Post-2015 Agenda should include elected UN Assembly to strengthen democratic participation
5th International Meeting of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly concludes with declaration / Strong support from key Members of the European Parliament
The fifth international conference on a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly held in the European Parliament in Brussels on 16th and 17th October called on the United Nations and the international community to make democratic participation a key
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| One of the conference panels |
| Image: European Parliament |
element of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
In a final declaration, participants from around thirty countries unanimously expressed concern that "no adequate measures have been taken to address the democratic deficit of global governance in general and of the United Nations in particular." The conference suggested that "a global democratic body of elected representatives" should be established "to bring global governance in the pursuit of post-2015 development goals" closer to the world's citizens.
Conference hosted in the European Parliament
The conference was hosted by the Members of the European Parliament Elmar Brok, Jo Leinen, Isabella Lövin, and Graham Watson from the four largest political groups European People's Party EPP, Socialists and Democrats S&D, the Greens, and the liberal ALDE group respectively. At the opening of the conference, Elmar Brok who serves as chairman of the European Parliament's Commission on Foreign Affairs stated that a consultative UN Parliamentary Assembly would "allow world civil society to
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| Antonio Vigilante, Jo Leinen, and Alfred de Zayas |
| Image: European Parliament |
be directly associated in the global decision-making process."
Jo Leinen who is a co-chair of the advisory board of the international campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly emphasized that until now no formal body exists that would give citizen-elected representatives a say in global governance. At best they had an observer status. "This is not acceptable," said Mr Leinen. "In a democratic system, the representatives of the citizens are not observers of what the governments do. They should provide oversight and hold the government executives accountable."
At a panel discussion Isabella Lövin used the example of the global fishery policy to show that the system of international governance is dysfunctional. "It's still governed by 16th century principles," she said. Graham Watson pointed out that "there will be times when national interests and global interests collide. A UN Parliamentary Assembly could act as an arbiter and ensure that the voice of the world's citizens is heard."
In a message issued on the occasion of the conference, the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, emphasized the longstanding support for the proposal by the European Parliament. In addition, he declared that "The European Parliament may serve as a model for how a UN Parliamentary Assembly could develop over time. What once began as an advisory body composed of national parliamentarians is a directly elected legislature today."
Consultation with the UN's Independent Expert
A similar position was taken by the UN's Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order, Alfred de Zayas, who was participating as a special guest. In a statement delivered at a special consultation, he confirmed that "Participation is a hallmark of democratic governance" and that "civil society is entitled to more space." He said that the establishment of a World Parliamentary Assembly was "a promising avenue" to achieve this and could be modelled according to the example of the European Parliament. Mr de Zayas pointed out that his upcoming report to the UN General Assembly includes the recommendation that it "may consider convening a conference to discuss promising initiatives such as the creation of a World Parliamentary Assembly."
In a comment following the statement by Mr de Zayas, the Member of the European Parliament and chairperson of Democracy International, Gerald Häfner, said that "We cannot leave the world to decision-making that is in the interest of big money or big powers – but not in the interest of the world’s citizens. A UN Parliamentary Assembly is a first step to establish global democracy."
The final declaration adopted by the conference welcomes "the decision of the UN’s Human Rights Council to mandate an Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order," and encourages the Independent Expert "to keep considering the question of a UNPA and in particular to examine possible processes towards its creation."
Main points of the final declaration
In the discussion the Secretary-General of the campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly, Andreas Bummel, emphasized three elements in the final declaration: That it puts the proposal for a UN Parliamentary
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| Gathering in front of the European Parliament |
| Image: CEUNPA |
Assembly in the context of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, that it highlights the possibility of having a UN Parliamentary Assembly act as a "network of networks" and finally that the document says that "innovative forms of civic participation" in a UNPA through models of electronic democracy could be considered. In its last session, the conference also deliberated on a possible roadmap towards a UN Parliamentary Assembly as well as on the campaign's goals and strategy.
