On 29 November was held the Conference “SOS State of Law: unlocking the right to know”, promoted by the Nonviolent Radical Party Transnational Transparty and the Global Committee for the Rule of Law – Marco Pannella (GCRL), together with IAI, SIOI, ISISC and Hands Off Cain. The conference was opened by the President of the Senate Pietro Grasso, who offered several remarks for the strengthening of the rule of law through the right to know. President Grasso also recalled the extraordinary figure of Marco Pannella, who was remembered with a video shot in March 2015 in which the radical leader recalled the need to unite significant representatives of the Arab-Muslim world and the Western world for the common transition towards the Rule State of Law. The opening speech was delivered by Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, GCRL President.
During the meeting, chaired by Cherif Bassiouni Professor Emeritus of Law and Honorary President of ISISC (International Institute of Criminal Sciences), all speakers highlighted the degradation that the Rule of Law is undergoing in various areas of the world and pointed to the next steps forward with a view to consolidating the initiative from a legal as well as academic viewpoint. A long-term UN system path, has been set out by Natalino Ronzitti Professor Emeritus of International Law at the University LUISS and member of IAI (International Affairs Institute). Each speaker stressed the urgent need to intensify all efforts at the multilateral level, in particular at the United Nations, for a proper definition of the right to know to be universally recognized.
The Conference also set two objectives:
1. establish the Prize “Marco Pannella”, to be awarded to a member of the political, media, academic or social realm who will distinguished himself or herself in the promotion of knowledge and the affirmation of the right to know;
2. establish a Scientific Committee coordinated by Laura Harth tasked with accompanying and supporting the GCRL in all the phases of the campaign.
Speakers included Najima Thay Thay Rhozali former Secretary of Education of Morocco, Sid Ahmed Ghozali former Prime Minister of Algeria, Bakhtiar Amin former Minister for Human Rights of Iraq, Louis Michel (video message) former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium and former European Commissioner for Development, Matteo Angioli Secretary General of the GCRL and Laura Harth radical activist, PhD student and researcher at the University of Exeter.
The Conference was attended by Amb. Emanuela D’Alessandro, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the Italian Republic, thus confirming the attention and encouragement that the Quirinale maintains for the initiative launched by Marco Pannella.
Click here to watch the video of the conference in English.