CALD co-organizes 57th LI Congress

The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats served as a co-organizer of the 57th Liberal International (LI) Congress which took place in Manila, the Philippines on 16-20 June 2011.

The Congress was the first of its kind in Asia, and carried the theme “Human Rights and Free Trade.” Philippine President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III, who also serves as Chairman of the host party, the Liberal Party of the Philippines (LP), delivered the keynote address at the presidential palace. In his speech, President Aquino emphasized the need for the government to pursue free market policies to ensure observance of human rights. He also asked rhetorically, “How can an individual enjoy the rights he has on paper, when from birth he has been denied the tools to take his destiny into his own hands?”

CALD Secretary General Dr. Neric Acosta gave a stimulating speech on the theme resolution, where he emphasized the tensions between the system of free trade and the obervance of human rights defined comprehensively. The main points of his speech were encapsulated in the adopted theme resolution, which declared the liberal belief that “the observance of human rights is necessary for the achievement of the benefits of free trade.”

As a co-organizer, CALD was also given the opportunity to come up with fringe meetings relevant to the theme. Accordingly, CALD spearheaded the organization of the following events: “Free and Fair Trade and Women’s Human Rights (co-organized by CALD Women’s Caucus with INLW), “Leading Non-Violent Political Change in the Twitter Generation” (co-organized by CALD Youth with IFLRY) and a regional liberal networks meeting on “Democracy and Development: Regional Experiences and Responses.”

LI President Hans van Baalen described the event as “a great pleasure and success”, and thanked CALD and Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) for making it possible. LI Deputy President Juli Minoves echoed this sentiment when he said, “The number of resolutions, the quality of the debates, the commitment of the participants, the very hard work of the Secretary General and of the secretariat, the incredible hospitality of our friends form the Philippines, and the attentive eye and cooperation from FNF, all together created a winning combination for our 57th Congress.”

Writing on behalf of the CALD Executive Committee, CALD Chair Professor Rajiva Wijesinha, extended CALD’s gratitude and appreciation to LI for holding its Congress in Manila “which enabled CALD and all its members to assist actively and participate fully in the event.”

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This post was written by CALD