[PASSED] - Standardized Passports Arrangements

[Simone Republic]

Motivation

Proposed replacement for GAR 76.
https://www.nationstates.net/page=WA_pa ... /council=1

1. Compared to GAR 76, this takes out the section on visas but allows emergency documents to be issued.
2. It also permits each person not at the age of legal competency to get their own passports, which is the main complaint I have with GAR 76.
3. Note that because I dislike the name GESTAPO (Global Emigration, Security, Travel And Passport Organisation) which was in GAR 76, the replacement refers to it as the Passports, Nationality and Refugees Administration (PASA) instead. (The name implies that there will indeed be future resolutions regarding refugees using this vehicle).
4. Note that it does not discuss statelessness as that gets into complicated issues over nationality vs citizenship since the two concepts are distinct.

Category: Political Stability/mild

(This category follows from GAR 76).

Last call draft

The World Assembly (WA),

Noting the WA's dedication to ease travel between WA states;

Believing that travel is easier if passports from different WA states can be authenticated to easily identify individuals, and that easy identification provides benefits to national security;

The WA hereby enacts as follows:

1. Definitions and declarations.
   
   1. "PASA" means the Passports, Nationality and Refugees Administration (PASA), which is hereby established as a committee of the WA.
   2. "Passport" means a travel document (in physical or electronic form) issued by a WA state (or by PASA, pursuant to the provisions below) to an individual for the purpose of identifying that individual for travel purposes.
2. Passport templates.
   
   1. PASA is to create standardized templates for passports. All passports issued by a WA state or by PASA must follow the said templates.
   2. PASA is responsible for translating all templates into the languages of the WA state (or its sub-national divisions, where appropriate).
   3. PASA templates shall be updated from time to time to use the latest privacy, security and authentication technologies.
   4. PASA may tailor templates for WA states that prefer to use inferior technologies, if requested by the said state.
   5. PASA may also tailor templates for different sapient species, if requested by a WA state.
   6. PASA templates may be provided to non-WA states, subject to bilateral agreements on protecting privacy, security, and technology.
3. Features of passports.
   
   1. Each passport validly issued to an individual shall contain pertinent information on that individual as deemed necessary by PASA.
   2. Each passport can include additional information that the said WA state deems necessary.
4. Entitlement to a passport.
   
   1. Each individual is entitled to their own separate passport, regardless of whether they are minors or are legally competent.
   2. Each WA state is responsible for issuing passports to individuals entitled thereof.
   3. No WA state may deny the right to be issued a passport to any of their individual citizens, nationals, or subjects, unless that individual is prohibited from exiting that state due to the laws of that state or extant WA resolutions.
   4. Each WA state must recognize a passport from another WA state as legally valid, provided that it can verify the authenticity of that passport, either with the issuing WA state or with PASA.
   5. Each WA state can charge a fee for issuing passports (or replacements) to any individual, with the fee not exceeding a full recovery of costs incurred for issuing that passport.
5. Emergency passports. PASA is authorised, at its discretion, to issue passports to individuals that are verifiably in dire circumstances, such as anyone:
   
   1. fleeing an active war, whether declared or otherwise;
   2. travelling as refugees or seeking asylum;
   3. rendered stateless by the collapse of a WA state; or
   4. rendered stateless as a result of an action by a state, regardless of whether that state is a WA state.
6. Powers of PASA.
   
   1. PASA shall have the right and the ability to authenticate passports with, for and on behalf of all WA states.
   2. PASA may also authenticate passports from non-WA states, subject to bilateral agreements.
7. Delegation.
   
   1. A WA state may request PASA to issue all of that state's passports on its behalf.
   2. PASA will only accept such a request if it determines that a WA state (i) lacks a functioning government or (ii) lacks the resources necessary to maintain such infrastructure.
8. Finances.
   
   1. PASA is to be paid for by the General Fund.
   2. All services from PASA are to be provided free-of-charge to end-users.
9. Jurisdiction.
   
