General Assembly Proposals

The World Assembly (WA),

Noting the WA’s desire to protect the rights of borrowers, such as via GARs 476, 515, and 623;

Anxious that legitimate enforcement of overdue debts is not overshadowed by obnoxious behaviour by debt collectors;

The WA hereby enacts as follows:

1. Definitions.

   1. "Associate" means an immediate member of the family of, or anyone who resides in the same address as, the debtor, guarantor or guardian (defined below).

   2. "Creditor" means who owns the debt due from a debtor (defined below), such as a bank.

   3. "Debtor" means anyone owing debts to a creditor and who is under the jurisdiction of a WA state.

2. Debt collector.

   1. A debt collector ("collector") means any entity who endeavours to enforce overdue debts on behalf of a creditor. This includes relevant employees, contractors or agents ("personnel") of that entity engaging in such endeavours.

   2. This definition excludes anyone acting as an attorney for a debtor or a law enforcement officer.

   3. This resolution covers all debt collectors enforcing debts legally recognised as valid by a WA state, regardless of whether the creditor is from a WA state.

3. Authorisation.

   1. Anyone who wants to conduct business as a collector must be duly authorised by a WA state (or by its sub-national authorities).

   2. A WA state shall promulgate standards for competence, professionalism and skills for a collector.

   3. A collector must maintain professional indemnity insurance deemed adequate by a WA state.

   4. This clause (3) covers the entity acting as a collector, including sole proprietorships as well as any personnel as defined in clause (2)(a).

   5. A collector needs to be separately authorised to work in each WA state (or in each sub-national division) and to comply separately with the provisions of this clause (3).

   6. Each WA state shall maintain a database of authorised collectors for verification. The said database shall be publicly available through convenient means.

4. Behaviour. Collectors are banned from using the following means to enforce overdue debts, subject to standards set by each WA state and due process of law:

   1. take vastly disproportionate action against a debtor relative to the debts outstanding;

   2. harass or threaten the debtor or associates of a debtor, with demands for payment through such means which are likely to subject the said individuals to deep anxiety, distress, or humiliation;

   3. misrepresent themselves to be authorised in some government or WA capacity to claim or enforce payment;

   4. attempt to enforce debts that are known to the collector to be (i) not (or no longer) legally valid, or (ii) not yet overdue.

5. Associates. For the purpose of debt collection, a collector may not contact:

   1. Anyone that agreed to act merely as a referee for the debtor.

   2. Anyone that is an associate of the debtor except to try to establish contact with the debtor.

   3. Anyone who is merely acquainted with the debtor, such as neighbours.

   4. An employer of the debtor (or any other known income source of the debtor) unless (i) the other parties can act as a garnishee according to local laws, and (ii) the debt collector has obtained all legal permission for garnishment.

6. Recovery.

   1. A collector may not enforce a debt if the creditor's own expected recovery is less than the estimated cost of enforcement.

   2. A collector may not attempt to enforce debts against anyone after such debts are discharged, such as via bankruptcy.

7. Guarantors.

   1. A collector may only attempt to recover debts from a guarantor of a debt only if it has exhausted all available means of collecting the debt from the debtor, unless the guarantor has explicitly consented to acting as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety.

   2. The protections under clauses (4) and (5) also applies to a guarantor or their associates.

8. Legal competence.

   1. If a debtor is deemed legally incompetent after drawing down the loan as a result of ill health, accidents or other misfortune, no enforcement of debts may take place until a legal guardian is appointed, and the finances of the debtor has been organised pursuant to local laws.

   2. The protections under clauses (4) and (5) also applies to a legal guardian or their associates.

9. Jurisdiction.

   1. Clauses (4) to (9) also apply to creditors who enforce overdue debts themselves.

   2. Each WA state is responsible for interpretation and enforcement of this resolution, including any penalties enforced.

   3. This resolution does not govern anything owed directly to the WA, WA organs, or a WA state.

The World Assembly,

Lauding prior efforts to institute regulations regarding offshore oil drilling through GAR#95: "Responsible Offshore Drilling", which creates sensible provisions to minimise the environmental impact of offshore drilling while still permitting profit-driven activities related to this drilling,

Acknowledging that, while this previous World Assembly legislation does institute sensible guidelines, it falls short in the establishment of responsibility and the minimisation of environmental impacts in oil spills, instead giving vague instructions to reduce severity,

Believing that further legislation is needed to assist in the recovery from oil spills, which can result in international environmental consequences,

Enacts the following provisions:

1. An "offshore drill operator" shall, within this resolution, be defined as any entity which directly engages in offshore drilling or otherwise has private or public ownership over any offshore drilling operation.

2. An "oil spill" refers to the accidental or deliberate release of crude oil, refined petroleum products, or any other type of oil into an oceanic or marine environment. Some, although not all, potential causes of an oil spill include the failure or malfunction of oil drilling equipment, natural disasters causing the release of oil stored or being produced from an offshore drill, and the improper handling of oil during transport by relevant entities.

