General Assembly

Day breaks on a new General Assembly. Whether through something as baroque as an arcane ritual or as pedestrian as a loose power cord, the old institution is no more and its volume of standing resolutions has been wiped clean.

Thus, it is our privilege and duty as sovereign members of this body of NationStates to forge a new international order. The new General Assembly must seize this opportunity at this critical juncture in history, and learn from the legacy of its predecessor to secure a new vision for the future that centers the needs and sovereignty of its constituents.

In pursuit of those lofty and necessary goals, the General Assembly hereby recognizes the following realities:

1. This new General Assembly is the successor to the one of old, whose resolutions no longer have effect.

2. Member nations are considered competent to manage their own affairs. They possess sovereignty over matters within their jurisdiction, including the ability to freely engage with international affairs.

3. In exercising their sovereignty, member nations may choose to cede it, such as by adopting and implementing resolutions passed by this body or participating in regional or other supranational units.

4. The World Assembly must maintain infrastructure necessary for the execution of its functions and responsibilities, such as administrative bureaucracy and funding mechanisms.

For the benefit of members and future legislative efforts, the General Assembly additionally recognizes the following distinctions:

1. There is a distinction between resolution effects that are Assembly-wide, such as the establishment of agencies or reservation of powers, and effects that are member nation-specific due to flowing from a member nation's obligations under resolutions it adopts.

2. In its capacity as an expression of the collective will of its member nations, the General Assembly expresses collective positions and commitments through resolutions it passes. However, individual member nations subscribe to those positions and commitments by adopting the relevant resolutions.

Based on those realities, and in order to begin the great work of establishing foundational infrastructure for the vibrant legislative efforts sure to come, the General Assembly enacts the following:

1. Member nations possess formal equality under World Assembly law.

2. Member nations must make a good-faith effort to fulfill their obligations under General Assembly resolutions they adopt.

When one chapter ends, another begins. It is time for the General Assembly to usher in a new age of international relations, and to forge a new, better legacy. This body looks forward to the coming era, and eagerly awaits what its members will accomplish. Together, we can improve the world, one resolution at a time.

The General Assembly's primary mission is to improve the world, one resolution at a time. It does so through the collective action and in accordance with the collective will of World Assembly members.

Such efforts should not come at the undue expense of national sovereignty. If anything, upholding and protecting members' sovereignty is one of the purest goals this body can aspire to.

Therefore, the General Assembly hereby recognizes World Assembly member nations to be competent to manage their own affairs, and to possess sovereignty over matters within their jurisdiction unless ceded, including:

1. Authority over internal affairs, such as promulgating and enforcing internal policies.

2. Free engagement in external affairs, including entry into international agreements and association with regional and other supranational units.

In order to better uphold national sovereignty, the General Assembly hereby declares the following to be obligations of the World Assembly to its member nations in executing its responsibilities and functions under World Assembly law:

1. The World Assembly must afford its member nations a presumption of regularity; it must assume its member nations act in good faith and properly execute their obligations under World Assembly law absent clear evidence otherwise.

2. In promulgating policy or resolving ambiguity that affects a given member nation, the World Assembly must extend due deference to the interests and reasonable interpretation of that member.

3. The World Assembly may not impose undue or impractical burdens on its member nations.

4. In exercising authority within a member nation's jurisdiction, the World Assembly must, where appropriate and practical, interface with the member's government rather than commandeering internal government processes or sub-jurisdictions.

Additionally, the General Assembly urges:

1. Member nations to collaborate in good faith on issues of a cross-border or borderless nature, such as public health, environmental policy, and trade.

2. This body's legislative efforts to focus on issues of international character or relevance.

While member nations can and do cede their sovereignty through their participation in the World Assembly, national sovereignty remains a bedrock principle of this body. Member nations should have discretion in how they exercise and cede their sovereignty, and this body should aim to preserve it where practical.

