Aeian Community [Aeia, CDN Only]

[Midrasia]

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Welcome to the Aeian Community, the civil arm of the Commonwealth of Democratic Nations!

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The Aeian Community and its Parliament, based in the Midrasian city of Berghelling represent the political, legal and economic arm of the organisation. The Aeian Community's goal is to bring together members politically and economically in order to enrich Aeia and increase the prosperity of all members.

The Community is governed by the parliament, which is divided into two chambers. The lower chamber, the Aeian Assembly and the upper chamber, the Aeian Council. Bills need to pass through both chambers in order to become law.
The Aeian Assembly is the large lower chamber of the Aeian Parliament. Each nation popularly elects its Delegates which are assigned based on the population of the nation. All bills to be considered by the Aeian Parliament originate in the Assembly. The Assembly is presided over by a Speaker which is elected from among the Delegates. The Aeian Council is the upper chamber of the Aeian Parliament. It is comprised of the head of government from each member-state or their appointed delegate. Each member-state gets one vote in the Aeian Council. The Council is presided over by a President which is rotated among the member-states.

Observer states within the Commonwealth are unable to vote on legislation presented before the parliament, however are permitted non-voting representatives able to represent the nation in a formal capacity. These representatives are able to propose legislation and weigh in on discussions for proposed legislation.

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The Current composition of the Assembly is as follows:

Next election: November 2018

Current Speaker:

• Carles Zeoffajen (Carcossica)

Political Blocs:

• ∎ Liberal Alliance (175)
• ∎ Socialist Union (169)
• ∎ Democratic Bloc (136)
• ∎ Green Movement (64)
• ∎ Alliance for National Sovereignty (46)
• ∎ Radical Left Group (18)
• ∎ Non-Inscrits (9)

Non-voting Representatives:

• Helle Solberg (Crylante)
• Adele Sartini (Isolaprugna)
• ??? (Vvarden)

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Bills up for discussion:

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Enacted Legislation:

• Human Rights Charter

[Aquidneck]

The following is a draft of of a Human Rights Charter being circulated among all the Delegates of the Aeian Parliament by Liberal Party Aquidish Delegates.

Commonwealth of Democratic Nations
Human Rights Charter

Article I
All member states and other signatories to the Charter shall secure the rights outlined in said document to all people under their jurisdiction without distinction of any kind.

Article II
The right to life of all humans shall be protected by law. No person shall have their life intentionally taken except in punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

Article III
Cruel, inhuman, and unusual punishment and treatment are prohibited for use against human beings.

Article IV
No one shall be held in slavery or involuntary servitude except
(a) in punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted or;
(b) compulsory military service and alternative work by conscientious objectors.

Article V
Everyone has the right to privacy of his person, family, home, papers, and effects, except when a warrant, the describes the place to be search, and the persons or things to be seized, has been issued by granted by a judiciary with appropriate jurisdiction and acting upon probable cause.

Article VI
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article VII
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of other

[Crylante]

Helle Solberg, known to the assembly as the Crylantian woman with no votes, stood up, stating that:
"I feel that these rights provide an basic guarantee of liberty to the entire population of the Community, and whole-heartedly support them. We will sign up to this treaty when it inevitably passes. However, under conference with the Navish delegates, I would like to propose the following right: "If a citizen of a signatory to the Human Rights Charter commits a crime in another country that is a signatory to the Human Rights Charter, they shall have the right to be judged under their own legal system." I believe this will prevent incidents from foreign tourists getting into trouble for practising their home culture, and will address different social policies."
She mustered a glare at the Newreyan delegates at the last line.

[Aquidneck]

Parmenio Galdi, Liberal party member of the Parliament moves to address the assembly. "I understand where the honorable delegates from Crylante and Navack are coming from, their proposal, if reworked a bit, would be something I could see this body passing however, I am apprehensive to include such a provision the Human Rights Charter. I feel that the issue of extraterritoriality among Commonwealth citizens is something that should be worked on separate from the charter. My colleagues and I would be willing to work with you in the future on such a proposal, but as it stands right now must object to the amendment." Galdi takes a seat.

[Midrasia]

Midrasian Liberal Delegate Francis Carré stood to speak next.