3. Offshore drill operators which are involved in an oil spill must take appropriate actions to minimise the environmental impact of such a spill, and bring the water quality and surrounding environmental conditions of the spill to a comparable level to before the spill. The characterisation of "comparable level" shall be at the discretion of the World Assembly Responsible Offshore Drilling Administration ("WARODA"), which shall review all conditions surrounding an oil spill and make appropriate recommendations and requirements. Appropriate action shall be characterised as the following actions, although member nations are permitted and encouraged to require further actions to ensure the environmental recovery of such an action:

   1. For offshore drill operators whose operations fall under World Assembly jurisdiction, or who operate an offshore oil drill within the territory of a member nation, the offshore drill operator must take on the full financial responsibility of bringing the environmental conditions to such a level as required by WARODA. If the offshore drill operator is unable to cover the full finances required without substantial financial burden, the member nation within their jurisdiction may provide financial support, and in extreme cases, WARODA in collaboration with the WA General Accounting Office ("GAO") may finance the recovery following the cleanup, given an appropriate assessment by both WARODA and the GAO, with the GAO creating a financing plan where the offshore drill operator shall pay the financed funds back to the World Assembly.

   2. For offshore drill operators whose operations do not fall under World Assembly jurisdiction, who are involved in an oil spill outside of the territory of a member nation, all member nations must ban the import of products of the offshore drill operators and financial collaboration with the perpetrating entities, until such a time that appropriate action is taken to bring the oil spill to a comparable level as before the oil spill.

   3. In the event of an oil spill, any responsible offshore drill operator whose operations fall under World Assembly jurisdiction, or who operate an offshore oil drill within the territory of a member nation, shall submit a report to WARODA detailing the cause, plan of action for recovery from the spill, and plan to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future for their offshore drilling operations. WARODA may request further documentation from these offshore drill operators involved in an oil spill, and the offshore drill operator must provide as quickly as they possibly can.

4. Offshore drill operators, member nations, and other entities may work to finance these cleanup measures by requesting or requiring other corporations or entities directly or indirectly involved in the spill to collaborate in the actions outlined by clause three. Additionally, in the event that an oil spill spans multiple nations, all member nations shall work to collaborate in the enforcement of these actions, and shall work with non-member nations in a good-faith effort to ensure that provisions as laid out by this resolution are enacted.

5. Additional regulations surrounding the funding of cleanup efforts of an oil spill may be enacted by this World Assembly. Additionally, specific regulations on offshore oil drills to promote safety and environmental prosperity may be further enacted by the World Assembly or its member nations.

6. No offshore drill operator, nor any other entity, shall be permitted to intentionally cause an oil spill for any reason.

General Assembly Resolution #34 “International Transport Safety” (Category: Free Trade; Strength: Mild) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.

The World Assembly (WA):

Noting its long-standing interest in promoting free trade via resolutions that provide necessary regulations for various forms of transport, such as railways, seafaring and aircraft;

Frustrated that the target resolution, GAR 34 International Transport Safety, permits domestic transport not to comply with the regulations of the International Transport Safety Committee (ITSC, clause 6a), thereby allowing domestic carriers to adopt far more relaxed standards than those of the ITSC;

Flummoxed that the ITSC has been tasked with creating detailed regulations for shipping, aviation and railways in terms of safety, communications, accident investigation, et cetera, but that they concern only international traffic, leaving domestic traffic poorly unregulated by international law;

Anxious that, as a result of the domestic exemption:

1. WA states face severe difficulties when domestic transport of significantly lower standards shares the same space as international transport, whether over air traffic coordination in the same airspace, rail tracks shared by domestic and international rail engines, or international shipping sharing seas and rivers with domestic vessels; and

2. There is significant ambiguity as to the responsibility for investigating accidents involving multiple member states, such as when a domestic ship collides with an international ship in domestic waters, or when an international train collides with a domestic train on a WA state’s rail tracks;

Observing that there is a need for WA states to retain as much autonomy as practicable to tailor regulations for their own circumstances and needs, but that this must be balanced with the need for better coordination between member states, especially in this age of frequent international travel;

Looking forward to replacements for the target resolution that address these flaws, while preserving the good work of the target in establishing international regulations;

The World Assembly hereby repeals the target resolution, "International Transport Safety".

The World Assembly (WA),

Believing that a bank account is key to improving the living standards of WA inhabitants by offering access to modern financial services for free, avoiding pricier alternatives such as pawn shops or check cashing outlets, and broadening access to microcredit;

The WA hereby enacts as follows:

1. Definitions.

   1. "Bank" means an entity that offers savings and lending products to inhabitants and SMEs in a WA state. This includes similar entities such as credit unions.

   2. "Cash" includes physical coins, notes, as well as other physical monetary instruments used by that WA state.

   3. "Inhabitant" includes anyone with a clear rationale for a bank account in that state. This includes, as examples, citizens, residents, guest workers, seafarers, refugees, and diplomats.

   4. "Inhabitant" excludes any not deemed legally competent in that WA state.

   5. "Microcredit" is defined to include loans of relatively small amounts to inhabitants and SMEs to help them achieve their financial or personal targets. such as developing new businesses.

