Saturday, 9th December 2006

Morning Session:  

The morning session began with a group of children from Sri Lanka, UK, Ukraine and CMS students from Gomti Nagar Branch  deliberating on important issues faced by humankind even as Chief Justices, Judges, legal Luminaries and peace promoters from all over the world watched. The children deliberated on issues such as safeguarding the future of two billion children, ineffectiveness of the UNO, stockpiles weapons of mass destruction and 36,000 nuclear warheads, formation of World Government and World Parliament and came out with fantastic ideas to solve all these problems through mutual consultation and bring peace and unity in the world.

Earlier, the formal proceedings of the inaugural session commenced with welcome address by Mrs. Sadhana Bedi, Principal Chowk Branch who welcomed the Chief Guest Hon’ble Mr. Justice V. N. Khare, Former Chief Justice of India, judges, legal luminaries and peace promoters from 85 countries for sparing their valuable time to attend the 7th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World. Thereafter she, along with Mrs. Bonita Joel, Principal, Indira Nagar Branch conducted the entire proceedings of the programme for the day. The students of CMS Kanpur Road branch presented a prayer song.

The chief guest Hon’ble Mr. Justice V. N. Khare former Chief Justice of India inaugurated the Conference by lighting the lamp of learning. In his address, Justice Khare commended the CMS students for their campaign for world unity in order to make the planet earth a better place for living.  He also said that there is a provision in the Indian Constitution for all kind of rights for children but, how far they are being implemented by various agencies is questionable. But the appeal of CMS students, he said, has a significance of its own. It has drawn the attention of the entire world towards the children’s right to a safe future paving a way for all the countries of the world to follow suit. He also wished that this conference becomes the opening of a new chapter in world history and is remembered the world over in ages to come.

In his welcome address, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Syed Saghir Ahmad, former Judge, Supreme Court of India and first supporter of the conference on Article 51 of the Constitution of India, said that human beings the world over were born alike and they deserved equal rights. However despite the continuous talk about human rights since many years, the rights of humans are still in danger and there is still no end to armed conflicts and apart from that the world today is facing dangers of terrorism. He praised the CMS family and said a new chapter in human civilization is created by raising these big issues through its small children is a matter of great satisfaction to the people all over the world.

In his keynote address Mr. Justice A.P. Shah, Chief Justice, Madras High Court India agreed that judiciary indeed is the last hope for the survival of human race and praised the 31,000 CMS students and the CMS family as a whole, for their efforts in working for peace and unity in all over the world.

In his presidential address, Mr. Justice, Prakash P. Naolekar, Judge, Supreme Court of India said that though there are various organizations looking after the welfare of humankind, there is no enforceability and so the human life has become vulnerable. He said that by organizing this conference every year CMS Founder-Manager has succeeded in making people think about the dangers being faced by the world.  He also supported the idea of a world parliament for enacting laws at least on subjects touching all human beings.

The presentation of Children’s Appeal to World Judiciary by the students of Mahanagar branch on behalf of worlds two billion children was thought provoking and immensely appreciated by over 200 Chief Justices, judges, legal luminaries and peace promoters from all over the world. World Judiciary is indeed the last hope for the world’s children for safeguarding their future and while we have seen 20th century of lost opportunity, 21st century is the last century for us to act. During the appeal the children came out with thought provoking slogans, like “we want peace and unity” “We want enforceable international low” and many more which drew tremendous attention of the audience.

Hon’ble Madame Justice Graciela Dixon, Chief Justice of Panama very  forcefully spoke on the duties of the World Judiciary in regards to protecting the future of the world’s children saying that since UNO which until now was considered most powerful has shown its incapability in ensuring the safety  of future generations, we judges who are educated to serve justice and who are supposed to be extra sensitive towards the welfare of humanity, will have to come forward.  She also said that the task of formulating an International law may be difficult and time consuming but it’s the only choice we are left with  and our instinct for survival tells us that we have to do it at all cost.

