Parliamentarians for Global Action

Last updated
Parliamentarians for Global Action
Founded1978 in Washington, D.C. by a group of parliamentarians from around the world [1]
Headquarters
New York City   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Revenue1,742,444 Euro (2019)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Website www.pgaction.org

Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) is a non-profit, non-partisan international network of committed legislators, that informs and mobilizes parliamentarians in all regions of the world to advocate for human rights and the rule of law, democracy, human security, non-discrimination, gender equality, and climate justice. PGA Membership is open to individual legislators from elected parliaments. Currently, it consists of approximately 1,200 members in 139 parliaments. [2] PGA was established in 1978 in Washington, D.C., by a group of concerned parliamentarians from around the world to take collective, coordinated and cohesive actions on global problems, which could not be successfully addressed by any one government or parliament acting alone. Founded during the Cold War era, an early focus and priority of the organization was the mobilization of parliamentarians worldwide in support of nuclear disarmament. The vision of PGA is "to contribute to the creation of a Rules-Based International Order for a more equitable, safe, and democratic world". [3]

Contents

The main office of PGA is located in New York City, while the seat of the PGA Foundation is in The Hague (The Netherlands), in proximity to the International Court of Justice, The Hague Academy of International Law and the International Criminal Court.

PGA promoted the establishment of a permanent international criminal court since 1989 and the ratification of the International Criminal Court treaty - the Rome Statute - and its full implementation in national legislations . PGA has contributed to the ratification of 78 out of 123 States Parties to the Rome Statute to the ICC and the adoption of domestic legislation implementing the Rome Statute in 37 countries. [4]

The most important event of the PGA International Law and Human Rights Programme is the Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians for the International Criminal Court and Rule of Law (CAP-ICC). From 2002 to 2004, the Consultative Assembly met on an annual basis in 2002 in Ottawa, in 2003 in New York, and in 2004 in New Zealand. Under its current biennial format, the fourth session took place in Japan (2006), the fifth in Santo Domingo (2008), the sixth in Kampala, Uganda (2010), the seventh in Rome, Italy (2012), and the eighth session is planned to take place in Rabat, Morocco in December 2014. [5]

PGA’s Peace and Democracy Program focuses on marshaling global parliamentary support for improved regulation of the international arms trade, in particular where its inadequacies play a demonstrated role in destabilizing countries, causing or fuelling conflict and/or delay the emergence of countries from conflict. In particular, PGA Members worldwide advocate in favor of improved regulation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) exports through strengthened domestic legislation, broader adherence to relevant regional Conventions, and the UN Programme of Action on SALW. As of November 5, 2014, PGA Members have made important contributions to moving the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) signature process forward in 40 of the 122 UN Member States that have signed the ATT, and in 24 of the 54 UN Member States that have ratified the ATT to date. [6]

PGA's Gender, Equality, and Inclusion Programme promotes human dignity and the human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination to build communities where women and men have equal value. The programme focuses on promoting and protecting the rights of women and girls, especially by addressing harmful traditional practices like early, child and/or forced marriage and female genital mutilation; and countering discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In 2014, the GEP launched a Parliamentary Campaign against Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. [7]

PGA includes among its membership a concentration of high-level politicians, including past and present Prime Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, and Chairs of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Population, Health, and Defense Committees. Many of PGA's members have left parliament for higher government posts such as the Presidencies of Albania, Botswana, Iceland, the Philippines, Trinidad & Tobago, Prime Ministership of New Zealand and Pakistan, and Vice Presidency of Dominican Republic. The recently elected Vice-President of the Commission and High Representative on Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, H.E. Federica Mogherini of Italy, was also an active PGA Member prior to taking up this position.

Membership Eligibility Criteria

The PGA’s Executive Committee shall decide first whether a parliament meets the criteria for membership, and then it shall approve or reject applications for membership from individuals and groups from those parliaments.

Criteria for Parliament

“Parliament" shall mean a parliament, assembly, congress, or other term used to designate the central deliberative or legislative organ of a State or Group of States. In order for a group or individual to qualify for PGA membership, the parliament must adhere to all of the following criteria:

  1. The parliament should belong to an internationally recognized State or Group of States. The PGA’s Executive Committee adopts the policy of the United Nations for recognizing States as member States.
  2. The members must be from a freely elected parliament.
  3. The election should be open to more than one political party and/or to independent candidates.
  4. The parliament must evidence an actual ability to engage in free debate.

Membership Criteria

Membership in PGA is open to any Member or Alternate Member of Parliament (national or provincial) parliament following the above criteria, during their term.

