RSS news channel of the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly http://en.unpacampaign.org/news/en.xml 05/17/2013 05/17/2013 Proposal presented at a meeting convened by the UN's Independent Expert Alfred de Zayas The establishment of a world parliamentary assembly was one of the subjects of a consultation convened on Thursday at the Palais des Nations in Geneva by the UN's Independent Expert for the Promotion of an Equitable and Democratic International Order, Alfred de Zayas. At the opening of the meeting, Mr. de Zayas stressed that the existence of a democratic deficit at the global level was widely recognized today. "There is a disconnect between power and people," the Independent Expert said. The purpose of the meeting was to seek views from experts on what measures could be recommended to "strengthen full, equitable and effective participation at the international and national levels." In a statement delivered at the meeting, the representative of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly, Andreas Bummel, pointed out that democratization of the international order should aim at promoting the dignity and worth of the individual human being and the fundamental equality of all world citizens. Considering the fact that the United Nations is a state-based organization and intergovernmental in nature, he stated that "The challenge is to find ways to create a space within this setup that nonetheless allows connecting global decision-making more directly with the world’s citizens as individuals." According to Mr. Bummel, a UN body should be established in order to "give the world's citizens a voice at the UN through more direct representation. The underlying idea," he said, "is increased participation through increased political representation." The members of this new body could be either delegated by parliaments or countries could choose to have them directly elected. Referring to the parliamentary organs of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the African Union, he emphasized that such a new UN Parliamentary Assembly "in no way would contradict the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations." With reference to ongoing international discussions on post-2015 Development Goals, Mr. Bummel stated that steps towards citizen-based global democratic governance should be part of the new framework. "Serious consideration should be given to the contribution that a parliamentary assembly at the United Nations could make to the mechanisms which can assure accountability, reporting, monitoring and continued dialogue regarding the fulfillment of the post-2015 goals," he stated. This was in line with a call of global civil society made earlier this year in a synthesis report that the post-2015 framework should "incorporate targets on the reform and democratization of global institutions." Other themes discussed at the meeting included reform of the UN Security Council, reinvigoration of the UN General Assembly, direct democracy, the role of national parliaments in the international and national arena, and the situation of indigenous peoples and nations. The consultation was convened by the Independent Expert with a view of a report that will be submitted to the United Nations in October. Download the full statement here (PDF) Read more 03 November 2012: UN's Independent Expert to examine proposals for a UN Parliamentary Assembly 29 November 2012: UN’s Independent Expert reasserts that the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly should be explored Top image: Expert meeting in Geneva, CEUNPA 700 http://en.unpacampaign.org/news/700.php 04/02/2013 04/02/2013 Delegation presents the proposal to the Senegalese Prime Minister and the President of the National Assembly The world-renowned Senegalese musician Youssou N’Dour has taken a stand for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. Mr N’Dour who is also a Minister of Tourism in the government of Senegalese President Macky Sall argued that “just as every town has an elected city council or just as every democratic nation has a parliament, a UN Parliamentary Assembly that reflects the diversity of the world’s citizens and cultures needs to be established at the global level.” In a statement on the occasion of a meeting with representatives of the international Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly on Tuesday last week, he further pointed out that “such a global parliament would allow for global issues to be dealt with in a democratic and legitimate way.” The delegation to Dakar was also received by the Senegalese Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye and the President of the National Assembly, Moustapha Niasse. The Vice-President of the National Assembly of Senegal, Aimé Assine, who was host to the delegation emphasized that Senegal should play a leading role in the efforts for democratizing the UN. “Building on a strong democratic tradition and a long-standing involvement at the United Nations, Senegal now needs to spearhead the initiative for the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly,” Mr Assine said. The campaign’s representative for Senegal, Mamadou Ibrahimia Fall, added that Senegal had already shown “its commitment to democracy, to African integration and to a more democratic multilateral system.” “Senegalese parliamentarians and the executive are invited to take up leadership in Africa to work towards the creation of a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations,” he stated. One subject of the talks in Dakar was the possibility to convene an international meeting of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly in the Senegalese capital. “For the first time on the African continent, the National Assembly of Senegal is ready to host an international conference of the Campaign for the Establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly in 2014, gathering parliamentarians, academics and citizens from all over the world who work on this noble project”, Mr Assine summarized the outcome. In an interview with TV station RTS, the campaign’s Secretary-General Andreas Bummel who led the delegation together with Mr Fall said that the