Other speakers at the conference included, among others, Andrew Strauss from Widener University School of Law in the United States, the UN's representative in Brussels, Antonio Vigilante, the Member of the European Parliament and President of the Union of European Federalists Andrew Duff, the European Parliament's Vice-President Anni Podimata, Swiss parliamentarian Daniel Jositsch as well as Juan Behrend as representative of the Global Greens Coordination, Gregory Engels as representative of Pirate Parties International, and Hanno Schedler of the Society for Threatened Peoples.
Week of Action for a World Parliament
The conference was also a kick-off event for the Global Week of Action for a World Parliament that takes place until UN day on 24 October. At the end of the conference participants gathered in front of the European Parliament at Place du Luxembourg in Brussels and displayed the week's slogan, "World Parliament Now!"
Documents
Final declaration of the conference
Statement by the UN's Independent Expert
Statement by the President of the European Parliament
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Top image: Official group photo, by European Parliament
Worldwide activities launched to call for a Global Parliament that addresses global problems
First "Global Week of Action for a World Parliament" with activities in over fifty locations around the world
In over fifty cities around the world activists have organized events to call for the establishment of an elected world parliament. According to the announcement of the first "Global Week of Action for a World Parliament,"
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which was launched on Thursday and which will continue until United Nations day on 24 October, "global problems require global solutions." The call for action expresses concern that the "current political system is inadequate to deal with growing global challenges." It says that the "primary concern" of governments is "national interests and not the common good of humanity." An "elected world parliament," by contrast, "would be an instrument to find and implement solutions that are democratic, accountable and serve the best interest of humanity."
On Thursday, attendees of an international conference on a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly gathered in front of the European Parliament in Brussels and held up the week's slogan "World Parliament Now!" Further events are taking place in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Jerusalem, London, Nairobi, Rome, Sydney, Tokyo, Vancouver, as well as Guadalajara in Mexico, Gothenburg in Sweden or Rajkot in India, among others. Up-to-date information on the activities during the week is shared on Facebook which also serves as a platform for online mobilization.
The world’s citizens "should vote for their world representatives"
The week's organizers argue that a world parliament is a logical next step in the development of democracy. "In a democratic order," they say, "citizens already elect representatives at multiple levels. There are city councils, provincial or state parliaments and national parliaments. In Europe there’s even a continental parliament. And yet for global matters that affect each and every person on the planet, there exists no elected world parliament."
The week of action backs the political support for a global parliamentary assembly at the United Nations. More than 1,000 elected representatives from over 100 countries, for instance, have endorsed the international Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. Recently, the UN's Independent Expert on a Democratic and Equitable International Order, Alfred de Zayas, recommended to the UN's Human Rights Council to conduct a study on how a World Parliamentary Assembly "may advance genuine participation." Two years ago the European Parliament called on the European Union's governments to launch an initiative in the UN General Assembly.
Global Week of Action for a World Parliament's website
Top image: Protest for a world parliament in Brussels, picture: Joan Marc Simon
Martin Schulz: European Parliament may serve as a model for a UN Parliamentary Assembly
Martin Schulz (Image: EP)
On the occasion of the 5th International Meeting on a UN Parliamentary Assembly that started yesterday in Brussels with sessions in the European Parliament, the European Parliament's President Martin Schulz issued the following greetings to the participants:
On the occasion of the 5th International Meeting on a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, I cordially welcome you to Brussels and the European Parliament. The fact that the European Parliament is host to this important meeting for the second time underlines the parliament's important role and exemplary function.
In 1994, the European Parliament was the first parliamentary body in the world to endorse the proposal of a UN Parliamentary Assembly. Most recently, in a resolution adopted in 2011, the European Parliament called on the Council of the European Union to advocate for the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly within the UN system. According to this recommendation, the assembly would serve the purpose “to increase the democratic character, the democratic accountability and the transparency of global governance and to allow for better citizen participation in the activities of the UN.” Since then, this House has continued to call, both in words and deeds, for enhanced democratisation of the UN system and for promoting greater participation of parliamentarians in global activities for the benefit of our citizens.
