Mission
The mission of the Worldconnectors Round Table is to encourage the ambition and enhance the role of the Netherlands - in all its dimensions of society - as a key player in the global community of nations and peoples, with the urgent aim of working towards a just, sustainable, inclusive and peaceful world.
The Round Table will be a catalyst and an actor for an open, tolerant, optimistic and pro-active Netherlands that, in all its diversity, is ‘a global actor in the world’.
The vision and work of the Round Table is based on the UN Millennium Declaration and the Earth Charter.
Worldconnectors streven naar een rechtvaardige, duurzame, inclusieve en vreedzame wereld. Een wereld waarin Nederland - in al haar diversiteit en vanuit alle geledingen - een pro-actieve rol speelt.
Worldconnectors, afkomstig uit diverse sectoren van de Nederlandse samenleving en verschillende generaties, komen samen in de Round Table for People and the Planet. Zij voeren de dialoog over internationale vraagstukken en vragen met urgentie aandacht in het publieke debat voor oplossingen en vernieuwende initiatieven.
Worldconnectors verbinden werelden, tussen generaties en sectoren in Nederland en over de grenzen van Nederland heen met andere landen en mondiale initiatieven.
Worldconnectors baseren zich op de VN Millenniumverklaring en het Earth Charter.
The initiative
The initiative for the Worldconnectors the Round Table for People and the Planet was taken by Ruud Lubbers, SID NL, NCDO and DPRN. They opinionated that a more positive and active role of the Netherlands in international cooperation and global sustainable development was needed.
The starting point was the insight that in this era of globalisation, inclusive development and solutions to global problems can only be brought about in the spirit of ‘complementary governance’ between key actors in society and across borders. Therefore they brought together women and men in influential positions, from different sectors of society, including youth.
Round Table Meetings
The Worldconnectors come together at least four times a year in closed sessions, the Round Table Meetings. In these meetings they exchange ideas, inspired by each other and by international guest speakers. They discuss draft statements on a central theme, come up with outreach activities to engage in and agree on solutions to promote.
Working Groups
In preparation of each Round Table Meeting, a group of Worldconnectors with a special interest in the theme as well as external experts are invited to join a Working Group. Next to preparing the meeting, the group drafts a central statement on the theme and organises public activities.
Statement and opinion article
A central statement is drafted in preparation of each meeting. It states the vision of the Worldconnectors on the theme, what the added value of the Worldconnectors could be and how the vision would appeal to a wider public. The statement also incorporates perspectives of different stakeholders and people in developing countries. A draft statement is shared among all members and commented upon before the statement is finalized and an opinion article based upon it is written and published to reach the public.
Support Team
The Support Team assists the Working Group to ensure they have access to information resources and recent research, documents and trends related to the themes. It coordinates additional research when necessary and produces quick scans; concise informative documents on the themes.
Going Public
In connection with the Round Table Meetings, supporting organisations offer opportunities, and members themselves propose ideas to reach out to the wider public. They engage in a public dialogue, either during public events or via media activities. In 2007 and 2008 the Worldconnectors have participated in a debate on topical issues with young people at The Night of the UN. Individual members have published articles in the media on issues discussed at the Round Table, or on topical issues. The Worldconnectors website also offers the opportunity to interact with a wider public.
Read the Worldconnectors' Yearbook 2009 for more information on what we did in 2009, and our plans for 2010.
Worldconnectors Yearbook2009
