Human Rights campaign adopted by 'Global Greens' conference
07 May 2008
Dr Richard Lawson, Woodspring Parliamentary candidate and a SomersetGP, this week succeeded in having a significant human rights policyadopted by the gathering of world Green Parties in São Paulo, Brazil.Dr Lawson attended the 4 day Congress of 80 Green Parties from allcontinents as the GPEW representative.
The disparate, multicultural and multinational conference delegates atSão Paulo came together under the 'Global Greens' banner, and amongother negotiations succeeded in drawing up a document addressing themost serious problems faced by the peoples of the world. Delegated bythe GPEW, Dr Lawson promoted the uniquely Green policy of an "Index ofHuman Rights in the UN", which aims to reduce human rights abuses suchas torture and repression on a constant and world wide basis.
The proposal's core policy seeks to convert sovereign country'sexisting human rights reports into a ranked global index. Bycompiling this list, the position of any country, and their commitmentto human rights, can be seen at a quick glance and easily accessiblenot only for politicians and journalists, but also for familiesplanning their foreign holidays.
The idea arose from the Observer Index of Human Rights, published bythat newspaper in the mid 1990s, and Dr. Lawson has been pursuing itover the last 5 years, Dr Lawson has discussed this idea with the GPEW and the international committee, the European Green Party and now the Global Greens. It hasalso been adopted by the UK United Nations Association and severalother Non Governmental Organisations. The UK Government's Foreign andCommonwealth office has also expressed interest in aspects of theproposal.
Of the São Paulo conference Dr. Lawson commented:
"The Congress was an uplifting experience, with some 6-700 delegatesfrom over 80 countries demonstrating extraordinary unity and commonspurpose.
"At times it was also sobering, as speakers showed evidence of thegrave impacts that global warming is having on their lives andenvironment right now. I am delighted that the Index has been adoptedby the Global Greens, because now the campaign to get it adopted bythe United Nations itself can start in earnest."
Green Party International coordinator Dr. Joseph Healy added:
"The proceedings of the Congress are accessible on the global greenswebsite (1).
"In addition, I welcome the fact that the European Green Party hasagreed to host the next 'Global Greens' congress in Europe in 4 yearstime, and I hope that GPEW will play a prominent role in that.
ENDS
Notes for editors
Dr Lawson is a GP in Congresbury, North Somerset, a past speaker forthe national Green party, and an elected district councillor onWoodspring (now North Somerset) 1986 - 1992. He is prospectiveparliamentary candidate for the Woodspring constituency, and 4th onthe Green List for the European Parliamentary elections in June 1990.
While at the São Paulo conference, Dr. Lawson gave an interview to aTaiwan TV company on the impact of biofuels.
