Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has called for a new world order that will better handle disputes, deliver justice, regain the people’s loss of faith in all sectors of society’s leadership, bring hope and optimism to the people, and promote peace, love, and happiness.
He also recommended reforming the United Nations Charter to make it more responsive, democratic, inclusive, and linked with modern-day governance requirements and structure, given its inadequacies in the face of contemporary global realities.
It must build an equal, just, and sustainable future for all, prescribe behaviour and implement enforceable rules to control states’ activity in areas where the global community is most challenged.
Mr Bagbin was addressing at the City Montessori School’s 24th International Conference of Chief Justices from across the world in Lucknow, India.
It revolved on the subject of “Uniting the world for children through enforceable world law and effective global governance.” The meeting drew 63 nations.
The Speaker proposed a new global government system with four equal arms to establish the world order he envisioned: the administration, legislative, judiciary, and civil society (including the media).
He argued that “the tripod of three arms of government – executive, legislature and judiciary – is not working well. The checks are jerks and the balance are imbalances”.
He identified civil society organisations as the backbone of constructive change, capable of facilitating transformational changes and holding governments and international organisations accountable for their activities.
“Let’s face it, legislatures all over the world have not been able to shed light on the operations of the executive nor hold it accountable to the people; neither have legislatures succeeded in self-regulation nor post-legislative scrutiny,” he remarked, emphasising his point.
“The proposed four world governance institutions must be truly equal, and work on the principles of checks and balances, openness, transparency and accountability”.
Rt. Hon. Bagbin informed the participants that it was their role as leaders to guarantee that the next generation inherits a world that is habitable, satisfies the ambitions of the youth, and protects the integrity and dignity of the human race.
He listed the ozone layer depletion, global water shortages, starvation, poor sanitation, biodiversity loss, and the extinction of some species due to exponential population expansion as examples of today’s global concerns that require a concentrated, urgent response.
He also listed confrontations on the Korean Peninsula, Russia-Ukraine, the Sahel, Israel-Hamas, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential to endanger mankind.
In all of this, he stated, the global community must prioritise laws and governance interventions that protect children’s futures, as well as develop mechanisms to hold governments accountable for acts that violate children’s rights, such as child labour, child marriage, trafficking, and exploitation.
He urged nations to respect their legal commitments under the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child in order to preserve children’s rights and ensure their survival and development.
“They must ensure all children are allowed to be children, to grow, learn, and play in a safe, inclusive and caring environment, and in dignity”.
Mr. Bagbin encouraged the conference’s youth participants to be hopeful and focused on building an international community that cares for all.
He told them “you have innovation and energy to build a better society. You are the best placed to lead this transformation.
“You must compel governments to consider more resilient safety nets for the vulnerable, and demand participation in government”.
