tragic events of 9/11, the 23rd Annual Forum, in Stockholm, Sweden, featured a special session on counter-terrorism, in addition to its main theme of parliamentarians and E-commerce and the Internet.

In this handbook, PGA sets forth specific criteria and recommendations for Parliamentarians to encourage their governments to improve national nomination procedures for ICC judicial candidates and adopt good practices and requirements to ensure these processes are fair, transparent, and merit-based.

While they may make up only part of a larger advocacy strategy, parliamentarians and the abolition of the death penalty go hand in hand. In many countries, parliamentarians are the bridge between citizens and policy and law-making.