CHILDREN'S APPEAL
TO WORLD JUDICIARY TO 'SAFEGUARD THEIR FUTURE'
Issued on behalf of world’s two billion children by
the 29,000 students of City Montessori School, Lucknow (India),
Guinness World Record holder & Recipient of UNESCO Prize
for Peace Education 2002, and to be presented before the
Hon’ble World Judiciary at the 5th International Conference
of Chief Justices of the World from 10th to 12th December
2004
Your Lordship,
We, the children of the world, fear for our future and feel
deeply perturbed that humankind might perish either in a
nuclear holocaust or in an eco-catastrophe. Earlier in September
1999, on behalf of the children of the world, we had appealed
to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr Kofi
A. Annan, to safeguard our future by facilitating the formation
of a ‘New World Order’ capable of eliminating
the huge nuclear stockpile and also ensuring ecological
and environmental conservation on a global scale.
Dr Kofi Annan’s Reply
In his reply Dr Annan wrote to CMS that “People all
over the world look to the United Nations to protect them
— from hunger, disease, violence, and natural disasters
— whenever the task seems too big for nations, or
regions, to handle alone. But we at the United Nations can
do nothing alone, either. Our strength is the strength of
our member states, when they agree to act together for the
common good. Next year, (from September 6th to 8th, 2000)
leaders from all over the world will come to New York for
the Millennium Summit. They will consider the challenges
ahead, and what the United Nations can do to face them.
Those leaders will be representing you, the peoples of the
United Nations. It is up to you to make sure that they come
here firmly resolved to take decisions which can lead to
a better life for all of us, and for our children... I am
counting on you all.”
Children Appeal to World Leaders
Accordingly, we wrote to all the Heads of State and Heads
of Government participating in the Millennium Summit, to
safeguard our future by supporting the U.N. General Assembly’s
agenda item 30 of the 53rd session dated 10th May 1999 (clause
8) which dealt with the formation of a New International
Economic and Political Order. This demand was also included
in the Declaration of the Millennium Forum of the NGOs and
Civil Societies held at the U.N. Headquarters from 22nd
to 26th May 2000 because only a New International Economic
and Political Order can eliminate the huge nuclear stockpile
and also ensure worldwide ecological and environmental conservation
efforts. We received letters of support from many world
leaders including the Prime Ministers of India, Australia,
New Zealand, the President of Slovakia and leaders of some
other countries. However, at the Millennium Summit itself,
no Head of State or Head of the Government spoke a word
about the formation of a New International Economic and
Political Order.
Failure of World Leaders at
the Millennium Summit
At the Millennium Summit, most of the leaders only spoke
on the issues that concerned their own individual countries
and were silent on the most important issue of them all,
namely; the formation of a “New International Political
and Economic Order”.
People all over the world
feel totally let down
No wonder, today people all over the world feel totally
let down by the world politicians who have shown their inability
to rise above their own selfish interests and to work for
the welfare of humanity at large. Now, as future World citizen,
we the children of the world have no other option left,
but to approach the world judiciary who alone retain their
credibility and honour and are universally trusted by all.
There is no enforceable International
law today
In today’s dismal scenario when there is no enforceable
international law which may be universally accepted by all
the countries, we would like to draw your kind attention
to Article 51 of the Constitution of India which says:
ARTICLE 51. Promotion of international peace and
security:-
The State shall endeavour
to -
(a) promote international peace and security;
(b) maintain just and honourable relations between nations;
(c) foster respect for international
law; and
(d) encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration.
Clause (c) of the above article refers to “fostering
respect for international law” but there is no international
law in the world today which may be enforceable on all the
countries and peoples of the world. A law that has no legal
sanctity is not legally enforceable and if it does not carry
a penalty for its violation cannot be called a law at
all. In that sense, there is no international law in the
world today. In order to respect the international law,
we first need to have international law, and for enacting
enforceable international law we need a legally constituted
‘World Parliament’ with powers to frame international
laws for the entire world. UNO is an international body
which is funded from voluntary contributions and donations
of member countries and has no powers to legislate or enact
laws which are legally enforceable.
