[Passed] [ga]: Identity Documents Issuance

[Lenlyvit]

General Assembly Resolution

Identity Documents Issuance

A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.

Category: Civil Rights

Strength: Mild

Proposed by: Simone Republic

The World Assembly (WA),

Noting that some WA states require the use of documents to identify individuals, in routine domestic transactions such as those with a government or with financial institutions (to decide on eligibility for payments, applying for bank accounts, cashing cheques, employment and other matters);

Concerned that such documents may require a fee for issuance, which disadvantages those least able to afford such fees, and impede their access to government payments and services that may require such documents;

1. Hereby defines:

a. ”Inhabitant(s)” to mean anyone who is:

i. physically in a WA state, and;

ii. who also meets at least one of the criteria below:

1. a citizen of the WA state;

2. a resident or long-term visitor of the WA state, permanently or temporarily, pursuant to the laws of that WA state;

3. an applicant for asylum or refugee or protected status, or anyone holding such status;

4. anyone who purports to be stateless; or

5. anyone else entitled to IDs pursuant to that WA state’s laws;

b. "IDs" to mean one or more documents stating an inhabitant’s identity such as, merely as examples, identity cards and household registrations, provided that:

i. such IDs must contain such information routinely needed for an inhabitant to handle the domestic affairs of that WA state, such as, merely as examples, the following:

1. the full legal name;

2. date and place of birth;

3. residency and/or citizenship status;

4. full residential address;

5. full likeness of the inhabitant;

ii. such IDs may be in physical, electronic or other forms depending on the technology levels of that WA state;

iii. the sole requirement for issuing such IDs is for anyone to meet the criteria of being an inhabitant of that WA state;

2. Hereby requires, subject to extant WA resolutions:

a. A competent authority of a WA state is to provide IDs to all inhabitants of that WA state upon request by that inhabitant for free, as soon as reasonably practicable, and may not charge any fee(s) for:

i. applying for;

ii. verifying;

iii. processing;

iv. issuing;

v. replacing such IDs, including those lost, stolen or damaged; or

vi. delivery of such IDs;

b. IDs may be issued by a competent authority at the national level of government of a WA state, or at sub-national levels, or delegated to any entit(ies) that the said WA state deems fit;

c. IDs validly issued by a WA state must be deemed valid and sufficient for all domestic affairs of that WA state, where proof of identity is required, including (but not limited to) all governmental, financial or business affairs;

d. A WA state may not deny issuing IDs to an inhabitant on the grounds that some information, such as, merely as examples, date of birth or place of birth, may not be verifiable due to circumstances beyond the reasonable control of that inhabitant;

e. A WA state shall make it as convenient as reasonably practicable for an individual to obtain IDs, and without separately charging for such means, for individuals that may be disadvantaged for any reason, such as, merely as examples:

i. lacking literacy and/or language skills;

ii. physical limitations;

iii. mental acuity and/or capacity, subject to clause 2(f);

f. A legal parent and/or legal guardian may, voluntarily, apply for and receive IDs on behalf of an inhabitant below the age of majority or lacking the mental capacity and/or legal competence to make such an application;

g. A WA state may not deny issuing IDs to an inhabitant of that WA state on the grounds of that inhabitant holding IDs from another WA state, or other similar instruments from a non-WA state;

h. IDs validly issued by a WA state must be deemed valid and sufficient for identification purposes by all agencies and committees of the WA;

3. Hereby clarifies that this resolution does not interfere with a WA state's rights and qualifications, subject to extant WA resolutions, in:

a. formulating its own citizenship and immigration policies;

b. domestic affairs reserved as the prerogative of individual WA states;

c. controlling its borders;

d. issuing documents other than IDs, such as driving licenses;

e. making it an offence for fraudulent applications and use of IDs (including fraudulent reporting of loss or stolen IDs), or imposing penalties for such offences if convicted.

Co-author: Imperium Anglorum



This is the discussion thread. To cast your vote, go HERE

[Pantso]

I don't get it. Article 1.b defines an ID as "IDs" to mean one or more documents stating an inhabitant’s identity such as, merely as examples, identity cards and household registrations, provided that:" . . . and 1.b.iii adds on ". . . the sole requirement for issuing such IDs is for anyone to meet the criteria of being an inhabitant of that WA state" (emphasis mine). Doesn't this mean a WA nation could dodge the resolution entirely by simply adding a requirement that the resident pay a fee to obtain identification documents? The documents would no longer fall under the definition of an ID, as written, and the resolution wouldn't apply to that nation.

Pantso recommends against; this loophole renders the entire resolution moot.

[Jabberwocky]

This is a matter best left to individual nations to determine for themselves. And to provide ID for free? AGAINST.