   1. If anyone fails to obtain a passport from PASA pursuant to clause 5 for any reason, they may appeal to the Independent Adjudicative Office.
   2. Passports issued by PASA do not imply conferring citizenship, nationality or subject from any entity on any individual.
   3. This resolution does not interfere with a WA state's powers, subject to extant WA resolutions, regarding border controls, or to grant or remove citizenship and/or nationality from any individual.
   4. PASA is responsible for the interpretation of this resolution.

Char count: 4,245

[Simone Republic]

Reserved for drafts.

Draft 2 incorporates certain comments that I have picked up from "Identity documents issuance".
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=533747

Draft 2

Draft 2

The World Assembly (WA),

Noting its dedication to promote travel between WA states;

Believing that such travel is better secured by mechanisms to authenticate passports, to ensure national security as well as to identify individual inhabitants;

1. Hereby defines:
   
   
   1. Inhabitant(s) to mean anyone who is
      
      1. a citizen or resident of a WA state, or;
      2. an applicant for asylum, refugee or protected status, or one who has been granted such status, or
      3. anyone under the protection of an agency or committee of the WA; or
      4. anyone who purports to be stateless;
   2. Passport to mean a travel document issued by a WA state (or by WAPO) to identify an individual, and that individual's status within that WA state, as a citizen, subject, refugee, or any other status recognized;
      
   3. WAPO to mean the WA Passport Organization;
2. Hereby requires WAPO to:
   
   1. Set forth standardized formats for passports for inhabitants, with each issued passport containing information on the relevant inhabitant such as, merely as examples:
      
      1. full legal name;
      2. legal status;
      3. unique identifier(s) for that inhabitant;
      4. date and place of birth;
      5. biometric features; and
      6. other features that it deems necessary from time to time;
   2. Ensure such standardized formats cater to the differing levels of technology development of different individual WA states;
3. Hereby requires WAPO to issue a passport for emergency use to an inhabitant, free of charge, if WAPO deems that a WA state is unable to issue passports or IDs to its own inhabitants due to extreme circumstances, such as, merely as examples:
   
   1. an inhabitant fleeing from warfare; or
   2. a general collapse of the government of a WA state;
4. Hereby requires WAPO to:
   
   1. Collect and share information on all technical standards regarding passports issued that by each WA state;
   2. Collect the aforesaid information from non-WA states, to the best of WAPO's ability;
   3. Provide leadership in research into the latest passport production and counterfeiting technologies, and to promote such technologies to all WA states, subject to the technological capabilities of each WA state;
5. Hereby requires each WA state to:
   
   1. Issue passports that comply with the standardized formats set forth by WAPO, subject to the technological levels of that WA state;
   2. Issue passports for each of its inhabitants regardless of whether they have reached the age of majority or legally competent, if requested by the said inhabitant or a legal parent or guardian of the said inhabitant;
   3. Recognize any passport(s) issued by another WA state as legally valid, provided that it can verify the authenticity of a passport either directly with the other WA state or through WAPO;
   4. Charge reasonable and affordable fees, in accordance with the circumstances of the said WA state, in issuing passports (or replacements) to any inhabitant defined in sub-clause (1)(a)(i);
   5. Issue passports (or replacements) for free for any inhabitant defined in sub-clause (1)(a)(ii) to (1)(a)(iv);
6. Hereby clarifies that this resolution does not interfere with a WA state's rights, subject to extant WA resolutions, to:
   
   1. to permit or deny entry by anyone into itself, in accordance with its own laws.
   2. grant or remove citizenship from any inhabitant.

Char count: 3,052

Draft 1

The World Assembly (WA),

Noting its dedication to promote travel between WA states;

Believing that such travel is better secured by mechanisms to authenticate passports and other identity documents;

1. Defines:
   
   
   1. Inhabitant(s) to mean anyone who is
      
      1. a citizen or resident of a WA state, or;
      2. an applicant for asylum or refugee status, or
      3. under the protection of a WA state or,
      4. anyone under the protection of an agency or committee of the WA; or
      5. anyone who appears to be stateless;
   2. Passport to mean a travel document issued by a WA state (or by WAPO) to identify an individual, and that individual's status within that WA state, as a citizen, subject, refugee, or any other status recognized;
      
   3. WAPO to mean the WA Passport Organization, an agency of the WA established pursuant to this resolution;
2. Requires WAPO to:
   