Article 51 of Indian Constitution
provides a ray of hope
The provisions enshrined in Article 51 of the Indian Constitution
acts as a beacon for saving the future of world’s
children from the impending nuclear holocaust and an environmental
catastrophe. All countries of the world need to include
similar provisions in their respective constitutions so
that such countries may act in the light of, and draw inspirations
from, such provisions and thus the world may become a safer
place for all.
Call for a World Parliament
On behalf of two billion children of the world, we, the
28,000 students of City Montessori School, Lucknow (INDIA),
the school which has been awarded ‘UNESCO Prize for
Peace Education 2002’, do hereby appeal to Chief Justices
and judiciary of the world, requesting them to safeguard
the future of world’s children by striving for a legally
constituted ‘World Parliament’ whose laws may
be binding on all the nations and peoples of the world,
just as the laws passed by a country’s national parliament
are binding on all the provinces and the citizens of that
country.
Countries must surrender a
part of their sovereignty
Admittedly, for this to happen, countries will have to surrender
a part of their sovereignty, but then the choice before
us is the State Sovereignty versus the existence of humanity.
We would also like to point out that the time has come for
all the right-minded citizens of the world to make a sincere endeavour for propagating the spirit of Article 51 of Indian
Constitution so that all countries become aware of this
unique provision and are inspired to adopt similar provisions.
Building Public Opinion
Now we are striving to build public opinion in support of
a World Parliament through a series of Conferences and seminars
in the interest of the future of world’s children
and survival of humanity itself. Accordingly, a Roundtable
Conference on Article 51 of the Constitution of India was
held at CMS Gomti Nagar on 14th January, 2001. A number
of judges and legal luminaries participated in the Roundtable
who supported the concept of a legally constituted ‘World
Parliament’ as an impartial international law making
body that could resolve international disputes through arbitration
and legislation.
Encouraged by the success of the Roundtable, CMS organised
a Seminar on Article 51 of the Indian Constitution on 25th
February 2001 which witnessed the participation of a number
of eminent judges and legal experts. The participants of
the Seminar also supported the call for a legally-constituted
‘World Parliament’.
The Seminar was followed by the 1st International Conference
on Article 51 of the Indian Constitution on 6th May 2001
in which Judges and legal luminaries from 8 countries had
participated. This august gathering also supported the call
for a ‘World Parliament’ which alone could safeguard
the future of world’s children.
The 2nd International Conference of Chief Justices of the
world on Article 51 of the Constitution of India was held
on 23rd December, 2001. Chief Justices and other legal luminaries
and protagonists of peace from 18 countries had participated.
They supported the need for enforceable International law.
The 3rd International Conference of Chief Justices of the
World on Article 51(c) of the Constitution of India was
organised on 6th to 8th December, 2002 by CMS in which Chief
Justices from 5 countries, Judges of Supreme Courts from
13 countries, high dignitaries from 5 countries and pratagonists
of peace from India and abroad participated.
The 4th International Conference of Chief Justices of the
World on Article 51(c) of the Constitution of India was
organised on 12-14 December, 2003 by CMS in which Chief
Justices, Supreme Court Judges and pratagonists
of peace from over 40 countries particiapted.
Appeal to World Judiciary
We now request Your Lordship to support this call on behalf
of world’s two billion children for constituting a
‘World Parliament’ for enacting enforceable
international laws so that our future may be safeguarded.
The voice of a united World Judiciary cannot be ignored
and shall have to be heard and obeyed by all. We approached
the United Nations but were unsuccessful and now if the
Judiciary too fails to listen to our request, our future
shall be gravely endangered and the world shall probably
perish in a third world war.
Our efforts for creating awareness about international peace
and security and for providing a safe future for children,
born and yet-to-be-born, have been recognised by the world
body — UNESCO an organ of UNO, which has awarded “UNESCO
Prize for Peace Education 2002” to City Montessori
School. We earnestly request your Lordships to sincerely
consider our appeal and take such initiative as Your Lordship
consider appropriate for ensuring a safe future for world’s
children.
(Appeal issued by the 29,000 students of CMS, Lucknow
(INDIA) on behalf of world’s two billion children)
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