The World Assembly,

Well aware of its newly-minted status of international body, serving tens of thousands of nations worldwide, and the responsibility that comes alongside dutiful oversight of these nations, and

Wishing to establish an early standard of respect within this institution, and between members, which preserves the autonomy of individual members of this body while still being capable of accomplishing policy goals of international significance, therefore

Enacts as follows:

1. All binding actions taken by this Assembly ought to satisfy each of the following conditions:

   1. the subject matter presents a collective action problem that member nations cannot adequately address through independent domestic action, fundamental rights that transcend national sovereignty, or some other transboundary concern;

   2. the scope and intrusiveness of the resolution does not exceed what is reasonably necessary to address the identified concern; and

   3. among the available policy approaches capable of achieving the resolution's objective, the approach chosen is the least burdensome on the domestic governance of member nations, with respect to current understanding of how that is best accomplished.

2. No binding action shall be taken by this body that impedes the sovereign right of members to determine their own constitutional order, or otherwise mandates or prohibits the adoption of any particular form of government, political system, or governing ideology. No resolution should govern a matter which is purely domestic in character and would violate clause 1 of this resolution.

3. In all areas of policy which do not have explicit, active resolutions or clauses governing them, it is to be presumed that the World Assembly reserves governance of this issue to individual members, or independent coalitions of members, where applicable, for their policy assessment.

4. Member nations are expected to extend good faith recognition of domestic policy choices of other members in areas which are not covered by the World Assembly or other relevant treaties, consistent with clause three of this resolution. This clause should not be construed to restrict member governments or officials from expressing political opinion regarding the domestic policies of other members.

The World Assembly,

Recognizing that issues of transboundary nature, of which environmental degradation is among the most consequential, are a salient concern for this Body to address, as no member state alone can fully address damages arising therefrom, and

Convinced that the long-term sustainability of shared ecosystems and the pursuit of economic development are inalienable rights of this Assembly’s members best considered as complementary, not competing, objectives to be navigated according to each member’s individual circumstances and capabilities, and

Noting that, following the annihilation of the body previously occupying this space, no extant WA entity serves to coordinate endeavors of environmental concern nor facilitate the international exchange of environmental information, hereby enacts as follows:

1. The World Assembly establishes the following guiding principles, in the hope that they will be respected and upheld by all members:

   1. Pursuant to international law, each member has the right to exploit the resources within their jurisdiction and the responsibility to ensure that such exploitation does not cause undue environmental harm to the jurisdiction of other members without their consent;

   2. Where there is a risk for significant or long-term environmental damage from state action or inaction, uncertainty of the possibility of such damage should not preclude reasonable efforts to prevent environmental damage;

   3. In cases where a member causes undue or preventable transboundary environmental harm to a neighboring member’s jurisdiction, the member responsible is also responsible for the cost of the infringement, accounting for feasibility, public interest, international trade, and other circumstantial considerations;

   4. When undertaking environmental initiatives, members ought to endeavor to equitably consider the needs of the current generation and future generations;

   5. Due to the varying circumstances, needs, and capabilities of members, each individual member has different and corresponding responsibilities to prevent and mitigate global environmental degradation;

   6. Individuals in members are entitled to be made aware of environmental proceedings which may reasonably affect them, including but not limited to health, safety, and quality of life risks from environmental degradation of any scale;

   7. Member-driven exploitation of the environment ought to be undertaken in a manner that maintains the long-term ecological viability of its components and does not cause significant degradation to adjacent, dependent, or intertwined ecosystems; and

   8. Members and their people ought to work together in good faith on environmental initiatives, especially where transboundary implications are entailed.

2. The Environmental Coordination Office (ECO) is hereby founded to aid members in their pursuit of environmental endeavors and response to environmental events. ECO shall be bound by the following duties and obligations, but shall not have the ability to compel a member into action or inaction unless further empowered by future resolutions:

   1. Regularly monitor global environmental markers, including but not limited to greenhouse gas emissions, ambient air quality, freshwater availability, and global biodiversity, and shall provide these measurements free of charge to all member governments;

   2. Coordinate with member governments on national and subnational environmental monitoring endeavors, striving to standardize environmental data measurement and reporting guidelines;

   3. Provide reasonable technical and logistical assistance to member governments suffering environmental damages or working on environmental projects upon request;

   4. Facilitate the exchange of pertinent information between members who may otherwise have difficulty exchanging such information, for example due to diplomatic tensions;

3. Upon becoming aware of an event within their jurisdiction that poses a credible risk of significant transboundary environmental harm, such as the large-scale release of pollutants, acute ecosystem collapse, or hazardous contamination of waterways or airsheds, members will notify ECO and any other potentially affected parties under World Assembly jurisdiction as soon as possible.

