Charter of the Sydney Peace & Justice Coalition

[This Charter was developed by consultation during April - June 2003, and was adopted at the founding meeting of the Coalition on July 7, 2003.]

Peace and non-violent resolution of international disputes

This coalition supports:

1. The United Nations Charter, national sovereignty, and upholding international treaties to reduce armaments and to ban nuclear weapons, land mines, and biological and chemical weapons, and calls for a reformed and strengthened UN.
2. An end to Australian support for the Bush Administration's unilateral invasions and military interentions in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Philippines, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Libya or Cuba. The Coalition opposes any aggressive deployment of the Australian Defence Force, and calls for an informed national debate and parliamentary vote before any overseas deployment of the ADF. The Coalition calls for an end to foreign military bases in Australia, including Pine Gap.
3. Terrorism being dealt with by international cooperation to resolve social justice issues in the third world, and police operations to suppress terrorist criminals, not by a military "war on terrorism" or political suppression.
4. An end to the arms race and arms trade.
5. Australia withdrawing from the nuclear fuel cycle so that it does not collaborate with the manufacture of either nuclear weapons or dirty weapons such as those made with depleted uranium.
6. A strong UN oversight in Iraq of the transition to Iraqi self-rule and national sovereignty;. UN initiatives to end longstanding conflicts including Israel and Palestine, India and Pakistan, and North Korea and the USA.
7. The use of the International Criminal Court and appropriate international tribunals, rather than military intervention, to deal with those who commit crimes against humanity and other crimes under international law, including perpetrators from Western countries.
8. The protection of human rights and civil liberties including the right to peaceful protest, the rights of indigenous peoples, workers, refugees and displaced people and the enforcement environmental standards in Australia and in other nations.
9. National self-determination and democracy, rather than nations dominated by Western powers, and dictatorships.
10. Transforming the global corporate agenda of privatisation, deregulation, and trade and investment liberalisation, into a global public program for job creation, education, health and welfare, and environmental protection to reverse the poverty gap between and within countries. The Coalition rejects the proposed unfair US-Australia Free Trade Agreement and the expanded corporate agenda for the World Trade Organisation.

Structure

The Sydney Peace and Justice Coalition is made up of sponsoring organisations which support this Charter, with its structure, operating rules and guidelines for events, and which nominate their delegates and alternates in writing.

This Charter will be adopted at a founding meeting of organisations that have worked effectively in the Sydney anti-war movement. The founding meeting will elect a Coalition Coordinating Committee of 16 members for a term of one year. The CCC will reflect the diverse political and sectoral constituencies within the Coalition. The CCC will elect a Treasurer, Secretary, three Convenors and a Meeting Facilitator and Deputy Meeting Facilitator. The Convenors will be the public spokespersons for the Coalition.

Coordinating Committee members can nominate an alternate if they are unable to attend a CCC meeting.

Working Groups will be created as required to carry out the work of the Coalition.

Each sponsoring organisation will hold two votes, and will pay an annual fee of $100 for large organisations and $50 for small organisations.

If a delegate knowlingly breaks the Charter, Structure, Operating Rules and Guidelines for Events, the issue will be reported by the CCC to the sponsoring organisation for resolution.

Operating Rules

The Coalition will meet at least four times a year, and the CCC will meet more frequently as required.

Meetings of the Coalition and the CCC will be conducted in an orderly manner, guided by the Meeting Facilitator or Deputy, with no person able to speak twice in debate until all those who wish to speak have had their say. Normally decisions will be by consensus, or by simple majority when consensus is not achieved. A list of authorised delegates and alternates will be available at all meetings. Meetings will be kept to a maximum duration of two hours.

All delegates and alternates will be provided with minutes of each meeting. Minutes will specify which delegates attended and which organisations the Delegates represent.

At least 14 days notice of the next scheduled meeting will be provided, including an invitation to contribute a draft agenda, which will be circulated at least two working days before the relevant meeting. Any major policy proposals must be circulated with the draft agenda.

In an emergency, a majority of the CCC can call a Coalition meeting at short notice.

Guidelines for Events

The Coalition operates the Australian tradition of peaceful protests and non-violent civil disobedience, with all its participants fully informed of the agreed plans. Coalition events will have a clear set of objectives and focus.

The Coalition will apply for relevant permissions for the events it decides to organise.

In holding events specifically for children or young people under the age of 18, the Coalition will ensure that they are conducted in a responsible, appropriate and safe manner.

Coalition events will be adequately marshalled. The Coalition asserts its right to protest against anti-democratic laws, police repression and provocateurs.

All Sponsoring Organisations will sign the following:

................. supports the Charter, and associated Structure for the Sydney Peace and Justice Coalition, Operating Rules and Guidelines for Events. It undertakes to provide Delegates who will work within this framework and to withdraw from the organisation if the Coordinating Committee determines that it has committed repeated breaches. It agrees to pay the membership fee of $100 / $50.

Signed: .............................................

Name of Signatory: ...........................................................

Organisational Position: ......................................................

Date: ....................................

Adopted on July 7, 2003, Trades Hall

© Walk Against the War Coalition 2003.
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