November 1997 to consider Liberal responses to the challenges and opportunities that emerge on the threshold of a new millennium. Over the past 50 years, substantial progress has been made in establishing open societies based upon political and economic liberty. However, there is still a long way to go.
New generations have to define liberal priorities in the face of new opportunities and new dangers.
Our task as Liberals in the 21 st Century will be to seek political responses to these new challenges which promote individual liberty and human rights, open societies and economies, and global cooperation. We reaffirm that these principles are valid throughout the world. These principles require a careful balance of strong civil societies, democratic government, free markets, and international cooperation. We believe that the conditions of individual liberty include the rule of law, equal access to a full and varied education, freedom of speech, association, and access to information, equal rights and opportunities for women and men, tolerance of diversity, social inclusion, the promotion of private enterprise and of opportunities for employment. We believe that civil society and constitutional democracy provide the most just and stable basis for political order.