Programmes

Campaigns

Donors

Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) receives core funding from SIDA, Stewart R. Mott Foundation, OAK Foundation, the European Commission, and UN Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation (UNSCAR). Funding is also provided by the governments of Canada, Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, as well as from a number of other foundations and private institutions. [10]

Resources for Parliamentarians

PGA in the Media

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights</span> Fundamental rights belonging to all humans

Human rights are moral principles, or norms, for certain standards of human behaviour and are regularly protected as substantive rights in substantive law, municipal and international law. They are commonly understood as inalienable, fundamental rights "to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being" and which are "inherent in all human beings", regardless of their age, ethnic origin, location, language, religion, ethnicity, or any other status. They are applicable everywhere and at every time in the sense of being universal, and they are egalitarian in the sense of being the same for everyone. They are regarded as requiring empathy and the rule of law, and imposing an obligation on persons to respect the human rights of others; it is generally considered that they should not be taken away except as a result of due process based on specific circumstances.

International human rights law (IHRL) is the body of international law designed to promote human rights on social, regional, and domestic levels. As a form of international law, international human rights law is primarily made up of treaties, agreements between sovereign states intended to have binding legal effect between the parties that have agreed to them; and customary international law. Other international human rights instruments, while not legally binding, contribute to the implementation, understanding and development of international human rights law and have been recognized as a source of political obligation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women</span> International bill of rights for women

The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly. Described as an international bill of rights for women, it was instituted on 3 September 1981 and has been ratified by 189 states. Over fifty countries that have ratified the convention have done so subject to certain declarations, reservations, and objections, including 38 countries who rejected the enforcement article 29, which addresses means of settlement for disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the convention. Australia's declaration noted the limitations on central government power resulting from its federal constitutional system. The United States and Palau have signed, but not ratified the treaty. The Holy See, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, and Tonga are not signatories to CEDAW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Uganda</span> Explaining Quality of Human Rights in The Country of Uganda

Human rights in Uganda have trended for the past decades towards increasing harassment of the opposition, cracking down on NGOs which work on election and term limits, corruption, land rights, environmental issues, womens, children and gay rights. In 2012, the Relief Web sponsored Humanitarian Profile – 2012 said Uganda made considerable developments Since at least 2013 the Freedom in the World report by Freedom House has identified Uganda as a country considered to be "Not Free".There are several areas of concern when it comes to human rights in Uganda, and the "Not Free" classification is due to both low political rights and civil liberties rankings.

Economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) are socio-economic human rights, such as the right to education, right to housing, right to an adequate standard of living, right to health, victims' rights and the right to science and culture. Economic, social and cultural rights are recognised and protected in international and regional human rights instruments. Member states have a legal obligation to respect, protect and fulfil economic, social and cultural rights and are expected to take "progressive action" towards their fulfilment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Commission on the Status of Women</span> Advisory board

The Commission on the Status of Women is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), one of the principal organs of the United Nations. CSW has been described as the UN organ promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. Every year, representatives of member states gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide. In April 2017, ECOSOC elected 13 new members to CSW for a four-year term 2018–2022. One of the new members is Saudi Arabia, which has been criticised for its treatment of women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Parliamentary Assembly</span> Proposed addition to the United Nations System

In regards to the United Nations, the Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly is a "global network of parliamentarians, non governmental organizations, and scholars" that advocates for representatives, not only states, to have "a direct and influential role in global policy."

Human rights in the Philippines are protected by the Constitution of the Philippines, to make sure that people in the Philippines are able to live peacefully and with dignity, safe from the abuse of any individuals or institutions, including the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Switzerland</span> Overview of the observance of human rights in Switzerland

Human rights are largely respected in Switzerland, one of Europe's oldest democracies. Switzerland is often at or near the top in international rankings of civil liberties and political rights observance. Switzerland places human rights at the core of the nation's value system, as represented in its Federal Constitution. As described in its FDFA's Foreign Policy Strategy 2016-2019, the promotion of peace, mutual respect, equality and non-discrimination are central to the country's foreign relations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States and the International Criminal Court</span> National relationship with the ICC

The United States is not a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which founded the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">States parties to the Rome Statute</span> States that have become party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

The states parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court are those sovereign states that have ratified, or have otherwise become party to, the Rome Statute. The Rome Statute is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court, an international court that has jurisdiction over certain international crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes that are committed by nationals of states parties or within the territory of states parties. States parties are legally obligated to co-operate with the Court when it requires, such as in arresting and transferring indicted persons or providing access to evidence and witnesses. States parties are entitled to participate and vote in proceedings of the Assembly of States Parties, which is the Court's governing body. Such proceedings include the election of such officials as judges and the Prosecutor, the approval of the Court's budget, and the adoption of amendments to the Rome Statute.

The Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) is an international network of NGOs, with a membership of over 2,500 organizations worldwide advocating for a fair, effective and independent International Criminal Court (ICC). Coalition NGO members work in partnership to strengthen international cooperation with the ICC; ensure that the court is fair, effective and independent; make justice both visible and universal, and advance stronger national laws that deliver justice to victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The CICC Secretariat is hosted by the Women's Initiative for Gender Justice and it is based in The Hague.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Small arms and light weapons</span> Two classes of man-portable weapons

Small arms and light weapons (SALW) refers in arms control protocols to two main classes of man-portable weapons.

Tadashi Inuzuka is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a former Senator in the House of Councillors of the Diet. A native of Tokyo, he graduated from Rikkyo University and received a master's degree from the University of Dallas in the United States. He was elected for the first time in 2004 from his Nagasaki constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arms Trade Treaty</span> International treaty regulating arms trade (2014 - onwaards)

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is a multilateral treaty that regulates the international trade in conventional weapons.

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a United Nations body of 18 experts that meets two times a year in Geneva to consider the reports submitted by 164 UN member states on their compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and to examine individual petitions concerning 94 States Parties to the Optional Protocol.

Tuvalu is a small island nation in the South Pacific, located North of Fiji and North West of Samoa. The population at the 2012 census was 10,837. Tuvalu has a written constitution which includes a statement of rights influenced by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. While most human rights in Tuvalu are respected, areas of concern include women’s rights and freedom of belief, as well as diminishing access to human rights in the face of global warming. The latter has played a major role in the implementation of human rights actions in Tuvalu given its geographical vulnerability and scarce resources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Denmark</span>

Human rights in the Kingdom of Denmark are protected by the state's Constitution of the Realm (Danmarks Riges Grundlov); applying equally in Denmark proper, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, and through the ratification of international human rights treaties. Denmark has held a significant role in the adoption of both the European Convention on Human Rights and in the establishment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). In 1987, the Kingdom Parliament (Folketinget) established a national human rights institution, the Danish Centre of Human Rights, now the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

Human rights in Norway protect the fundamental rights of all persons within the Kingdom of Norway. These rights are safeguarded by Chapter E of the Constitution of Norway or Kongeriket Norges Grunnlov, as well as the ratification of various international treaties facilitated by the United Nations. The country maintains a dedicated commitment to human rights and was the second country to ratify the European Convention on Human Rights.

Human rights in Slovakia are governed by the laws of Slovakia and overseen by international organizations such as the Council of Europe.

References

  1. ↑ "PGA Overview". pgaction.org. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "PGA Landing Page". Parliamentarians for Global Action. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  3. ↑ "About Us - Overview". Parliamentarians for Global Action. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  4. ↑ "Campaign for the Universality and Effectiveness of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) system - Parliamentarians for Global Action". www.pgaction.org. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  5. ↑ "Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians for the ICC and the Rule of Law". Parliamentarians for Global Action. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  6. ↑ "International Peace and Security - Parliamentarians for Global Action". www.pgaction.org. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  7. ↑ "Campaign Against Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI)". Parliamentarians for Global Action. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  8. ↑ "Campaign in Support of the Negotiation of a Treaty Prohibiting Fully Autonomous Weapons (FAWs)". Parliamentarians for Global Action - Mobilizing Legislators as Champions for Human Rights, Democracy and Peace. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  9. ↑ "Campaign for Universality and Implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) & Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004)". Parliamentarians for Global Action - Mobilizing Legislators as Champions for Human Rights, Democracy and Peace. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  10. ↑ "Donors". Parliamentarians for Global Action. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  11. ↑ "RWCHR files complaint to UN on behalf of Dawit Isaak and his colleagues". PEN Canada. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  12. ↑ "Des parlementaires du monde entier pour faire avancer la justice pénale mondiale et soutenir la CPI". LANOCABLOG. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  13. ↑ "Southern California nun receives Presidential Medal of Freedom". MSN. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  14. ↑ "Interview to PGA Board Member, Sen. Boris Dittrich". winq. June 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  15. ↑ "Sen. De Lima thanks int'l group of parliamentarians for renewing call for her release". POLITKO. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  16. ↑ "CAISO wants more protection, safe houses for LGBTQI+ community". Trinidad & Tobago Guardian. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  17. ↑ "Opposition leader writes to PGA to express concerns about democracy in T&T". 955FM. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  18. ↑ "MP SPEAKS M'sia should ratify treaties to protect our fisherfolk, oceans". Malaysiakini. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  19. ↑ "Piden a CPI que verifique actuación de Fuerzas Militares en casos de violencia sexual". El Espectador. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.