Ethical Globalization Initiative (EGI) - Global

First, EGI will establish a multidisciplinary Human Rights Policy Action Group including academics, activists, and private sector leaders from around the world. The group will draw on initiatives (such as the United Nations Development Goals) and the work of national (USA) and international organisations (such as the International Council on Human Rights Policy) to make recommendations for thought and action. The group will identify specific issues of concern, such as the perceived inequalities in the international trade system and its negative effects on people in developing countries, the role of transnational corporations and their responsibilities for ensuring respect for human rights, and the impact of human migration on both developing and developed states. It will then work to integrate human rights standards into specific recommendations for governance and policy-making at the global level, as well as instigating dialogue and specific activities at the local and national level. These activities may include mobilising and empowering large groups or action related to the policies and activities of specific governments and institutions. The group will link its work to initiatives addressing economic, social, and cultural rights, particularly at the grassroots level.

Second, EGI will work to catalyse the intellectual resources and technical expertise needed to support civil society, local and national governments, and sub-regional and regional networks committed to developing human rights capacities. In Africa, government leaders are working to integrate human rights into economic and social policies affecting globalisation. They have committed themselves through the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) to secure the rule of law and promote and consolidate democratic governance in the police, the judiciary and the prisons, as well as to promote grassroots awareness and ownership of human rights norms. EGI will support these efforts by:

• establishing joint approaches to strengthening national planning for the implementation of human rights through national human rights institutions and support for secretariats of African regional organisations
• establishing joint approaches to human rights education initiatives at local, national, and regional levels
• supporting regional and sub-regional networks of NGOs
• establishing joint approaches to advancing education and participation of women.

Development Issues
Globalisation, Rights.

Organisers are motivated by the belief that, in a rapidly globalising world, continuing attention needs to be paid to the legal framework of human rights commitments made by governments. In this context, they say, a number of questions are raised:

• In what way can dialogue be created to reconcile differences between human rights advocates, economists and political analysts, and build more coherence between economic and social policy at the international level?
• How can those who have been unable to participate in the benefits of the global economy be empowered through the implementation of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural norms so that they can fully participate in local and international markets on a fair basis?
• What steps are needed to give poor people, especially in Africa, a voice in the social and economic life of their communities and nations?

Partners
The Aspen Institute, International Council on Human Rights Policy, State of the World Forum.