Analysis : Objectives of the Assembly

The World Assembly has four objectives:

1 - To pool the three main types of Alliance workgroups (socioprofessional networks, geocultural groups, and thematic workshops) in the same place and to hasten their synergy.

2 - To be a reflection of the emerging "global civil society." Citizens must have their say on the major global challenges (environment, economic globalization, cross-cultural dialogue, etc.). Through its participants, the Lille meeting represents the world's geographic, social, and professional diversity. It is to be a forum where persons from spheres that usually disregard one another will begin to meet and exchange their views in a constructive dialogue.

3 - To finalize a draft for a Charter of Human Responsibilities, an ethical charter that should complete the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Charter. Each socioprofessional group has examined its responsibilities and the ethics it should adopt in an interdependent world.

4 - To identify the alternatives to the present form of development. A great many proposals will come forth from the participants. The Assembly will make it possible to identify the main lines of a sustainable-development scenario for the twenty-first century, underscoring the common planetwide changes that are possible and highlighting the major issues for which international debate needs to be continued.