"I would like to thank the esteemed delegates from Aquidneck for proposing this bill before the parliament as the first act of this session. By passing this Charter our organisation will officially affirm to the world the values it seeks to uphold. I do believe however that we should show unanimity in passing this legislation. After all, if we do not signup to and believe in each of the values we codify, then what is the point in having them? Despite pushing for unanimity however, that does not mean we should compromise and 'water down' our commitments." The delegate eyed the Newreyan delegates before moving on to his next point.
"I would agree with the honourable member from Aquidneck regarding the issue of extraterritoriality. This is something we should work on separately, for now we should uphold our own individual judicial authority. Nevertheless, I concede that some form of supra-national judicial authority is necessary to uphold the values of the charter and keep this community together."

"Thus I would like to propose the creation of a Court of Human Rights within the Community to oversee and uphold the values of the constitution. The court would be made up of judges from each of the member states with one seat for each member. The court would be responsible for overseeing matters regarding potential government breach of the charter."

"Moreover my party would like to propose a further addition to Article VI to include a explicit reference to freedom of sexuality; to ensure that our community can continue to protect and defend members of the LGBT community."

[Crylante]

Helle Solberg stood up again. "I understand your criticisms of the idea, and I get where you're coming from, but I do still think that it is necessary to ensure that citizens have the rights they are used to at home guaranteed while staying in other CDN members.

However, I would like to raise my opinion on the comments made by my Midrasian colleague. I completely agree with both of them; It is vital that we ensure that these human rights are guaranteed across the signatories, as every single person, in my humble opinion, no matter their gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation or social class, should be guaranteed the same rights and freedoms as everyone else. This is the basis of equality, a principle that has been paramount to the development of the liberal democratic system of government, a type of government this organisation prides itself on supporting, and one which my home country of the Crylantian Federation enshrines in its 1941 Constitution and the four subsequent amendments, which all are documents I wholly believe in.

I support his second comment, regarding the rights of the LGBT community, as I feel that the amendment ensures rights to a group not mentioned in the original version of the bill. While some members use their culture and traditions to justify denying rights to this group, I do not feel this is just in the slightest. I understand a preference to tradition; but the idea of tradition should never be used as an excuse to deny rights to anyone; this goes against the very idea of a liberal democracy which we in this organisation to fight for.

I would also like to raise another issue. I believe it is utterly essential for all children to be guaranteed an education, and that this is one of the most basic human rights a nation should provide. Education provides a levelling to the playing field; a decent education allows all to acquire the skills they will need later in their lives. It also allows the previous generations to pass down their knowledge to the future generations, so that our collective and ever growing wisdom may guide us in uncertain times ahead."

[Newrey]

William Dukesbury was more than aware of the obvious glances of distaste sent in the direction of the Newreyans in the crowd, but he did not care. These people were free to believe what they wanted, and if it was an affront to God, then so be it. He rose to speak

"While I'm always happy, as I'm sure other Newreyans in the parliament, to recieve attention, I feel it unbecoming of delegates to cast dirty glances towards other members, but I digress. Quite frankly, I stand in opposition to the Charter, even the existence of this Parliament, as a whole due to it being an affront to sovereignty and the right of nations to act in the way they see fit and the way their people see fit. Not only this, but the current propositions written on the proposed charter are common sense.

The proposed amendment by our Crylantian delegate is, quite frankly, ridiculous. To allow a citizen to go on holiday to another members nation and have that nation conform to them is, as I've said, ridiculous. The citizen travels to said country fully aware that they must abide by the laws of said country, otherwise we'll have half a million people wandering in countries and not abiding by the laws there due to their home nations having different rulings on an aspect.

From the Midrasian delegates proposition is, if passed, not something I am entirely sure the government of Newrey will adhere to, largely because it would require to view such degenerates as people. A proposterious and, quite frankly, offensive suggestion."

[Aquidneck]

The following draft was circulated among all the delegates of an updated HRC from the Aquidish liberal party delegates.

Commonwealth of Democratic Nations
Human Rights Charter

Article I
All member states and other signatories to the Charter shall secure the rights outlined in said document to all people under their jurisdiction without distinction of any kind.