   1. Set forth standardized formats for passports for inhabitants, containing information such as (merely as examples):
      
      1. full legal name;
      2. legal status of the individual;
      3. unique identifiers for an individual;
      4. facial imagery of the individual;
      5. date and place of birth;
      6. biometric features; and
      7. other features that it deems necessary from time to time;
   2. Ensure such standardized formats cater to the differing levels of technology development of individual WA states;
3. Requires WAPO to issue a passport for emergency use to an inhabitant if WAPO deems that a WA state is unable to issue passports or IDs to its own inhabitants due to extreme circumstances, such as (merely as examples):
   
   1. an inhabitant fleeing from warfare; or
   2. a general collapse of the government of a WA state;
4. Requires WAPO to:
   
   1. Collect information on all technical standards regarding passports issued that by each WA state (such as the appearance of the passport and methods to authenticate a passport);
   2. Collect the aforesaid information from non-WA states, to the best of WAPO's ability;
   3. Provide leadership in research into the latest counterfeiting technologies, and to promote such technologies to all WA states;
5. Requires each WA state to:
   
   1. Issue passports that comply with the standardized formats set forth by WAPO, subject to the technological levels of that WA state;
   2. Recognize any passport(s) issued by another WA state as legally valid, provided that it can verify the authenticity of a passport either directly with the other WA state or through WAPO;
6. Clarifies that this resolution does not interfere with a WA state's absolute right to permit or deny entry by anyone (except its own citizens) into itself, in accordance with its own laws.

[Simone Republic]

*Bump* on the Simone Republic drone used to bump resolutions

[Pacific Haven]

The World Assembly (WA),

Noting its dedication to promote travel between WA states;

Noting the repeal of GAR 76, "Standardised Passport Act", and the introduction of GAR 686, "Identity Documents Issuance";

Believing that such travel is better secured by mechanisms to authenticate passports between WA states, to ensure national security as well as to identify individual inhabitants; hereby

1. Defines:
   
   
   1. Inhabitant(s) to mean anyone who is:
      
      1. a citizen or resident of a WA state, or;
      2. an applicant for asylum, refugee or protected status, or one who has been granted such status, or
      3. anyone under the protection of an agency or committee of the WA; or
      4. anyone who purports to be stateless;
   2. Passport to mean a travel document issued by a WA state (or by WAPO) to identify an individual, and that individual's status within that WA state, as a citizen, subject, refugee, or any other status recognized;
      
   3. WAPO to mean the WA Passport Organization;
2. Hereby requires WAPO to:
   
   1. Set forth standardized formats for passports for inhabitants, with each issued passport containing information on the relevant inhabitant This could be taken to mean *any* information on the individual. A better reading would be "relevant information on the individual", or "information that can be used to identify the individual" such as, merely as examples:
      
      1. full legal name;
      2. legal status;
      3. unique identifier(s) for that inhabitant; What do you mean by "unique"- the standatd definition is something that only that inhabitant has or knows. Or this is just a catch-all clause, in which case ignore me.
      4. date and place of birth;
      5. biometric features; and
      6. other features that it deems necessary from time to time;
      "From time to time" sounds like it has to be done on a regular basis, like the State of the Union. Removing it would be better, unless you want WAPO to meet even in uneventful years.
   2. Ensure such standardized formats cater to the differing levels of technology development of different individual WA states;
3. Requires WAPO to issue a passport for emergency use to an inhabitant, free of charge, if WAPO deems that a WA state is unable to issue passports or IDs to its own inhabitants due to extreme circumstances, such as, merely as examples:
   
   1. an inhabitant fleeing from warfare; or
   2. a general collapse of the government of a WA state;
   This would mean that, if a country collapsed, every single citizen would be eligible for an emergency passport- even if they have another passport from another state- simply because that one state could not issue them, which of course is not the point of an emergency passport. Replace the part about a WA state not being able to issue passports with a part talking about when citizens are not able to use any passport (due to extreme circumstances, such as...)
4. Requires WAPO to:
   
   1. Collect and share information on all technical standards regarding passports issued that by each WA state;
   2. Collect the aforesaid information from non-WA states, to the best of WAPO's ability;
   3. Provide leadership in research into the latest passport production and counterfeiting technologies, and to promote such technologies to all WA states, subject to the technological capabilities of each WA state;
5. Requires each WA state to:
   
