Conversations with constitution building practitioners

Posted 2012-02-29

International IDEA has recently published A Practical Guide to Constitution Building, a 346-page handbook, prepared in consultations with practitioners in countries around the world. It is available in print as well as online (www.idea.int).

The handbook comes at a time when the world is again witnessing increased activity in constitution building. In places like Nepal, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe processes of framing new constitutional charters are already underway, while in Egypt and Libya, the foundations for similar processes are currently being built, as stakeholders engage in debates to agree on common strategies for the project.

Constitution building is defined as a long-term and historical process. It is not an event and should not be equated with constitution making, which occurs within a specified period. It can be disputative, especially in conflict areas and where prolonged social divisions exist. It is a sovereign process where practice differs across regions. The outcomes can be improved through participatory processes.

International IDEA spoke with four practitioners, from different walks of life, who have been involved in constitutional change processes in Ecuador, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Tunisia.

Here are their personal views on what it means to be involved, the challenges and successes, and lessons learned from their experiences.

Dr. Florangel Rosario-Braid

Communication and Development expert; and Senior Advisor and Trustee of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication

”What is needed are initiatives enabling and promoting comparative lesson- learning and knowledge sharing between practitioners, through dialogues fora, peer networks, training workshops, online databases and publications”
Read the interview

Prof. Mohamed Chafik Sarsar

Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Tunis El Manar

“Institutionalizing democracy through transparent elections and mechanisms for political alternation and limitation of political powers is essential.”
Read the interview (in French)

Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne

Director, Institute of Constitutional Studies, Sri Lanka

“Education is critical”
Read the interview

Ms. Maria Paula Romo

Member of Parliament, Ecuador; and Director of the political movement Ruptura

“…comparative experiences and analysis of implementation challenges, between transitions from old institutions to new institutions, remain critical.”
Read the interview