   6. "SME" means small and medium sized enterprises. This includes sole proprietors and smaller enterprises as defined by that WA state.
      

2. Basic bank account ("basic account" or "account"). A basic account must include the following features:

   1. Savings and deposits;

   2. Cash withdrawals;

   3. Cheque issuance and deposits;

   4. Convenient payment mechanisms such as various apps;

   5. Microcredit facilities (as defined in clause 6);

   6. Domestic interbank and intrabank transfers;

   7. Remittances to or from other WA states.

3. Features.

   1. Each basic account (and related services) is provided free of charge. This does not affect margins or spreads for loans, foreign exchange, or other products outside of a basic account provided by the bank.

   2. No minimum deposit balance is required to open or maintain a basic account.

   3. If a state has reasonable levels of Internet access, a basic account must be accessible both online and offline.

   4. Sub-clauses (2)(b) or (2)(c) do not apply if that WA state does not use cash or cheques, respectively.

4. Availability.

   1. Each inhabitant and each SME in a WA state is entitled to at least one basic account.

   2. Each WA state is to determine how basic accounts are provided, such as through which particular banks or if such accounts are the obligations of all banks.

5. Know your customer requirements (KYC).

   1. No one may be denied from opening a basic account due to their circumstances, such as having a previous criminal record or having no fixed abode.

   2. An inhabitant having a duly issued identity document from that WA state (or a committee of the WA) is deemed to satisfy the KYC needs for opening a basic account.

   3. The preceding sub-clauses do not prohibit a bank from conducting additional KYC if the customer desires a deeper relationship, such as getting a loan from that bank, or for the bank to decline such a deeper relationship.

6. Microcredit.

   1. A bank that provides basic accounts shall also provide microcredit loans via such accounts to inhabitants and SMEs.

   2. Each WA state may determine if microcredit loans are provided at market rates, or if subsidised loans are available, as well as the underwriting standards, terms, and conditions for such microcredit loans.

   3. Each WA state is required to incentivise banks to promote microcredit services to their customers.

7. Other services.

   1. A bank may also provide loans or other services to customers via a basic account.

   2. The WA reserves the right to further regulate lending under clause (6) or sub-clause (7)(a).

8. Technology.

   1. Each WA state is required to incentivise the use of technology in banking to the extent such technology is available in that WA state, such as online banking and payment apps, to reduce costs for bank customers.

   2. Each WA state is required to make reasonable efforts to make it more convenient for vulnerable inhabitants to bank, such as using more facilities friendly to those with physical challenges.

9. Jurisdiction. Each WA state is responsible for interpretation and enforcement of this resolution.

General Assembly Resolution #725 “Reducing Bycatch” (Category: Environmental; Industry Affected: Fishing) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.

The World Assembly, Acknowledging the intent of GA #725 "Regulation of Bycatch" to mitigate the harmful impact of bycatch on marine wildlife and consumers,
Recognizing that the resolution introduces several critical measures, including research mandates, bycatch regulations, labeling requirements, import restrictions, data transparency, and encouragement of bycatch-prevention research,

Concerned, however, that the implementation of GA #725 has revealed significant practical and logistical issues that undermine its effectiveness and efficiency:

1. Impractical Research Requirements:
The mandate for each member nation to perform comprehensive research on marine species and ecologies within and surrounding their jurisdictions is overly burdensome, especially for nations with limited resources or access to necessary scientific expertise. This requirement imposes disproportionate costs and administrative burdens without providing clear guidance or support for compliance.

2. Unfeasible Regulatory Measures:
Establishing and enforcing maximum allowable bycatch limits based on the mandated research is complex and costly. Smaller or less developed nations may struggle to meet these demands, potentially leading to inconsistent enforcement and compliance across the World Assembly, undermining the resolution’s effectiveness.

3. Complex Labeling Requirements:
The requirement for processed seafood packages to include projected bycatch information is impractical and difficult to standardize, leading to potential misinformation and consumer confusion. This clause imposes significant compliance costs on seafood producers and retailers without necessarily improving consumer knowledge or safety.

4. Disruptive Trade Prohibitions:
The prohibition on importing seafood from entities that do not comply with scientifically-informed bycatch limits is overly restrictive and could lead to significant economic disruptions. This measure risks creating trade barriers that disproportionately affect developing nations and smaller economies, potentially leading to unintended economic hardships.

5. Data Reporting and Transparency Challenges: The mandate for nations to release bycatch data to the World Assembly Science Program may not be feasible for all member states, especially those lacking robust data collection and reporting infrastructures. This could result in incomplete or inaccurate data being shared, undermining the resolution’s goals of transparency and informed policy-making.

6. Technological and Knowledge Gaps:
While encouraging research into bycatch-prevention technologies is commendable, the resolution does not provide adequate support or mechanisms for sharing these innovations effectively among member nations, especially those lacking the capacity to develop or implement such technologies independently.

Believing that a more balanced and practical approach is necessary to effectively address the issue of bycatch without imposing undue burdens on member states,

Hereby repeals GA #725"Regulation of Bycatch"