   1. Issue passports that comply with the standardized formats set forth by WAPO, subject to the technological levels of that WA state;
   2. Issue passports for each of its inhabitants regardless of whether they have reached the age of majority or legally competent, if requested by the said inhabitant or a legal parent or guardian of the said inhabitant;
   3. Recognize any passport(s) issued by another WA state as legally valid, provided that it can verify the authenticity of a passport either directly with the other WA state or through WAPO;
   4. Charge reasonable and affordable fees, in accordance with the circumstances of the said WA state, in issuing passports (or replacements) to any inhabitant defined in sub-clause (1)(a)(i);
   5. Issue passports (or replacements) for free for any inhabitant defined in sub-clause (1)(a)(ii) to (1)(a)(iv);
6. Clarifies that this resolution does not interfere with a WA state's rights, subject to extant WA resolutions, to:
   
   1. to permit or deny entry by anyone into itself, in accordance with its own laws.
   2. grant or remove citizenship from any inhabitant.

[Simone Republic]

[*]other features that it deems necessary from time to time;[/list] "From time to time" sounds like it has to be done on a regular basis, like the State of the Union. Removing it would be better, unless you want WAPO to meet even in uneventful years.

Up to them what "from time to time" means. Uranus rotates the Sun once every 84 years and I try not to write them out of GA, even though I am possibly the only one that tries to care for these typed of scenarios.

This would mean that, if a country collapsed, every single citizen would be eligible for an emergency passport- even if they have another passport from another state- simply because that one state could not issue them, which of course is not the point of an emergency passport. Replace the part about a WA state not being able to issue passports with a part talking about when citizens are not able to use any passport (due to extreme circumstances, such as...)

On the off chance that it's easier to do it this way than to check if someone is a dual citizen. If a state collapses, checking the authenticity of a passport would be impossible. (South Vietnam, Afghanistan before the Taliban retook it).


Draft 3 has been published.

[Simone Republic]

*Bump* on the Simone Republic drone bumper v2, which has an extra bumper installed on top.

Draft 3

Draft 3

The World Assembly (WA),

Noting the repeal of GAR 76, and newer resolutions on IDs (GAR 686), dual citizenship (GAR 695), and consular protection (GAR 703);

Noting the WA's dedication to freedom to travel between WA states;

Believing that such travel is facilitated by the ability to authenticate passports between WA states, to ensure national security and to identify individuals;

The WA hereby enacts as follows:

1. Declaration.
   
   1. The WA Passport Administration (PASA) is hereby established as a committee of the WA.
   2. PASA is responsible for interpretation of this resolution.
2. Definitions.
   
   1. ”Individual” means anyone who (i) belongs to a sapient species, and (ii) who has the following status:
      
      1. a citizen or permanent resident of a WA state, or;
      2. an applicant for asylum, refugee or protected status, or one who has been granted such status, or
      3. anyone under the protection of a WA organ; or
      4. anyone who purports to be stateless.
   2. ”Passport” means a travel document in physical or (partly or fully) electronic form issued by a WA state (or by PASA) to identify an individual.
3. Standardized passport templates.
   
   1. PASA is to create standardized templates for passports for individuals (“templates”), with each issued passport containing information deemed necessary by PASA, such as:
      
      1. full legal name of the individual;
      2. legal status of the individual (such as citizen, subject, refugee, etc.)
      3. unique identifier(s) used by a WA state to identify that individual, if available;
      4. unique identifier(s) for that passport;
      5. biometric identification and other security features;
      6. other features deemed necessary by PASA.
   2. Each individual is entitled to their own separate passport, regardless of whether they are minors or are legally competent.
4. Implementation.
   
   1. Each WA state is responsible for issuing passports to individuals under their jurisdiction.
   2. Each WA state that issues passports must follow the PASA format.
   3. Each WA state can include information in a passport deemed necessary, such as that individual’s species, date and place of birth, fingerprints, photographs, and signatures.
   4. Each WA state is to adjust the “template” for the languages used by that WA state.
   5. PASA shall compile information on how PASA templates are implemented by each WA state, to make it easier to verify passports between different WA states.
5. Entitlement to a passport.
   