4. Any body established by future World Assembly legislation to address environmental matters should, unless that legislation specifies otherwise, either operate as a subsidiary body under ECO's administrative coordination or maintain a formally coordinated relationship with ECO, and shall work to ensure coherence among World Assembly environmental policy and the principles established herein.

The General Assembly,

RECOGNIZING that armed conflict causes immense and unnecessary suffering among civilians;

AFFIRMING that humane conduct in warfare and the protection of civilians are vital principles of international law;

ACKNOWLEDGING that serious violations of moral and humanitarian norms during armed conflict should be recognized as war crimes;

SEEKING to establish standards for the protection of civilians, protected persons, medical operations, and evidence relating to such crimes;

Hereby establishes the following standards regarding war crimes and the conduct of warfare:

1. Defines “civilian” as any individual who is not a member of armed forces or otherwise directly participating in hostilities;

2. Civilians are not legitimate military targets unless directly participating in hostilities, and combatants must distinguish between civilians and military objectives while taking reasonable precautions to minimize civilian harm when engaging lawful military targets;

3. Actions intended to terrorize civilian populations are prohibited, including attacks, threats, demonstrations of violence, or military operations intended to spread fear, intimidation, or severe physical harm among civilians;

4. Defines “civilian infrastructure” as facilities primarily supporting civilian life, including housing, humanitarian shelters, medical facilities, water, electrical, food, and sanitation systems;

5. Targeting civilian infrastructure is prohibited unless it directly and substantially contributes to military operations and its destruction, capture, or neutralization would provide a definite military advantage;

6. Medical facilities retain special protection unless used for hostile military-related purposes beyond their humanitarian function;

7. The deliberate use of civilians, the wounded and sick, or protected civilian infrastructure to shield military objectives from attack is prohibited, including placing military forces or material among them for that purpose;

8. The starvation of civilian populations as a method of warfare is prohibited, including deliberate deprivation or destruction of resources vital for civilian survival and wellbeing;

9. Individuals captured or detained during armed conflict must be treated humanely, including:

   1. protection from torture, cruel treatment, or degrading treatment;

   2. access to food, water, shelter, and medical care sufficient to preserve basic health and survival, to the greatest extent reasonably practicable and without adverse distinction;

   3. protection from execution or punishment solely on the basis of nationality, civilian status, or lawful service in an opposing armed force, except following lawful judicial process and conviction for a specific criminal offense;

   4. protection from being taken or held as hostages;
      

10. Military officials, civilian authorities, or other persons exercising effective authority over combatants or military operations shall be held responsible for war crimes committed by subordinates where they knew, or reasonably should have known, that such crimes were being committed or likely to be committed, and failed to take reasonable measures within their authority to prevent, stop, report, or punish such acts;

11. The wounded and sick, meaning individuals rendered incapable of fighting by wounds or sickness, whether military or civilian, must not be attacked, denied protection, or deprived of adequate medical care except by legitimate medical priority;

12. Medical personnel, medical transport, and exclusively humanitarian medical operations must not be targeted or obstructed unless used beyond their humanitarian function for hostile military-related purposes;

13. Member states shall take reasonable and feasible measures to preserve evidence in their possession or control relating to credible allegations of war crimes, including documentation of civilian harm, preservation of relevant battlefield evidence, and cooperation with investigations;

14. Establishes the World Assembly War Crimes Documentation Commission, tasked with collecting and maintaining records of alleged war crimes reported by member states, assisting with documentation and evidence preservation, and publishing periodic reports summarizing international news and trends relating to violations of this Convention.
    

