The Future Justice Programme
To implement our vision and agenda we are structuring our work along four lines of engagement with ongoing political processes:
- Developing Future Justice Indicators: Our statistical measures of monitoring progress in our societies are completely outdated. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is not qualified to tell us about the actual wellbeing of our societies, neither the level of human security nor that of environmental sustainability. In the current debates on how to tackle our crises, GDP addiction may in fact be part of the obstacle to achieving just and sustainable societies.
- Upgrading the Millennium Development Goals: At the 2000 United Nations Millennium Summit the 189 Heads of State and Governments pledged to make a better world for all by 2015. They adopted 8 goals committing the world community to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, ensure all boys and girls complete primary school, promote gender equality, improve the health of mothers and children, reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, protect the environment, and create a global partnership for development by ensuring rich countries give more and better aid, debt relief and trade opportunities to poorer countries.
Yet, half way down the road, meeting these - minimalist! - targets seems unlikely and the economic downturn threatens commitments further. - Ensuring Representation of Future Generations: Decisions taken today may impact the future of life on this planet for decades or even centuries Yet, our current system is driven by short-term decision-making. Be it business and investment geared at quick profits or representative governments tailored to the needs and desires of the present voters. Some countries have turned to counter this discrimination against the long term with an additional body independent from electorate majorities that will review proposals about their impact on future generations.
- Investigating Crimes against Future Generations: As environmental devastation of the planet continues and gathers momentum, blindness to long-term consequences of economic, social, cultural and military conduct cannot be tolerated any longer. Regulatory approval or authorization of (potentially) future-foreclosing behavior in light of available knowledge needs to be declared as unacceptable for the community and eventually as criminal.
"Justice today must not weaken the foundations for justice tomorrow; intragenerational solidarity must not undermine intergenerational solidarity; all decisions must respect the laws and characteristics of our earth. At stake are human rights, fundamental freedoms and human security, and the living conditions of future generations."
WFC Director Future Justice Maja Göpel