   1. No WA state may deny any of their citizens the right to be issued a passport, regardless of whether a citizen is permitted to travel, subject to extant WA resolutions.
   2. If a WA state cannot issue a passport that does not conform to the “templates” due to deficiencies in technology capability or resources, PASA is required to render such assistance as it deems necessary to allow that state to meet PASA standards.
   3. Each WA state is to recognize a from another WA state as legally valid, provided that it can verify the authenticity of that passport, either with the issuing WA state or with PASA.
   4. Each WA state can charge for issuing passports (or replacements) to any individual, at a fee not exceeding a full recovery of costs incurred for issuing that passport.
6. Emergency travel documents.
   
   1. PASA is authorized to issue emergency travel documents if PASA deems that a WA state is unable to issue passports or IDs to its own inhabitants due to dire circumstances, such as:
      
      1. an individual fleeing from warfare; or
      2. a general collapse of the functioning of government of a WA state, or
      3. an individual rendered stateless by the collapse of a WA state.
   2. PASA is authorized to issue emergency travel documents to refugees, asylum seekers, or other individuals in similar dire circumstances from non-WA states.
   3. All emergency travel documents are issued free of charge.
7. Collation of data.
   
   1. PASA is to collect passport templates from each WA state and share that information with the competent authorities of other WA states, to facilitate recognition of genuine passports.
   2. PASA is also to collect information on technical standards on passports from non-WA states, to the best of its ability, to facilitate travel to and from non-WA states.
8. Clarifications.
   
   1. This resolution does not interfere with a WA state's rights, subject to extant WA resolutions, to:
      
      1. govern misuse of passports;
      2. permit or deny entry by anyone into itself, in accordance with its own laws;
      3. grant or remove citizenship from any inhabitant.
   2. PASA is to be funded by the General Fund. PASA is responsible for interpreting this resolution.

Char count: 4,743

[Simone Republic]

And last call, along with the repeal of 76.

[Kenmoria]

Ambassador Fortier stands to speak. “Clause 6c is unacceptable. To give a body with the power to issue and standardise passports the ability to order an audit of a member-nation is a vast overreach that is not warranted by the issue that it solves. The appropriate use of funding is already implicitly addressed by GA #440, and it does not require the duplication of the role of enforcement to PASS.”

(OOC: I have a few corrections in wording. In the ‘noting’ clause, ‘ease’ should be ‘easing’. The ‘believing’ clause is not grammatically correct. It has too many clauses placed together. I suggest the following: ‘Believing that travel is easier if passports from different WA states can be authenticated to easily identify individuals, and that easy identification provides benefits to national security;’. There is a missing quotation-mark after ‘passport’ in 1b. Having used straight quotes earlier, curly quotes are utilised in 1c. 2a and 2d both mention variation in species, which is redundant. I suggest limiting this to 2d only. Justifications should be reserved to the preamble, so the end of 2e should be removed. In 2a, ‘as’ would be useful to add between ‘individual’ and ‘deemed’. 4b should have ‘to be be issued’ rather than ‘to issue’. The way that 5 is worded is clunky. I suggest the following: ‘5. Emergency passports. PASA is authorised, at its discretion, to issue passports to individuals that are verifiably in dire circumstances, such as anyone’. The ‘or’ should be at the end of 5c rather than 5b. To remove ambiguity, 6b should have ‘PASA will only’ rather than ‘PASA may only’. I think that, in 7a, ‘powers’ is a better choice than ‘rights’. Also in 7a, ‘to’ should be added before ‘grant’. ‘The’ should be added before ‘interpretation’ in 7c.)

[Simone Republic]

Ambassador Fortier stands to speak. “Clause 6c is unacceptable. To give a body with the power to issue and standardise passports the ability to order an audit of a member-nation is a vast overreach that is not warranted by the issue that it solves. The appropriate use of funding is already implicitly addressed by GA #440, and it does not require the duplication of the role of enforcement to PASS.”