positive stance of the Senegalese authorities was encouraging. “A leading role of Senegal in the efforts for a UN Parliamentary Assembly would be highly welcome,” Mr. Bummel stressed. Other members of the delegation included Mathias Eberlen, the chief of staff of the co-chair of the campaign’s advisory group Jo Leinen, and the campaign’s Senegalese coordinator, Papa Meissa Dieng. Photo gallery at Flickr Top image: Skyline of Dakar, Source: Jeff Attaway, Flickr, Creative Commons 696 http://en.unpacampaign.org/news/696.php 03/20/2013 03/20/2013 People’s manifesto sets out a global agenda for action, supports the creation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly With the support of a diverse group of initial signatories from twenty-five countries, a Manifesto for Democracy and Sustainability was published today. According to the document, human activities have exceeded the earth’s natural limits but democracy is “failing to deliver sustainability.” The drafters have identified areas where democracy most urgently needs to change to deliver a healthy environment and fairness for everyone at the same time. The document intends to “guide a global movement for change” that helps “to transform democracy so that it is an engine for sustainability.” “Democracy and sustainability are the two vital elements of what we will pass on to future generations, but their crucial inter-dependence has been neglected,” said John Lotherington, Chair of the Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable Development Foundation (FDSD), the organisation behind the international process that created the Manifesto. Among other things, the manifesto emphasizes that “the interests of all people affected by public decisions need to be taken into account. Decision-makers at all levels should also be accountable to all affected people.” Accordingly, it goes on, “the scale and effects of sustainability challenges often demand that democracy bursts out of its national borders. In decision-making at the international level democracy, not the self-interest of individual governments or groups of governments should be the basis for engagement.” One of the commitments included in the document pledges support for the “creation of a Parliamentary Assembly of the United Nations as the first step towards a system of global democracy.” The Secretary-General of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly, Andreas Bummel, one of the manifesto’s “founder signatories” explained that “not less, but more democracy is the key to a sustainable world society that respects the Earth's natural boundaries. This is especially true with regard to the global level where democracy is still virtually absent. It is an outstanding feature of this manifesto that it calls for a strengthening of democratic decision-making, participation and representation at all levels of governance alike.” Launch video of the manifesto Sharan Burrow, another initial signatory and General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation stated that “we are all part of a global democratic movement for change. This is an important initiative.” The manifesto is the heart of a new online platform which invites the public to share ideas and actions around the subjects of democracy and sustainability. The founder members include current and former politicians, experts, educators and activists, as well as concerned individuals, national, international and grassroots networks and alliances. Read and endorse the manifesto here Top image: The initiative’s logo, by FDSD 692 http://en.unpacampaign.org/news/692.php 01/31/2013 01/31/2013 EAC governments urged to promote a joint African position At a session in Bujumbura, Burundi, the East African Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution on Tuesday that supports the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. In the document which was introduced by Ugandan lawmaker Mike Sebalu, the parliamentary body of the East African Community urges the organisation's five member states Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, "to take the initiative to promote the development of a common African position in support of the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly." The resolution outlines the growing role and involvement of international organizations such as the United Nations and its specialized agencies in key sectors such as the promotion of peace and security, economic development, health, education, the environment and sustainable development. It notes that nonetheless there is no formal parliamentary body at the United Nations that allows for parliamentarians to take part in its deliberations. According to Mr Sebalu, the insufficient formal involvement of elected representatives limits the democratic legitimacy of the world organization. According to the resolution the formation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly would be a tool to "improve the transparency, accountability and the effectiveness of the United Nations." With the approval of the resolution, the East African Legislative Assembly joins a number of regional and continental parliaments that have expressed support for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. In particular, a similar one was passed by the Pan-African Parliament on October 24, 2007. In a first reaction, the Secretary-General of the international Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly, Andreas Bummel, stated that EALA's resolution constitutes "an important milestone in the international efforts for democratizing the United Nations." The resolution points out that a UN Parliamentary Assembly could be established simply by a vote of the United Nations General Assembly in accordance with Article 22 of the Charter of the United Nations without an amendment of the United Nations Charter. The East African Legislative Assembly was established in 2001. Its membership is made up of nine representatives from each EAC member state who are elected by the national parliaments. Since June 2012, the assembly is chaired by Margaret Zziwa from Uganda. The treaty for the East African Community provides that partner states shall accord