Global and Domestic Governance

ATTENDANCE AT THIS CONFERENCE IS BY INVITATION ONLY. This conference constitutes the fifth of Wilton Park's annual human rights meetings sponsored by the Norwegian and Swiss Governments. It will discuss: preparations for the April 2009 Durban Review Conference; the Human Rights Council Review to be held in 2011; and contemporary and future human rights challenges, including the relationship between the freedoms of expression and of religion, and setting a future human rights agenda.
Location: Wilton Park

How to make global institutions more representative of the shifting global balance of power? How to move beyond the politics of blocs and reflect the growing political power of countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICs) in international institutions? How effective are existing fora for dealing with global threats? What new tools and mechanisms can be devised to deal with challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, proliferation, terrorism and other security issues?
Location: Wilton Park

Following agreement in September 2008, on the initiative of the Swiss Government and the International Committee of the Red Cross, on the Montreux Document, a text reaffirming existing legal obligations of States, under international humanitarian law, in relation to operations of private military and security companies (PMSCs), and outlining good practices in this respect, what are the legal responsibilities of PMSCs themselves? What role can self-regulation, such as a Code of Conduct, play? How might this be satisfactorily monitored? Could a grievance mechanism be elaborated? What concerns may PMSCs have with such procedures? Participation in this conference is by invitation only.
Location: in Switzerland

How far should strict adherence to democratic principles be tempered by ‘practicalities’? Is ‘good enough governance’ acceptable? Exactly which relationships should or can there be between the efforts of those who promote democracy, development, and security? How should the international community react to the challenge of countries that adopt democratic forms but that do not allow democratic substance to emerge in any serious way?
Location: Wilton Park

This conference on strengthening parliaments and governance in the developing world is the third in a series of annual conferences organised in association with the Department for International Development, the World Bank Institute and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The conference brings together ministers, senior parliamentarians, donors and experts to discuss topical issues affecting parliaments in the developing world. The precise focus and themes will be defined in early 2009.
Location: Wilton Park