The European Parliament may serve as a model for how this global purpose of a UN Parliamentary Assembly could develop over time. What once began as an advisory body composed of national parliamentarians is a directly elected legislature today, even if the development is still ongoing. We are delighted that the example of the European Parliament is inspiring and encouraging the efforts for democratizing the UN system and global governance. I strongly believe that more interaction on global issues between governments and parliaments would strengthen global governance and allow for greater public and parliamentary participation in the activities of the UN.
I wish you a successful meeting and a pleasant stay in Brussels.
More information on the meeting will follow soon.
Further statements in support of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly
Statement from Johan Galtung
Since our last post in August, we have collected and published further statements in support of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly.
On 31 August, the Norwegian sociologist and mathematician Johan Galtung who is considered to be a founder of the discipline of peace studies said:
I'm enthusiastic about the idea of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. Representing the world's citizens, it would finally bring democracy to the global stage. If the Indian Union and the European Union can organize a parliament, the world as a whole can do it, too.We interviewed him for this blog and his support is no surprise. He's one of the initial signatories of the international appeal for a UN Parliamentary Assembly and in the 1970s he already voiced support for the proposal of a world parliament.
In another exclusive statement, Sándor Fülöp, former Parliamentary Commissioner for Future Generations in Hungary and a member of the World Future Council, noted that:
Our world is facing ecological disasters and challenges that are systemic and global. The response has to be systematic and global as well. That's why genuinely global institutions such as a UN Parliamentary Assembly are required.In September, the Humanist Association of Germany decided to endorse the campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly (this background might be interesting). On this occasion, their president Frieder Otto Wolf, professor of philosophy at Free University of Berlin, said the following:
The global community will not succeed in solving its deep crisis and huge common problems if the citizens have no say and no right to participation. From a humanist perspective, democratising the UN through a parliamentary assembly thus isn't only merely useful, it's indispensable.Another prominent statement came from Germany in September. Brigitte Zypries, the former minister of justice and member of parliament (who was re-elected in the recent elections) raised the issue of non-democratic states but thinks that a UN Parliamentary Assembly could be a start nevertheless:
The idea of a democratically elected world parliament seems like a nice, but still distant dream if one considers the many dictatorships in the world. The establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly however, that initially has advisory powers and exercises oversight, could be a good and feasible first step into this direction.Finally, the latest statement for now was made by the Greek politician Vasso Papandreou, former minister and former member of the European Commission:
The strengthening of the United Nations will only be achieved by the participation of direct representatives of the citizens in the decision-making process. The setting up of a Global Parliamentary Assembly is fundamental for the functioning of democracy today.As usual, we've posted these statements at Flickr and Facebook.
Parliamentary conference on desertification supports a UN Parliamentary Assembly
International meeting of 65 legislators adopts declaration
The Parliamentary Round Table on Desertification that took place in Windhoek, Namibia, on 20 and 21 September 2013, issued a declaration on "the role of Members of Parliament in the efforts to combat desertification, land degradation and drought" and on "parliamentary contributions to achieving a land-degradation neutral world in the context
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| Logo of the UNCCD COP11 conference in Windhoek |
| Image: UNCCD |
of the Post-2015 Development Agenda". The final of twenty recommendations says that legislators should "promote the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly". The document also declares that "parliamentary oversight mechanisms, e.g. vis-à-vis the Global Environment Facility, regional development banks, the Green Climate Fund" should be created.
The 10th Round Table of Members of Parliament was held in parallel with the ongoing eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, UNCCD. Co-organized by the Namibian National Parliament and the UNCCD secretariat, the Round Table brought together 65 Parliamentarians from 18 countries. The declaration will be presented at the last plenary session of the Conference of State Parties, COP11, which ends Friday, 27 September.
