Report from the Luxembourg ICMICA International Council

By Bill Neville*
December 2003

Bill Neville reports back on the ICMICA International Council meeting in Luxembourg and the state of the international movement.

Life member of ACMICA, Bill Neville, recently attended as a Senior Adviser the Annual Meeting of the International Council of the International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (ICMICA)-Pax Romana held in Luxembourg City.

The Council reviewed the life of the movement in the various regions of the world and complimented ACMICA on the quality of its website which was thought to be superior to the international one.

It also heard reports from the Pax Romana permanent representatives at the UN in Geneva, New York and Vienna, at UNESCO in Paris and at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. Enjoying consultative status with the UN, Pax Romana in both its student and graduate arms is able to make direct representations to UN bodies. For this, there is an internship program in Geneva helping younger graduates from around the world prepare and deliver direct presentations to the Commission on Human Rights. This year interventions have dealt with the reform of UN attitudes and procedures concerning implementation of the right to self-determination of peoples as a contribution to conflict prevention both within and between "nation states"; racism and racial discrimination; the means to achieve economic, social and cultural rights (particularly in Africa); and rights of migrant workers. Also ICMICA was also among the originators of a statement to the Commission by more than 100 international non-government organisations condemning the invasion of Iraq as a violation of the UN charter.

The ICMICA Council is examining the feasibility of a similar internship program for the UN in New York and the international financial institutions (IMF, World Bank) in Washington.

At Paris the Pax Romana group was asked to organise a seminar for UNESCO staff and the general public to mark the first World Day of Cultural Diversity (21 May). In Vienna the permanent representative, Dr Pomberger, has worked on issues concerning crime prevention and criminal justice, trafficking in human beings, narcotic drugs and negotiation of a convention against corruption. She has been awarded a Papal decoration in recognition of her years devoted to this work.

At all of these centres the ICMICA representatives are appealing for communication with the "grassroots" so they can better represent the situation in individual countries and know who are the experts they can call on for assistance. Any volunteers from ACMICA for this country?

• The ICMICA Council agreed to support a one-day Catholic Social Forum for the Asia/Pacific region before the 4th World Social Forum in Mumbai, India, next January. ACMICA Convenor, Minh Nguyen, will be attending in part on behalf of ACMICA.
• It was agreed that the next Plenary Assembly of ICMICA would take place in Warsaw, 23-29 July 2004, on the theme "Poverty and Injustice - Challenges to Ethics and Cultures. Christian Professionals Responsibilities." This is important for East and Central Europe because it will be the first Assembly following the admission of Poland to Europe next May. As well as the colloquium, there will be a statutory (business) session at which all financial member orgainisations of ICMICA (including ACMICA!) will be able to vote for a new Secretary General (Anselmo Lee is retiring after serving eight years in Geneva), and the member organisations to make up the international council for the next four years.

The European Conference involving the 22 countries of Europe took place following the International Council meeting on the theme: "Which Europe? Ethical and constitutional challenges to the European Project." It was hosted at the Luxembourg Centre of the Commission of the European Union. Speakers included Andrzey Wielowieyski, long-time member of KIK, the Polish ICMICA organisation, adviser to Solidarnosc and member of the country's first post-Communist parliament; Federico Mayor, former Secretary General of UNESCO; Mgr Paul Gallagher, Representative of the Holy See to the Council of Europe; and Viviane Reding, the European Commissioner for Education and Culture. Receptions for the conference were given by the City of Luxembourg, the Archbishop, and the Minister of Culture, Research and Superior Education.

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