(OOC: I have a few corrections in wording. In the ‘noting’ clause, ‘ease’ should be ‘easing’. The ‘believing’ clause is not grammatically correct. It has too many clauses placed together. I suggest the following: ‘Believing that travel is easier if passports from different WA states can be authenticated to easily identify individuals, and that easy identification provides benefits to national security;’. There is a missing quotation-mark after ‘passport’ in 1b. Having used straight quotes earlier, curly quotes are utilised in 1c. 2a and 2d both mention variation in species, which is redundant. I suggest limiting this to 2d only. Justifications should be reserved to the preamble, so the end of 2e should be removed. In 2a, ‘as’ would be useful to add between ‘individual’ and ‘deemed’. 4b should have ‘to be be issued’ rather than ‘to issue’. The way that 5 is worded is clunky. I suggest the following: ‘5. Emergency passports. PASA is authorised, at its discretion, to issue passports to individuals that are verifiably in dire circumstances, such as anyone’. The ‘or’ should be at the end of 5c rather than 5b. To remove ambiguity, 6b should have ‘PASA will only’ rather than ‘PASA may only’. I think that, in 7a, ‘powers’ is a better choice than ‘rights’. Also in 7a, ‘to’ should be added before ‘grant’. ‘The’ should be added before ‘interpretation’ in 7c.)

All changed.

[Desmosthenes and Burke]

Ambassador we direct your attention to clauses 4(a) and 4(b) as how they are currently phrased is... well, odd.

Each WA state is responsible for issuing passports to individuals under their jurisdiction.

We suggest changing "individuals under their jurisdiction" to "their nationals/citizens" instead. Tourists, students studying abroad, guest workers, amongst other categories of persons are "under the jurisdiction" of the state they are present in, but it is nonsensical for that state to issue them passports.

No WA state may deny the right to issue a passport to any of their individual citizens, nationals, or subjects.

As written, ambassador, this guarantees the right of every individual to issue passports, which is patently nonsensical. We believe you meant something more along the lines of "No WA state may refuse to issue a passport to any of their individual citizens, nationals, or subjects."

We object to clause 4(b) well on the grounds that we should be able to deny the issuance of a passport to any person who is prohibited from exiting the country along with those who cannot show that they are citizens or nationals.

[Simone Republic]

Ambassador we direct your attention to clauses 4(a) and 4(b) as how they are currently phrased is... well, odd.

Each WA state is responsible for issuing passports to individuals under their jurisdiction.

We suggest changing "individuals under their jurisdiction" to "their nationals/citizens" instead. Tourists, students studying abroad, guest workers, amongst other categories of persons are "under the jurisdiction" of the state they are present in, but it is nonsensical for that state to issue them passports.

4a now reads:

Each WA state is responsible for issuing passports to individuals entitled thereof.

We object to clause 4(b) well on the grounds that we should be able to deny the issuance of a passport to any person who is prohibited from exiting the country along with those who cannot show that they are citizens or nationals.

The latter, yes as per 4a. The former (anyone prohibited from exiting the country) likely means loading this resolution with due process arguments over exiting so I'd rather leave that to the GA279 replacement.

[Simone Republic]

We object to clause 4(b) well on the grounds that we should be able to deny the issuance of a passport to any person who is prohibited from exiting the country along with those who cannot show that they are citizens or nationals.

4b (which due to a change of numbering is now 4c) now reads:

No WA state may deny the right to be issued a passport to any of their individual citizens, nationals, or subjects, unless that individual is prohibited from exiting that state due to the laws of that state or extant WA resolutions.

The extant resolutions bit will be considerably changed if I get to repeal GA#279 and replace it.

[Simone Republic]

*Boink*

An ursine assistant flies a drone to bump the resolution and the drone runs out of power, falling straight on its head.

[Simone Republic]

A gentle reminder that this is coming soon as the repeal looks likely to pass. Any comments would be much appreciated (other than the substitution of the word "standardised" for "standardized").

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=536755

[Simone Republic]

Submitted.

And to mention a point that Tin raised:

Clause 8b just says do not "imply conferring... from any entity". The reference is to the passport itself. Obviously a WA state that asks PASA to issue is conferring citizenship / nationality etc via the authority of that WA state as entity.