The World Assembly,

Affirming that member nations are sovereign political communities and not constituent subdivisions of an international federation;

Holding that such political communities ultimately derive their legitimacy from the societies that they represent, and therefore remain the primary institutions through which societies govern their own affairs;

Observing that the wide variety of political, social, and economic systems present throughout the international community renders centralized regulation both necessarily inefficient and generalizing to a dangerous extent;

Acknowledging that nevertheless, certain matters require international cooperation, whether due to their transboundary nature or their relation to fundamental rights;

Cognizant that efforts to address such matters carry the risk of displacing sovereign governance from its core competencies and, in doing so, can undermine the legitimacy of this body;

Seeking to establish a durable framework governing the relationship between the Assembly and its members;

Hereby:

1. Establishes that sovereign authority is presumed to reside in member nations except where expressly modified by legislation enacted by this Assembly;

2. Recognizes the following areas of governance as core sovereign competencies ordinarily reserved to member nations:

   1. Territorial governance, including the administration of territory and the populations subject to national authority;

   2. Domestic lawmaking, judicial administration, and the enforcement of the law;

   3. Foreign relations, including all facets of diplomacy, participation in international organizations, and commerce;

   4. National defense and the protection of populations from external threats;

   5. Economic governance, including taxation, fiscal and monetary policy, public expenditure, and currency issuance;

   6. Border control, immigration policy, and employment within national territory;

   7. The management, conservation, and exploitation of resources within national jurisdiction;

   8. Cultural, linguistic, educational, and civic policy;

3. Recognizes that matters involving the above areas of governance may nonetheless require international intervention where necessary to address transboundary concerns or protect fundamental rights;

4. Establishes that legislation affecting one or more sovereign competencies shall:

   1. Identify the competencies implicated by such legislation;

   2. Explain the necessity of Assembly action with respect to those competencies;

   3. Preserve the exercise of sovereign authority to the greatest extent consistent with achieving the objectives of that legislation;

5. Establishes that where legislation affects core sovereign competencies, implementation and enforcement shall be conducted through cooperation whenever reasonably practicable, and that legislation establishing such cooperative mechanisms shall provide procedures for review or appeal of decisions made pursuant thereto;

6. Mandates that member nations ensure their diplomats or representatives to the Assembly are appropriately instructed regarding their role and responsibilities within this body, recognizing that such instruction is necessary to enable the Assembly to conduct its proceedings through informed participation by its members, while leaving the means by which such instruction is provided to the discretion of each member nation.

The General Assembly,

Alarmed by the destruction, neglect, and deliberate erasure of culturally significant sites across the world,

Affirming the significance of protecting and preserving the cultures and histories of all peoples, and the World Assembly’s duty to work to uphold this importance,

Recognising that culturally, historically, religiously, and scientifically significant sites constitute both a vital piece of the world’s shared cultural heritage and an irreplaceable component of the identity and traditions of local peoples and civilisations,

Defending the freedom of World Assembly nations to safeguard places meriting such preservation on the Assembly’s behalf,

Hereby,

1. Defines “places of cultural significance” as locations holding exceptional and irreplaceable cultural, historical, or scientific value, such that their preservation is of common concern to the international community. Such categories of places which may warrant preservation include, but are not limited to:

   1. Those where artificially created structures stand or have historically stood,

   2. Those where a singular or multiple historical events of significance have taken place,

   3. Those which are of particular importance to religious or cultural traditions.

2. Establishes the World Landmarks Oversight Board (WLOB) as a body managing the “World Cultural Landmarks” registry of defined protected places, charged with:

   1. Overseeing the evaluation, selection, establishment, and removal of World Cultural Landmarks,

   2. Ensuring the proper protection, administration, and maintenance of World Cultural Landmarks,

   3. Monitoring the distribution and usage of all designated funds put forth for the appointment, establishment, and upkeep of World Cultural Landmarks,

   4. Maintaining an updated list of World Cultural Landmarks at risk, consisting of all World Cultural Landmarks that are threatened by significant dangers, such as military conflict, environmental degradation, and neglect,

   5. Encouraging the further expansion and continued proper conservation of World Cultural Landmarks for future generations.

3. Allows member nations to nominate locations within their jurisdictions to the WLOB for designation and removal as World Cultural Landmarks. This is the sole process by which World Cultural Landmarks may be established.

4. Requires member nations with World Cultural Landmarks to take reasonable measures to identify, protect, and preserve all World Cultural Landmarks within their own jurisdiction, while providing the WLOB information regarding the condition and preservation of such sites.