Interactive Discussion: Inclusion in the Making of Constitutions – Who are ‘We the People’?

Friday, 31 March 2017, Conference Room 12

12:15 – 14.30 United Nations Headquarters, New York

11:45 – 12:15 Light Lunch

Constitution making increasingly involves mechanisms of broad involvement of the citizenry – to solicit opinions, for popular ratification and through inclusive representation on the body which is tasked with negotiating and drafting the text.  The role of popular participation has received increasing attention in recent years, and the subject of constitutional referendums has received detailed examination as well, but there has been less discussion of what is meant by inclusive representation.  This despite the fact that initial comparative studies indicate that the role of elites – and who gets to sit at the drafting table -  is likely more important than the degree of public involvement in determining the final legitimacy and durability of the constitution, as well as a decreased likelihood of a return to conflict in post-conflict constitution making.

In this International IDEA-UNDP-UNDPA event, we examine key questions and assumptions relating to the issue of inclusive representation in post-conflict constitution building processes. The format will be a moderated panel discussion, with adequate opportunities for interaction of the panel with the audience.