HIGHLIGHTS

JULY 23-24, 2003 - ASPEN, COLORADO

The second meeting of the Ethical Globalization Initiative (EGI) Human Rights Policy Action Group took place at the Aspen Meadows Resort Hotel & Conference Center in Aspen, Colorado, on July 23 and 24, 2003. Mary Robinson, President of Ireland (1990-1997), and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who is heading up the two-track EGI, presented a keynote address at the Aspen Institute on the evening of July 22. To access Mrs. Robinson's speech, please click here.

The meeting included members of EGI's second track, the Africa Human Rights Capacity Building group, which met in Pretoria in April, 2003, in an effort toward integrating the two tracks of the initiative. A list of participants will be available in the coming weeks.

The intention for this meeting was to review the progress that has been made since the first meeting of the Human Rights track in March 2003 at the Wye River Conference Centre, and to discuss the first draft of the EGI three-year strategic plan.

Inspired by the discussions during the meeting, EGI has decided that the broad frame of EGI will be:

The Ethical Globalization Initiative - connecting human rights, human development and human security.

EGI is working on a strategic plan for 2004-6 based on three priority themes discussed at Aspen. At a Steering Committee meeting convened on Thursday afternoon, it was decided that there would be a new structure for EGI. The Steering Committee will be replaced by a Board which will take over the responsibilities of the Steering Committee and its composition will reflect the academic links envisaged. There will also be a broader Advisory Council, which would meet initially in Bellagio, Italy, from 3-6 November 2003, and afterwards once a year, to help EGI implement its vision and goals. The idea of having 'clusters' of members of the Advisory Council who could be more actively engaged in relation to one or more of the priority themes, is also being considered.

There will be addtional reflection on the composition of these bodies as discussions with academic institutions continue.

For additional information about this initiative, please visit the Ethical Globalization Initiative website at: www.eginitiative.org.