Article II
The right to life of all humans shall be protected by law. No person shall have their life intentionally taken except in punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

Article III
Cruel, inhuman, and unusual punishment and treatment are prohibited for use against human beings.

Article IV
No one shall be held in slavery or involuntary servitude except
(a) in punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted or;
(b) compulsory military service and alternative work by conscientious objectors.

Article V
Everyone has the right to privacy of his person, family, home, papers, and effects, except when a warrant, the describes the place to be search, and the persons or things to be seized, has been issued by granted by a judiciary with appropriate jurisdiction and acting upon probable cause.

Article VI
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article VII
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of other

Article VIII
Everyone has the right to be educated, for free, from the primary through the secondary levels. Technical, professional, and higher education shall be readily available and equally accessible to all on the basis of merit

Article IX
Establishes the Aeian Community Court of Human Rights as a court of final resort for human rights issues listed in the Human Rights Charter. The Court has the power to remedy the actions of government that breach the agreed upon human rights listed in the charter. The court will be comprised of a Justice from each member of the Aeian Community. The Court shall be funded by the Aeian Parliament and shall establish its own legal procedures.

[Elhazia]

Ladislav Ibler, an Elhazian conservative representative stood up:

"I'm happy to discuss these issues that are very important to the lives of our citizens. And our Government supports the introduction of laws that will strengthen fundamental human rights. In particular, we support the right to life that we believe applies to unborn kids too. I am not calling for a ban on abortion now, but this is a problem that needs to be debated in this parliament in the near future.

We also fully support the freedom from torture and enslavement.

Particularly important is the freedom of expression and thought. I hope this article will ensure that people of all political and religious beliefs will be free to express their views without being silenced or ridiculed.

When it comes to the Midrasian amendment, we would like to know more about it before we make the final decision whether to support it. But I can tell you that we will not support any amendment that forces member states to recognize same-sex unions or marriages. This is a worldview issue. However, we could support freedom from discrimination and freedom of expression for homosexual people.

Thank you."

[Onza]

An unremarkable member of the Onzaian delegation stood up.

"Ideologically, the Emirates finds the most recent amendments to be rather desirable. Our motions for amendment stem solely from a grammatical point of view, and are as follows:

Whereas Article V currently reads, 'Everyone has the right to privacy of his person, family, home, papers, and effects, except when a warrant, the describes the place to be search, and the persons or things to be seized, has been issued by granted by a judiciary with appropriate jurisdiction and acting upon probable cause,' our delegation feels that it was likely intended to read:

'Everyone has the right to privacy of his person, family, home, papers, and effects, except when a warrant, that describes the place to be search, and the persons or things to be seized, has been issued by granted by a judiciary with appropriate jurisdiction and acting upon probable cause.'

Furthermore, we will adopt herein, for the sake of consistency, an expected use of the so-called Oxford comma, where applicable. Deriving from this, we suggest the following alteration to Article VI:

'Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.'

For the sake of this council's clerk, I will ask that the additions to the articles I outlined be made boldfaced, while the removal of phrases be denoted by a strike.

[Vrnallia]

A Conservative from Vrnallia, whose name was already forgotten by history, stood to speak.

"We must express our own concerns about the Crylantian's proposal of extraterritoriality. We feel that this could create an issue with a nation like Vrnallia, where something which could be a serious security threat elsewhere - using a government cargo vessel for transport, which is common in our country - would needs must be ignored in member states where this is forbidden. I must echo the views of the Newreyan representative - such an idea is ridiculous.

"While we do support the inclusion of protections for LGBT peoples, since it is clear that some of the more regressive elements in this Community oppose such, perhaps it would be best to abandon this idea at present. Unless, of course, those aforementioned elements should leave this organisation which they oppose the very existence of."

Without even a glance towards the obvious target of his comment, he continued;

"As for the issue of abortion, given the contention around this issue, I would suggest that it be left to individual members to decide. Anything else would be an overreach of this Community's powers."

He sat.