special importance to co-operation with the United Nations and its agencies and other international organizations. EALA website Top image: Flags of the EAC and its member states. Photo: EAC 688 http://en.unpacampaign.org/news/688.php 12/10/2012 12/10/2012 Judges and legal experts from over 60 countries deliberated on more democratic and more effective global governance The establishment of a world parliament was a main subject endorsed at the 13th "International Conference of Chief Justices of the World" that was convened by City Montessori School in Lucknow, India, this weekend. At the meeting, chief justices, judges and legal experts from over 60 countries deliberated on the need of strengthening international law in order to meet the challenges of global problems such as climate change. At the opening, chief justice Benjamin Odoki from Uganda stated that "steps are needed to constitute a world judicial system and world parliament. No one is above the law, international law must be strictly enforced and implemented." Uttar Pradesh Assembly speaker Mata Prasad Pandey emphasized that a world parliament was "the need of the hour." According to the organizer of the conference, Jagdish Gandhi, the chief justices gathered in Lucknow generally agreed "that even though the cultures and traditions of various countries are widely different, still there prevails an underlying unity as we are all members of one human family. Therefore, we need one enforceable international law to hold us together and prevent wars. Only when world laws are uniform and equally applicable on all countries, can we hope for a peaceful and happy world society." Dr. Gandhi added that the participating chief justices are convinced that this mission "can only be accomplished by the establishment of a World Parliament with representatives of all countries." The subject of a world parliament was addressed in many interventions. The First President of the Supreme Court of Turkey, Ali Alkan, for instance, stated that "a democratically elected world parliament, some amendments in the UN charter like exclusion of veto powers and an enforceable legal system are the ways which can help us protect the future of the world's children and generations yet unborn." At the previous conference last year, a final resolution was adopted unanimously that included the recommendation that "for the enactment of world law", a "World Parliament may be constituted." With over 44,000 pupils, City Montessori School is recognized as Guiness record holder for being the world's largest school. The instituion considers itself the "self-appointed guardian of the world's two billion children and of future generations." The conference in Lucknow was covered by the Deccan Herald, The Indian Express, The Pioneer, and other Indian newspapers. Conference website Previous reports 09 February 2010: Chief Justices of Global South call for world parliament Top image: Plenary of the World Judiciary Summit 2012. Photo: City Montessori School 682 http://en.unpacampaign.org/news/682.php 11/16/2012 11/16/2012 Seminar on "The right to have influence in a global society" features proposal for a UN Parliamentary Assembly The international Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly was present at the annual Swedish Forum for Human Rights that was held in the city of Gothenburg on Monday and Tuesday this week. On Monday, Christer Winbäck, a member of the Swedish parliament and a supporter of the campaign, and the campaign's national coordinator in Sweden, Petter Ölmunger, held a well-attended seminar on "The right to have influence in a global society." During the seminar, Mr Winbäck, a member of the national parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, explained that a big advantage of the United Nations is that almost all countries are members and that the organization is highly respected in almost all of them. However, he said, "what we miss in the UN is parliamentary participation, the democratic character." This could be achieved with the establishment of a parliamentary assembly. "I'm convinced", Mr Winbäck stated, "that with a more democratic UN, which we would have with this parliamentary assembly, we would get a much more transparent and a much more legitimate organization." As fundamental reforms of the UN are very hard to achieve, a first step could be to establish the new assembly as an advisory body: "If we want to, it's totally possible to create such an assembly within the UN. The existing provisions allow the UN General Assembly to do so," Mr Winbäck told the audience of around 80 people. Answering the question whether such a democratization of the UN could inspire democratic development also at the national level, Mr Winbäck said that he thinks it would, both through the inter-parliamentary exchange that a UN Parliamentary Assembly would enhance, and also because the UN itself would then be more of "a good example" in this regard. In addition to the seminar, supporters of a UN Parliamentary Assembly used the Swedish Forum for Human Rights as an opportunity to come together and to discuss and promote the proposal and the underlying vision of strengthening the voice of humanity in international affairs. Among those who were there was former Swedish parliamentarian and vice-chair of the Left Party, Johan Lönnroth, who has written about the need of global democracy in his book "Den tredje vänstern" ("The third Left"). Petter Ölmunger, who coordinates the activities of the campaign in Sweden, evaluated the participation in the Swedish Forum of Human Right afterwards: "We had a very good seminar, many valuable talks and meetings and, not the least, lots of fun! Also, it felt perfectly right for us to, through our participation, help highlight the connection between human rights and democracy. If human rights are global, then democracy needs to be global too." A newly created Swedish flyer was distributed during the forum and "was a big help in marketing the campaign," Mr Ölmunger said. Photo gallery Swedish flyer (PDF) Video recording of seminar Top image: Christer Winbäck (left) and Petter Ölmunger (right) during the seminar. Photo: CEUNPA 678 http://en.unpacampaign.org/news/678.php