Commenting on the CMS students efforts of organising the International conference of Chief Justices of the World, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Prof. Abdul Salam Azimi, Chief Justice, Supreme Court, Afghanistan said that the judiciary is often forgotten as an important institution in helping to make life better for society. He extended the support of the supreme court of Afghanistan to the CMS students petition for making it a reality. 

The Mayor of Lucknow, Dr. Dinesh Sharma welcomed all the participants to Lucknow and presented the Key to the city of Lucknow to Hon’ble Mr. Justice Weeramantry, Former Vice President of International Court of Justice, former Judge of Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and laureate of the 2006 UNESCO Prize for Peace Education,. Accepting the Key Mr. Justice Weeramantry said that by hosting such an historic conference, the city of Lucknow is playing an important role in the human history.  He said that from here the judges of different countries will carry the message back to their respective homes that peace education is very important in today’s world.

Former President of Mauritius, Mr. Cassam Uttem, who was amongst the UNESCO Peace Prize Jury this year, said that Justice Mr. Weeramantry’s recommendation  was so well presented by CMS that it won unanimous decision of the jury in his favour.

Mr Ravi Prakash Gupta, Advocate, Supreme Court of India and Delhi Co-ordinator for the Conference thanked various Chief Justices and legal luminaries from across the world who took part in the discussions and put forward their views on the need for Enforceable International Law and World Government.

The Afternoon Session

In the afternoon session, after the prayer and devotional songs and the appeal on behalf  of the world’s two billion children by the students of Rajajipuram, Station Road and Rajendra Nagar branches,

H.E. Mr. Cassam Uteem former President of Mauritius presented the Lucknow Peace Prize to Hon’ble Mr. B.J. Odoki, Chief Judge of Uganda and the Peace Visionary Award to Dr. T. P. Amerasinghe, President, World Constitution and Parliament Association (WCPA), in recognition of their life  long efforts for world unity and for their support to CMS students’ appeal on behalf of world’s children and generations yet unborn.

Mr. Justice Visunu Sahai, former Acting Chief Justice of Allahabad  High Court, said in his speech “The children, as we saw just now, are demanding that judges deliver a public judgement and support their plea for a safe future and healthy ecology for all. Their demand is just and their cause is of vital importance for all of humanity. Let it not be said tomorrow that the World Judiciary failed in its duty. For, if we fail, there will be no tomorrow.  The challenges facing humanity are great indeed but the opportunities are also tremendous. If World Judiciary can guide humanity, we could see the beginning of a new world civilization, a golden age when the wonders of science and technology will stretch human life span to unbelievable lengths and modern Medicare enable masses to live healthy and happy lives.”

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vivekanand Allear Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Seychelles, said” We must leave this Conference with an agenda for immediate change, change that will happen between now and our next meeting, and the determination to force at least one change each. With our cumulative accomplishments, we form a base for greater advances in the year 2008.  With such progress, our meeting in 2010 could be a celebration… Our children will never forgive us if we fail them, neither should they. We will carry the guilt, but they will pay the price”

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Luis Paulino Mora Mora, Chief Justice, Supreme court, Costa Rica, said, “From the moment we become custodians of life on this planet and its major stake holders, our degree of responsibility has increased, and the framework of international law is the instrument which can bind us and guide us so that global problems and challenges are also tackled globally for everyone’s benefit.  As the title of this conference suggests, the time has indeed come for the international law to be in force and to be an instrument to guide our path.”

Hon’ble Mr. Justice  A. P. Mishra, former Judge Supreme Court of India, said ” We saw the children appeal to World Judiciary and asking that their future be protected and that mindless damaging of our environment be stopped. The ever increasing stockpile of nuclear weapons poses a grave threat to the safety and security of future generations… I hope this Conference will prove to be a milestone in this direction and urge all participants to share their views on this and suggest ways and means of how to go ahead.”

Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.M. Silungwe, Senior Judge supreme Court Namibia said in his speech, “It is evident that the judiciay of the world uphold the appeal by the CMS children and that they consequently lend their support to the cause of world peace and security as well as to the need for “enforceable international law”.  It should however be acknowledged that the judiciaries of the world cannot, on their own, possibly enforce international law for, as Alexandr Hamilton remarked in The Federalist No. 78, the judiciary has neither “the sword” nor “the purse” and “must ultimately depend upon the aid of the executive arm even for the efficacy of its judgements.”  In practical terms, the judiciaries of the world need the support and cooperation of the legislative and executive organs whose respective spheres are to promulgate and to implement legislative measures.”

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Kenneth Mthiyne, Judge, Supreme court of Appeals, South Africa, said, “Global warming the depletion of resources and the destruction of animal habitats are all very serious concerns if we want to leave our children a world as good as the one we were left by our parents; or at least, a world they can still recognize.”  He also recalled that the UN had passed a resolution in 2002 in the special session on children and adopted the Millennium Goals most of which unfortunately we were far from achieving midway.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jorge A. Subero Isa, Chief Justice Supreme Court, Dominican Republic said in his speech, “I commned the efforts of City Montessori School in drawing attention to the urgent need for enforceable international law for the sake of protecting the rights of the children and ensuring their safe future.”

Hon’ble Mr Justice Lic. Ruben Eliu Higueros, President, Supreme Court, Guatemala said, “We recognize the efforts that this School has undertaken with the purpose of raising wareness of the global community about the urgent need for enforceable international law for safeguarding children’s rights and  ensuring their safe and healthy future.”

Hon’ble Mr Justice Kuenlay Tshering, Senior Judge Royal Court of Bhutan, said “The Bhutanese judiciary commends and dedicates its fullest support to the noble initiative of the City Montessori School and its organizers in this sacred mission… I wish you success in your journey towards achieving the destiny of children’s well being and happiness, especially so as it is being initiated in a Country which is the birth place of Buddhism, the largest democracy and undoubtedly, with the largest population of young persons. Indeed it is a noble pilgrimage for all of humanity.”

The Vote of Thanks was presented by Mr. Vinay Gandhi, Director, United World School, Lucknow who extended his wholehearted thanks to all the dignitaries for their active participation and inspiration to all through their productive ideas in bringing unity and peace in the world.

Global Symposium

            While the conference of Chief Justices of the world was being held in the vast field of Kanpur Road branch, the Global Symposium for Civil Society Organizations was underway on the theme “Towards a New World Civilization” in the basement halls of the auditorium. There were five themes of the symposium on which presentations and workshops were held by many eminent persons involved through various organisations and working tirelessly for a peaceful world. Deliberations were to be made on the under noted themes.  Details follow;

Theme 1: Structure of global democracy.

Theme 2: Education grass root movements and role of civil society in building a ‘New world civilization’.

Theme 3: Nuclear disarmament, sustainable development and world peace.

Theme 4: Inter faith, inter- religion dialogue and conflict resolution.

Theme 5: Human rights ( Including Women’s rights and children’s rights).

Theme 6: Role of media in shaping a New World Civilization.

            After the normal briefing of participants, workshops on theme 1 and theme 3 were held. These were conducted by Mr Richard Bartley of Ireland and Ms Margaret of USA. The topics they discussed were World Peace and Prosperity Movement and Those Who Care. As the workshops were being held presentations on theme 1 and theme 3 were held in other basement halls. The topics of presentations were as under:

            There was a brain storming session and many ideas were put forth by the participants.

            After this, a Question-Answer session was held which was followed by Circle Meetings and Meetings of Facilitators for the working groups. Discussion on Action Plan was also on agenda followed by interactive session. The proceedings gave new dimensions to the thinking and innovative and creative ideas like ‘One MP from one country’ to participate in a new world order were mooted and discussed.