The InterAction Council of Former Heads of State and Government is an independent international organization designed to bring together former world leaders to mobilize their energy, experience and international contacts in an effort to develop recommendations and foster co-operation and positive action around the world.
Founded in 1983, this body meets on annually and is composed of more than 30 former world leaders. The organization and its members jointly develop recommendations on, and practical solutions for, the political, economic and social problems confronting humanity. These efforts are focused on three main priority areas: peace and security, world economic revitalization and universal ethical standards.
One of its most well-known initiatives was the development of a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities, which was an attempt to develop a set of responsibilities that were shared by all individuals to counterbalance the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This new "Global Ethic" would provide a foundation of freedom, justice and peace in order for Universal Rights to be meaningful. These agreed values and standards complements Universal Rights, as the maximization of personal freedom at the expense of others, without consideration of others, is as problematic as having no rights at all.
The Council's 29th Annual Plenary Meeting was held in Quebec City, Canada from 29 to 31 May 2011.
Helmut Schmidt, Honorary Chairman and Chancellor of West Germany (1974-1982)
Malcolm Fraser, Honorary Chairman and Prime Minister of Australia (1975-1983)
Jean Chrétien, Co-Chair and Prime Minister of Canada (1993-2003)
Franz Vranitzky, Co-Chair and Chancellor of the Republic of Austria (1986-1997)
Andries van Agt, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1977-1982)
Esko Aho, Prime Minister of Finland (1991-1995)
Oscar Arias, President of the Republic of Costa Rica (1986-1990, 2006-2010)
Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia (2003-2009)
James Bolger, Prime Minister of New Zealand (1990-1997)
Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway (1981, 1986-1989, 1990-1996)
Ingvar Carlsson, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden (1986-1991, 1994-1996)
Bill Clinton, President of the United States (1993-2001)
Jean-Luc Dehaene, Prime Minister of Belgium (1992-1999)
Fernando de la Rúa, President of Argentina (1999-2001)
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, President of the Republic of Iceland (1980-1996)
Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, President of France (1974-1981)
Goh Chok Tong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore (1990-2004)
Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, President of the Republic of Indonesia (1998-1999)
Alain Juppé, Prime Minister of France (1995-1997)
Seyed Mohammad Khātamī, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran (1997-2005)
Lee Hong-koo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (1994-1995)
Abdul Salam Majali, Prime Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (1993-1995, 1997-1998)
Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa (1994-1999)
James Fitz-Allen Mitchell, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1972-1974, 1984-2000)
Benjamin William Mkapa, President of Tanzania (1995-2005)
Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo, President of Nigeria (1976–79, 1999-2007)
Andrés Pastrana, President of Colombia (1998-2002)
Percival Noel James Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica (1992-2006)
Yevgeny M. Primakov, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation (1998-1999)
Romano Prodi, Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy (1996-1998, 2006-2008)
Jerry John Rawlings, Head of State of Ghana (1986-2000)
José Sarney, President of Brazil (1985-1990)
Konstantinos G. Simitis, Prime Minister of Hellenic Republic (1996-2004)
Tung Chee Hwa, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Administration (1997-2005)
George Vassiliou, President of the Republic of Cyprus (1988-1993)
Richard von Weizsäcker, President of the Federal Republic of Germany (1984-1994)
Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Léon, President of Mexico (1994-1999)
Takeo Fukuda 1905-1995, Founder and Prime Minister of Japan (1976-1978)
Lord Callaghan of Cardiff 1912-2005, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1976-1979)
Kiichi Miyazawa 1919-2007, Co-Chairman and Prime Minister of Japan (1991-1993)
Misael Pastrana Borrero 1923-1997, President of the Republic of Colombia (1970-1974)
Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo 1930-2004, Prime Minister of Portugal (1979-1980)
Shin Hyon Hwak 1920-2007, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (1979-1980)
Kalevi Sorsa 1930-2004, Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland (1972-1975, 1977-1979, 1982-1987)
Pierre Elliott Trudeau 1919-2000, Prime Minister of Canada (1968-1979, 1980-1984)
The InterAction Council launched the Helmut Schmidt Young Leadership Forum on the occasion of the 26th Annual Meeting, held in Stockholm, Sweden. 20 young people from all over the world were invited to learn from and interact with former world leaders to build the leadership capacities of the young people chosen. The young leadership forum participants held their own seminars after the annual meeting, presenting papers on the themes of the annual meeting.
