CIVICUS World Assembly - An international summit on citizen action in Montreal - International civil society issues Montreal Principles, laying groundwork for a more just world

MONTREAL, Sept. 7, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - World leaders of citizen action gathered in Montreal have laid the groundwork for a new social contract, aimed at improving on the conventional political approaches that have failed in the face of today's challenges and crises. Representatives of international civil society, who came from around 100 countries all over the world, had converged on Montreal for the 11th CIVICUS World Assembly, organised by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation (www.civicusassembly.org),and the Institut du Nouveau Monde (INM - www.inm.qc.ca).

"There is a pressing need to overhaul our models of decision-making," added CIVICUS' Outreach Director Henri Valot. "Recent events like the Occupy movement, the Arab Spring and the Maple Spring clearly demonstrate that a growing number of people want to be heard and understood so that we can make the world more just and address issues like inequality, poverty and corruption. This 11th CIVICUS World Assembly represents a decisive moment for achieving progress towards making the world a fairer place."

According to INM Executive Director Michel Venne, who has been the Assembly's co-host over the past three years, "The CIVICUS World Assembly took place in Montreal at a critical time for civil society, not least for Quebecois and Canadian citizens, as we have seen great waves of people's protests recently, but also recent cuts by the federal government for organisations in the areas of international cooperation, advocacy and the environment."

SOURCE: INSTITUT DU NOUVEAU MONDE

Source: Institut du Nouveau Monde and CIVICUS

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