Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly
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| Name: | Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly |
| International Organization: | United Nations |
| Active: | Yes |
| From: To: | 2007 - |
| Promoters: | Committee for a Democratic United Nations |
| Supporters: | Network of parliamentarians and non-governmental organizations |
| Aim: | Establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly |
| Focus: | The Composition of a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations A Background Paper of the Committee for a Democratic U.N. by Andreas Bummel |
The Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) is a global network of parliamentarians and non-governmental organizations advocating citizen's representation at the United Nations.
At the Campaign's launch in April 2007 at more than one dozen events on five continents an international "Appeal for the Establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly" was published. In April 2009 the Campaign issued a "Call for Global Democratic Oversight of International Financial and Economic Institutions".
Who supports the campaign
The Campaign's statements are supported by 3338 individuals from 137 countries, among them 700 members of parliament, and 218 NGOs from all around the world.
The first international conference was convened in November 2007 in the Palais des Nations in Geneva under the patronage of former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. The second international conference was held in November 2008 in the European Parliament, the third in October 2009 in New York. The next international conference is planned to take place in September 2010 in Buenos Aires.
The Campaign's Secretariat is led by the Committee for a Democratic United Nations. The work of the Campaign is guided by an informal Steering Committee, which helps to define the Campaign's goals, policies and strategies.
The Campaign's objectives
To make the UNPA proposal visible in political debates and the media
To facilitate the creation of national and local networks of individuals, non-governmental organizations and parliamentarians advocating a UNPA in their sphere of influence
To establish a global multi-stakeholder coalition which unites parliamentary and civil society efforts for a U.N. Parliamentary Assembly
To facilitate contacts and debates with potentially like-minded parliaments and governments
Appeal for the establishment of a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations
Humanity faces the task of ensuring the survival and well being of future generations as well as the preservation of the natural foundations of life on Earth. We are convinced that in order to cope with major challenges such as social disparity, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the threat of terrorism or the endangerment of global ecosystems, all human beings must engage in collaborative efforts.
To ensure international cooperation, secure the acceptance and to enhance the legitimacy of the United Nations and strengthen its capacity to act, people must be more effectively and directly included into the activities of the United Nations and its international organizations. They must be allowed to participate better in the UN’s activities. We therefore recommend a gradual implementation of democratic participation and representation on the global level.
We conceive the establishment of a consultative Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations as an indispensable step. Without making a change of the UN Charter necessary in the first step, a crucial link between the UN, the organizations of the UN system, the governments, national parliaments and civil society can be achieved through such an assembly.
Such an assembly would not simply be a new institution; as the voice of citizens, the assembly would be the manifestation and vehicle of a changed consciousness and understanding of international politics. The assembly could become a political catalyst for further development of the international system and of international law. It could also substantially contribute to the United Nation’s capacity to realize its high objectives and to shape globalization positively.
A Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations could initially be composed of national parliamentarians. Step by step, it should be provided with genuine rights of information, participation and control vis-à-vis the UN and the organizations of the UN system. In a later stage, the assembly could be directly elected.
We appeal to the United Nations and the governments of its member states to establish a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations. We call for all organizations, decision-makers and citizens engaged with the international common interest to support this appeal.
Documents
- The Case for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly
Dieter Heinrich
- The Case for Global Democracy. Advocating a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly
Piia-Noora Kauppi, Jo Leinen, Graham Watson, Gérard Onesta
With an introduction by Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali and a foreword by Graham Watson
- Developing International Democracy. For a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations
A Strategy Paper of the Committee for a Democratic U.N.
by Andreas Bummel
The Official web site