1) United Nations reform

Follow-up to the World Summit: At the September 2005 United Nations World Summit, heads of state adopted a package of modest reforms. Many are still under negotiation.

• WFM – Canada promotes adherence by governments and the UN to agreed “Responsibility to Protect” principles.

• World Federalist programs support successful implementation of the new UN Peacebuilding Commission, the Democracy Fund, and a new Human Rights Council.

Unfinished business: As Kofi Annan acknowledges, the World Summit failed to address many needed reforms. The present institutions of global governance are inadequate to the needs of an interdependent world. WFM - Canada programs support addressing the UN’s “democratic deficit.” The UN’s peacekeeping capacity needs to be strengthened. Programs to address global poverty must be adequately funded. The international monetary, trade and financial institutions need to be better aligned with agreed (but under-funded!) UN goals and international human rights standards.

2) Democratic Governance

World Federalists are part of a growing civil society mobilization behind the objective of democratizing governance – nationally, regionally, and at the global level. In 2006, WFMC has joined the campaign to increase support among parliamentarians around the world for a Parliamentary Assembly at the UN. WFMC is also part of an organizing committee for a major world conference to strengthen UN programs to assist “new or restored democracies.”

WFMC Partnerships

WFMC is an active member of the following networks of civil society organizations:

Canadian Council for International Cooperation (CCIC), based in Ottawa, supports more effective Canadian international development assistance. The CCIC coordinates Canadian efforts in the worldwide “Make Poverty History” campaign.

Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC), based in New York and The Hague, supports effective functioning of the new International Criminal Court and coordinates civil society efforts to contribute to the work of the Court.

International Civil Society Forum for Democracy (ICSFD) based in Ulaanbaatar, New York and Lebanon, coordinates civil society efforts to strengthen the UN International Conference of New or Restored Democracies and is preparing for the Sixth ICNRD meeting, October 2006 in Qatar.

Canadian Peacebuilding Coordinating Committee (CPCC), based in Ottawa, includes a range of Canadian peace, development, humanitarian and conflict resolution organizations. WFMC chairs the CPCC Peace Operations Working Group.

Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (CNANW) links Canadian organizations advocating more effective Canadian and international efforts to eliminate weapons of mass destruction.

Climate Action Network (CANET) links Canadian organizations concerned with the effects of climate change and advocates Government of Canada policies to implement the Kyoto Protocol and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.