A United Nations handbook on the role of parliamentarians in the implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification that was published at the end of July suggested that parliamentarians involved in the process "could play a leadership role" in the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly.
In November 2009, a declaration adopted by the Parliamentary Round Table on the UNCCD said that "a UN Parliamentary Assembly could strengthen the effectiveness, transparency, representativeness, plurality and legitimacy of the work of the institutions that compose the UN system. The establishment of a UNPA could also be a parliamentary oversight centrepiece of the renewed system of international financial and economic governance."
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Top image: Desertification Management in Tinfu, Morocco, 2011, by Richard Allaway, CC BY 2.0
UN expert recommends study on a UN Parliamentary Assembly, Egypt voices support
UN's Independent Expert on a Democratic and Equitable International Order presents progress report in Geneva
The UN's Independent Expert on "the promotion of an equitable and democratic international order," Alfred de Zayas, recommends that the UN's Human Rights Council should conduct a study on how a World Parliamentary Assembly "may advance genuine participation." The study should be assigned to the Council's Advisory Committee, Mr. de Zayas said.
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| The UN's independent expert Alfred de Zayas |
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Mr. de Zayas made the recommendation during a September 10 presentation in Geneva of a progress report on his activities as an independent expert, part of 24th session of the Human Rights Council. The legal scholar and former UN official noted in his statement that "participation in international decision-making is still far from equal or even equitable. Indeed, the United Nations Security Council is not democratic, nor are the Bretton Woods institutions."
According to Mr. de Zayas, a world parliamentary body that would give civil society a voice at the UN through more direct representation is "a promising initiative worth exploring in future reports." In his written report he elaborates more on the proposal and states that the idea of a world parliamentary assembly "is to address democracy deficits by giving expression to global public opinion and including citizens in global decision-making through elected officials." He concludes that global decisions would have greater legitimacy through citizen input and involvement, if the General Assembly represented people as well as states.
Egypt views proposal of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly "positively"
During the debate, the representative of Egypt emphasized that his country views "in positive regard the reference to the proposed United Nations Parliamentary Assembly as one instrument of involving the global public opinion in the global decision-making process." He said that Egypt welcomed "the important findings the independent expert included in his report regarding good practices aimed at enhancing and promoting a democratic and equitable international order."
In a first reaction, the Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, an international network of legislators, civil society representatives and experts, said that a study conducted by the Human Rights Council's Advisory Committee on the subject of a UN Parliamentary Assembly would be an important step forward. "This would be the first time that a UN body actually considers the matter in detail. We very much applaud this suggestion," said Andreas Bummel, the campaign's Secretary-General. "We urge the members of the Human Rights Council to follow this recommendation of its independent expert," he added.
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17 May 2013: New world citizens' assembly should be part of post-2015 agenda, campaign suggests
03 November 2012: UN's Independent Expert to examine proposals for a UN Parliamentary Assembly
Top image: 24th session of the Human Rights Council, UN Photo, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
As part of an "electoral rebellion for global democracy", Germans give their vote to people abroad
The campaign protests against "the lack of real democracy in international decisions"
Ahead of the general elections in Germany on 22 September, an initiative calls on German voters to cede their vote to citizens in other countries.
Activists of the campaign “Electoral Rebellion” argue that everywhere in the world people are affected by policies that were not made in their own country:
Politics does not stop at national borders but democracy does. In Spain, Greece or Portugal, for example, people are affected by the policies of the German government. Austerity measures are only one part of it. Nevertheless, these people have no say.By calling on Germans "to give their votes" to people in other countries, Electoral Rebellion wants to set an example for "more and true democracy" and start a debate about how the current political system can be democratized at the global level.