[Midrasia]

A member of the Midrasian conservative bloc stood to address the assembly.
"I concur with what was said by the Vrnallian and Elhazian delegates. Whilst it is important for this assembly to legislate to protect its citizens, it is not the place of this assembly to preach morals too hard.
Overall I believe my party will be able to support this charter as it stands, but we must not rule out the possibility of future amendment."

The speaker Mattieu Chaubon stood to address the assembly.
"Now that I believe discussion on the bill has passed I believe it is time we put the motion to a vote."

Voting may now commence on the Proposed Bill: Commonwealth of Democratic Nations - Human Rights Charter
Members should indicate the voting intentions of each bloc within their nation, along with their Council vote.

e.g.
Assembly
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Democratic Bloc - X Aye, X Nay
Liberal Alliance - X Aye, X Nay
Socialist Union - X Aye, X Nay
Alliance for National Sovereignty - X Aye, X Nay
Green Movement - X Aye, X Nay
Radical Left Group - X Aye, X Nay
Non-Inscrits - X Aye, X Nay

Council
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AYE/NAY

[Midrasia]

Assembly
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Democratic Bloc - 27 Aye, 0 Nay
Liberal Alliance - 45 Aye, 0 Nay
Socialist Union - 34 Aye, 0 Nay
Alliance for National Sovereignty - 0 Aye, 0 Nay, 1 ABS
Green Movement - 3 Aye, 0 Nay

Council
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Aye

[Elhazia]

Assembly
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Democratic Bloc - 16 Aye, 0 Nay
Liberal Alliance - 6 Aye, 0 Nay
Socialist Union - 2 Aye, 0 Nay
Alliance for National Sovereignty - 2 Aye, 1 Nay, 4 ABS
Green Movement - 7 Aye, 0 Nay
Radical Left Group - 0 Aye, 0 Nay, 5 ABS
Non-Inscrits - 1 Aye, 2 Nay

Council
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AYE

[Aquidneck]

Assembly
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Democratic Bloc - 18 Aye, 5 Nay
Liberal Alliance - 38 Aye, 0 Nay
Socialist Union - 10 Aye, 0 Nay
Alliance for National Sovereignty - 0 Aye, 8 Nay
Green Movement - 10 Aye, 0 Nay

Council
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AYE

[Vrnallia]

Assembly

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Democratic Bloc: 2 aye, 0 nay, 1 abstain
Socialist Union: 3 aye, 0 nay, 0 abstain

Council

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AYE

[Onza]

Assembly
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Socialist Union - 11 Aye, 0 Nay
Liberal Alliance - 6 Aye, 1 Nay

Council
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AYE

[Glanodel]

Assembly

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Democratic Bloc - 6 Aye, 1 Nay
Liberal Alliance - 8 Aye, 0 Nay
Alliance for National Sovereignty - 0 Aye, 1 Nay, 1 ABS
Green Movement - 1 Aye, 0 Nay

Council

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Aye

[Babaran Isles]

Assembly
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Democratic Bloc - 2 Aye
Socialist Union - 3 Aye
Alliance for National Sovereignty - 1 Aye, 1 Nay
Green Movement - 1 Aye
Non-Inscrits - 1 Aye

Council
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AYE

[Vilemyr]

Assembly
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Democratic Bloc - 13 Aye, 0 Nay, 1 Abstain
Liberal Alliance - 4 Aye, 0 Nay
Socialist Union - 14 Aye, 0 Nay
Alliance for National Sovereignty - 4 Aye, 2 Nay, 4 Abstain
Green Movement - 6 Aye, 0 Nay
Radical Left Group - 1 Aye, 0 Nay
Non-Inscrits - 0 Aye, 0 Nay, 1 Abstain

Council
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Aye

[Carcossica]

First Address of the Right Honorable Mr. Carles Zeoffajen, 2nd Speaker of the Aeian Assembly

---TRANSCRIPT BEGINS---

Esteemed delegates of the Aeian Assembly, the Commonwealth, and friends of popular rule the world over, I am humbled by the opportunity to not only stand before you in representation of the Carcosse people, but as your newest Speaker of the Assembly. Thank you for your graciousness, and may we all remain gracious friends from here henceforth.

