World Constitutional Convention
The World Constitutional Convention (WCC), also known as the World Constituent Assembly (WCA) or the First World Constituent Assembly, took place in Interlaken, Switzerland and Wolfach, Germany, 1968.[1] The convention aimed to foster global cooperation and world peace through the development of a World constitution and establishment of a democratic federal world government.[2][3][4]
This article is about World Constituent Assemblies of 1968 & 1977 and related events. For Constituent assembly, see Constituent assembly.Date
August 27 – September 12, 1968
- Theater Hall of Congress Kursaal, Interlaken, Switzerland
- City Hall of Wolfach, Germany
- World Constituent Assembly (WCA)
- First World Constituent Assembly
world peace, World constitution, democratic federal world government
The initiative to convene the convention was led by World Constitution Coordinating Committee, who sought support from notable individuals around the world. The "Call to all nations," an appeal signed by prominent figures, urged countries to send delegates to Geneva for the historic World Constitutional Convention.[5] Several Nobel laureates were among the notable signatories of the call.[6][7] Other notable figures such as Edward Condon, Edris Rice-Wray Carson, and Martin Luther King Jr. endorsed it as well.
Hundreds of participants from various countries attended the convention in 1968, where a proposed constitution was drafted.[2][8][9] The World Committee for a World Constitutional Convention, subsequently renamed the World Constitution and Parliament Association, later organized a Second World Constituent Assembly in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1977.[10] During the 1977 assembly, the delegates adopted the "Constitution for the Federation of Earth," commonly known as the 'Earth Constitution'.[11][12]
After its adoption, the WCPA issued a call for ratification, urging nations and peoples of Earth to endorse the Earth Constitution. Copies of the proposed Earth Constitution were sent to various entities, including the United Nations, national governments, and universities, seeking their support and cooperation in the ratification process.[13] The proposed Earth Constitution has never been ratified by any country.[14]
The renamed World Committee for a World Constitutional Convention (WCWCC), World Constitution and Parliament Association (WCPA) organized an Emergency Council of World Trustees (ECWT) during 1969 and 1971.[55] Philip Isely, secretary of E.C.W.T., in consultation with Thane Read and Lloyd Oxley draw a 'Proposal for Immediate Action' which was adopted in 1971. From December 28, 1971, to January 2, 1972, the Emergency Council convened in Santa Barbara, California, US.[56][57] The Emergency Council issued several decrees:[55]
The Council terminated deliberations on January 2, 1972, with covering other possible actions covering environmental problems, pressing social and economical issues.[60]
At Santa Barbara, a multitude of dedicated delegates from more than 25 countries gathered, and among them were prominent individuals from India, such as R. K. Nehru, former Secretary-General of the Ministry of External Affairs of India; Godey Murahari, who later became the Speaker of the Rajya Sabha; D. H. Spencer, a renowned constitutional lawyer; and Dr. T. P. Amerasinghe, a Barrister-at-Law from Sri Lanka. Other notable delegates included Reinhart Ruge from Mexico, Dr. Lucile Green from California, US, Mrs. Helen Tucker from Canada, Thane Read from Arizona, US, Archie Casely-Hayford from Ghana, Hon. Syed Mohamed Husain later Judge of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Dr. Charles Mercieca from Malta and the USA, and Jorgen Laursen Vig from Denmark.[61] Together, a total of 229 representatives from 54 countries joined forces to sign "The First Decree for the Protection of Life".[62][59]
Constitution draft[edit]
First draft[edit]
As in 1968, the World Constitutional Convention and Peoples World Parliament held sessions in Interlaken and Wolfach initiating the task of formulating a constitution. The drafting commission, consisting of D. M. Spencer, an esteemed Constitutional Lawyer and Professor from Sydenham College, Bombay, Hon. Syed Mohammed Husain, an Advocate who later became a Judge of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Dr. T. P. Amerasinghe, a Barrister-at-Law and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, and Philip Isely, the Secretary General of WCPA, joined forces to work on the constitution during January and February of 1972. Their efforts were based on Philip Isely's 19-page outline of the draft.[63]
In November 1974, the initial draft titled "A Constitution for the Federation of Earth" was ultimately finished, published and circulated globally by WCPA for assessment, along with the Call to the second session in 1977.[64][65]
Call for Ratification[edit]
Following the assembly's success, a call for Ratification was issued, urging nations and peoples of Earth to endorse the Earth Constitution. The WCPA proactively sent copies of the Constitution to the United Nations, Members of the General Assembly, and national Governments, requesting their support and cooperation in the ratification process.[13][72]
The call requested:
(a) people of Earth to ratify the Constitution by direct referendum and by an initiative petition followed by election of delegates to the 'House of Peoples';
(b) the national governments and legislatures of the world to ratify the Constitution and elect delegates to the 'House of Nations'; and
(c) the universities, Colleges, Churches, Scientific Academies and Institutes to ratify the Constitution and nominate delegates with a world view as candidates for election to the 'House of Councillors'.[66]
Further developments[edit]
Since the Second World Constituent Assembly of 1977, the 'Constitution for the Federation of Earth' has undergone further amendments through two additional sessions of the World Constituent Assemblies in 1978-79 and 1991.[73][11][27] Furthermore, fifteen Provisional World Parliament sessions have been organized since 1982, with the last one taking place in 2021.[74][73]
As of 2023, the developed constitution has been personally ratified by many individuals worldwide,[75] but has not received ratification from any country.[14]