Online petition to establish Ombudspersons for Future Generations
Published on Wed, 2012-02-22 16:49
Oikos–Cooperação e Desenvolvimento, Terre des Hommes and The World Future Council launched this week an online petition for signatures demanding world leaders to support the call for Rio+20 to establish Ombudspersons for Future Generations. The form is available in five languages at http://bit.ly/xw1BQW. The Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development will take place in Rio de Janeiro on 20-22 June, 20 years after the first groundbreaking 1992 Rio Earth Summit. It is expected to be one of the biggest world gatherings to address sustainability. The online petition calls on citizens around the opportunity to make their voice heard at Rio. Despite numerous international processes and agreements on sustainable development, deep inequity gaps between rich and poor are steadily growing while human wellbeing is threatened by irreversible damage to the Earth and its ecosystems. Yet political decisions are still driven by market driven solutions, flawed economic motivations and short term thinking, according to Oikos, terre des hommes and The World Future Council. For present and future generations the basic right to a healthy and fulfilling life is being severely undermined, they warn. Ombudspersons for Future Generations offer a clear solution to break the short-term orientation in governance structures. They act as a representative for those who are not able to express their interests and bring sustainability to the heart of decision making. As a tried and tested initiative, this institution has a proven track record of defending and protecting the rights of future generations and the planet. Oikos, terre des hommes and The World Future Council as promoters of this initiative want to see a serious and concrete commitment from world leaders to create Ombudspersons for Future Generations at the international, regional and national levels. Ombudspersons can act as a driving force behind the sustainable development agenda while ensuring accountability and accessibility. Citizens around the world are invited to sign the petition available in five languages (English, Portuguese, German, French and Spanish) at www.righttothefuture.org from 20 February until the beginning of June. The collected signatures will then be sent to Heads of State and government delegations ahead of the Rio + 20 Summit. Oikos-Cooperação e Desenvolvimento (Cooperation and Development) is a Portuguese non-profit-making association internationally recognized as an International Non-governmental Organization (INGO) whose goal is worldwide development. terre des hommes is a non-profit organization that supports projects designed to improve the living conditions of children suffering from poverty, exploitation and violence in 31 countries. The World Future Council brings the interests of future generations to the centre of policy-making. Its 50 eminent members from around the globe have already successfully promoted change. More information » |