[Tinhampton]

Office of the President of Sophia & WA Affairs Ministry of the Empire of Great Britain & Office of the Delegate of Sparkalia
WORLD ASSEMBLY VOTING RECOMMENDATION

---

General Assembly: Standardized Passport Arrangements (Political Stability; Mild), by Simone Republic

Recommendation: FOR

Rationale: This proposal, a replacement for GA#76 "Standardised Passport Act," would establish a new agency called PASA. The PASA would create common templates and technology standards for passports issued in the World Assembly; issue its own passports to stateless people, refugees and other people in absolute need of them; offer passport authentication services for ease of border crossing, either as an authenticator of first resort or as a backstop in the event of bilateral dispute; and issue national passports on behalf of member states who cannot do so themselves. It also grants explicit powers for member states to issue their own passports.

This is a strong, diverse and excellently-detailed resolution. We commend in particular the authorisation for PASA to issue passports to those in need, which is superior to and more transparent than the similar requirement in GA#386 "Reducing Statelessness;" the requirement that passports issued by member states follow a common template, which will improve understanding among border control officers across the WA; and the broad ability for the PASA to authenticate passports even in the event of initial dispute. Nevertheless, there is nothing to fault about this resolution and it is an immense improvement on existing law.

~~~~~~~~~~

This recommendation was written by Tinhampton, the President of Sophia. The Empire of Great Britain and Sparkalia concur. If you liked this, please upvote our recommendation dispatch here!

This resolution will be at vote between the major updates of March 7th 2024 and March 11th 2024.

This recommendation was jointly issued between Sophia, Empire of Great Britain, and Sparkalia. This does not mean that the President's opinion of this resolution was influenced by what Sophia's partner regions believe. Under the Constitution, the President must always cast their vote in line with the interests of Sophia, not some other region; this recommendation reflects the sincere beliefs of all regions involved.

[Refuge Isle]

This is now at vote

[Kenmoria]

Ambassador Fortier stands to speak. “On behalf of the People’s Republic of Kenmoria, I would like to declare my vote in favour of this proposal. One of the primary functions of an international body, such as the General Assembly, ought to be to promote positive interaction between its members. Travel is one of the most effective ways of doing so, and it is necessary that there is some level of standardisation for effective transnational travel to occur. By setting one standard for passports, this proposal will ensure that tourists, businesspersons, and others will be able to explore the wonders of the member-nations of this Assembly.”

This is now at vote

(OOC: That was quick.)

[B1G JIM SLADE]

Big Jim lays in a bathtub like Jean-Paul Marat and mutters...

"Eet smells of rotten snails and self impairtance. Against!"

[Mel-akkam]

Kinda curious — why is the acronym “PASA” if it’s the “Passports, Nationality and Refugees Administration” — “PNRA”? And if it’s a syllabic abbreviation, why isn’t it “PasA”?

[Khoikhoia]

"Though we may be new here, it is clear that this resolution aims only to create unnecessary bureaucracy and World Assembly organs - which should only be for the most necessarily important matters. It is thus a perfect example of overreach by the organisation, putting too much into the hands of its created organ. The Khoikhois Republic will vote against, albeit individually, for this reason, and recommends other nations act likewise."

Ambassador Poles, Khoikhoia

[The Swaggerlands]

Kinda curious — why is the acronym “PASA” if it’s the “Passports, Nationality and Refugees Administration” — “PNRA”? And if it’s a syllabic abbreviation, why isn’t it “PasA”?

Really curious about this also

[Simone Republic]

Kinda curious — why is the acronym “PASA” if it’s the “Passports, Nationality and Refugees Administration” — “PNRA”? And if it’s a syllabic abbreviation, why isn’t it “PasA”?

Really curious about this also

It was syllabic, but traditionally most WA committees were spelt with all caps, so it ended up PASA not PasA. I thought about PANRA but PASA seemed easier to pronounce, that's all. I didn't really care about names, other than that we can't use names that resemble real world government departments.

[Tigrisia]

Tigrisia supports this resolution.

For the Delegation of the Federal Republic of Tigrisia at the World Assembly,
Ambassador Thomas Salazar
Head of Mission

[Waaaar]

This new law that will most definitely past the WA is bad for my political freedom.