In our turbulent world and those like it in years past, man often seeks to rally around the strong, the forceful, and the domineering. We in this Commonwealth must seek to reaffirm our rejection of these base instincts, and strike forth into these ferocious times with integrity and bravery in our own right, as not servants of the powerful, but as the powerful ourselves. Popular Rule defines us, and makes not just the fortunate few, but all of us, stronger and more fulfilled. Our mission and purpose is, and always has been, the promotion of the essential freedom of humanity and the rights guaranteed hence. This mission now comes to a new administration, and therefore, a reappraisal of our place in the world and our course. It is with great honor and humility that I share my vision with you all.

Popular rule sometimes takes appearances and forms strange to us. Our strength is indeed in diversity – let us remember that as we extend the reach of our brotherhood from beyond its cradle in the heartland of republicanism to the whole of Aeia. We must keep close to our hearts our mission and focus on human rights and liberty, and therefore extend our graces to those who align with us where it truly matters, even when it seems somewhat unorthodox. The lands of Vestrim and even Renekka are as yet open to our ideals as they are fragile – we have the benefit of the unique point in time that we may be capable of stopping a greater conflict in the Western Hemisphere before it can begin. We have seen the tactics of the false, authoritarian leftists in years past – we cannot abide the same mistakes to come to roost once more. We must build many a bridge, long and powerful, and we must not allow ourselves to sit in comfortable isolation if we truly want a better world for our people, lest those wary nations fall prey to false promises of predatory blocs. What were once observers and associates must come closer, and too become proselytizers for our cause. With any luck, we may soon enter a time that we may accept the creation of a greater body of governance and regulation, even among those beyond our own Commonwealth, are beholden to the same common ideals that ensure rationality and rule of law across all Aeia.

Let us not also recall the many problems we have inherited prior to my term. Aramas remains a hotbed of horrors and conflict. We must use our diplomatic skill to the best of our ability to force a rapid ceasefire and negotiations for a lasting peace. As many and as terrible an offense they have made, the Muscat government is still a government, and is beholden to the customs which grant them recognition the world over, meaning that we can yet get them to sit down and talk. The ghoulish marauders of the Nation of Irsad, however, is not. We, as well as many of our detractors as well, understand the horrible threat they pose to rebuilding safety for people in Arabekh at large, and therefore stand as a paramount threat to popular rule in our region, Their backers must too face revelation and reprisal for their promotion of such terror in kind.

Veleaz, that bastion of confrontational Cold War era politics is nearing a critical juncture. In the same way we opened our arms to those fleeing Aramas, we must too stand with the peoples of that repressed state, and lay reasonable diplomatic pressure on that regime to face the realities of the New Millennium. Asura must stand as a united front, and peace and prosperity on the continent must be maintained. All who stand against that fact will see only hardship by their own hands.

As we grow and extend the blessings of essential freedom, we must understand that our planet is in need of as much recognition for its importance, and must be subject to the same upmost conservation and enhancement. Following the lead of our new friends in Ajerrin and the Savaian Alliance, I intend to develop a worldwide climate accord in recognition of such. Our battle for the hearts and minds of the human race are for naught if our celestial home is lost by our own deeds.

We must also recognize that my arrival to this post also comes largely at the expense of a delegation of people who no longer have a seat in this room due to the misdeeds of its government: the Newreyans. A founding nation, their presence was instrumental to the development of this community of nations and peoples. Once strong with us, today they face a future as uncertain and treacherous as a storm at sea. As divisive as they were and still are in many ways, we must seek to bring that great nation back into our Commonwealth. I do not intend to rescind the motions we have chosen as a community, however. We will require them to display the progress and respect for the basic rights for which all our citizens deserve to enjoy – universal suffrage, freedom from fear of persecution for racial and sexual elements of their personhood, and much more. A single old friend is worth more than ten new ones, but we will not endure their prior abuses to continue if they are to remain in such graces in the future.

Over the course of my tenure, I resolve to take on these challenges, and whatever yet comes to pass, to the best of my ability. Daunting as they are, I know that I do not stand alone in my mission. At my side stands all of you, the finest representatives of human dignity, popular rule, and all the values our Commonwealth represents. May the Spirits, the Venerated Men and Women who stood here before us, and all our People bless our cause.

---TRANSCRIPT ENDS---