BEIRUT: Civil society and democracy activists from across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) meet in New York City today at noon to present foreign ministers from the G-8 industrialized democracies and several Arab countries a proposal to introduce a "Partnership for Peace in the Middle East and North Africa."

It proposes a wide-ranging plan for democratic transformation of the region, includes a daring call to bring to justice Middle Eastern leaders who have committed crimes against humanity, and seeks to engage the G-8 powers in a dynamic that would acknowledge the right of all refugees to return to their homes, in Iraq, Darfur, Palestine, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

The four-page proposal emerged from the Sept. 5 meeting in Beirut of 40 leading MENA civil society and democracy activists. The proposal comprises three "imperatives": freedom, democracy and justice. It suggests working together to achieve progress through seven specific programs on equality, rule of law, free expression and organization, inquisitive education, economic inclusion, transparency, creative artistic and literary expressions.

The text asks the G-8 states for a "commitment with us in an open and dedicated manner. We shall be partners for the international community in these programs and partners for our governments when they are willing. Partnership for reform should include a triangle of international and Arab governments, international and Arab private sector and Arab civil society, but cannot be stopped by the resistance of those who defend the status quo."

Two of the principal activists in this effort, Charles Adwan of the Lebanese Transparency Association and University of Saint Joseph (Beirut) law professor Chibli Mallat told The Daily Star this initiative represents "Middle Eastern democrats and civil society organizations stepping forward to provide a partner for regional reform where governments have failed to do the job."

They said the proposal asks the G-8 states to commit quickly to working with governments, civil society and the private sector in MENA toward three core tasks or goals: releasing all prisoners of conscience and political prisoners, working to ensure that all executive political leaderships in the region are changed regularly and peacefully, and officials or individuals who commit crimes against humanity are held accountable and punished.

"We are here, as individuals ... who believe in the rule of law, an independent judiciary to protect it, an active and freely elected Parliament to enact laws, an accountable, freely elected government to carry them through, meaningful human rights, including foremost the freedom of expression," it adds.

The proposal mentions Saddam Hussein, Moammar Gadhafi, Ariel Sharon and "possibly the ruler of Sudan" as individuals who should be brought to justice for crimes against humanity.

"We need you to help us bring together human rights and political accountability, including at the top of decision-making in each state. All prisoners of conscience must be released, while former presidents turned into retired citizens in a respectful neighborhood, and leaders responsible for crimes against humanity put behind bars," it says.