How it works
On Facebook, German citizens post on the page of the "Electoral Rebellion" that they are willing to give their vote to someone in another country. People in other countries who want to join the action and wish to use a vote can comment on these posts, explaining who they are and how they are affected by German or global politics. Then they send a Facebook friend request to their "voting buddy." Before elections day on 22 September, the voter outside of Germany will tell the "voting buddy" where to mark the ballot paper. "It will only take you ten minutes to join in," the campaign's activists assure.
The campaign was launched by Egality, a group of German and international activists who advocate global democracy.
A similar initiative was launched ahead of the elections in Israel on 22 January this year (here's our report).
UNCCD handbook reasserts support for the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly
Recently published: The UNCCD's handbook on the role of parliamentarians
A United Nations handbook on the role of parliamentarians in the implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification that was published at the end of July (see PDF here) suggests that parliamentarians involved in the process "could play a leadership role" in the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly.
The handbook that was authored by former parliamentarian Uwe Holtz from Germany points out that:
A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) could strengthen the effectiveness, transparency, representativeness, plurality and legitimacy of the work of the institutions that compose the United Nations system. The establishment of a UNPA could also be a centrepiece for parliamentary supervision of the renewed system of international financial, economic and environmental governance. The Round Table of the Parliamentarians under the UNCCD could play a leadership role in this context.Support for a UN Parliamentary Assembly in the context of UNCCD was mandated by the Parliamentary Round Table on UNCCD in a declaration adopted at the ninth session of the conference of the parties of the UNCCD in Buenos Aires in 2009 (see our report here).
Beginning with the second session of the conference of parties of the UNCCD in 1998, the Round Table of Parliamentarians has become an established forum for the exchange of views between parliamentarians working on sustainable development and desertification in particular.
The handbook will be discussed at the next Round Table for Parliamentarians on UNCCD on 20 September in Windhoek (here's the agenda of the meeting).
Students from over 30 countries met in Canberra for a Model Global Parliament
Participants of the Model Global Parliament in Canberra
On 27 July 2013, around 50 students from over 30 countries met in the House of Representatives at Old Parliament House to hold an inaugural Model Global Parliament in Canberra. A report from Nicolás H. Martins and Sandesh Silpakar.
The increasing connectivity among nations from all over the world, the growing convergence of complex worldwide policy issues, and the universal awareness of human dignity are demanding a strengthened global democracy. Although the idea of global parliament dates back centuries ago, the actual need was materialised only after World War II with formation of international organisations like the United Nations, which was an attempt to bring nations together for peaceful future working through cooperation and negotiation. There however is more to be done as such organisations face its own limitations. A Global Parliament therefore is a global body where democratically elected members representing state and non-state actors are able to legislate on global issues on a level playing field.
At the Model Global Parliament in Canberra, several motions under an agenda of education, human rights and environmental issues were debated by students, who represented as elected members of different regions, governments and non-state actors. Negotiations were part of the political debate, while motions were passed valuing democratic principles of ‘one person, one vote, one voice’. The majority ruled the day – even if consensus on an issue was not reached, members were bound to the collective voice of the Parliament.
Building on previous sessions of the Model Global Parliament held in Melbourne, the Canberra session had the opportunity to hear from former parliamentarian, the Hon Bob Brown.The Model Global Parliament might be a sign that a global democratic world is possible if we are willing to make it happen Special guests included Mr Steve Killelea Founder and Chairman of the Institute for Economics and Peace, Associate Professor Chris Hamer, Professor Bruce Chapman, Professor Charles Sampford and Professor Glenn Withers. The Canberra session was proudly supported by the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University, Ms Pera Wells, currently the Australian representative on the Steering Committee for the Global Interdependence Movement, the Museum of Australian Democracy and the World Citizens Association.
So, what’s next? If a growing consensus is reached in the near future on the need to address global challenges in a more sustainable, cooperative and cohesive basis, the concept of a Global Parliament has an indisputable role to play. The Model Global Parliament – Canberra was a joint vision of the participants from across multidisciplinary studies, such as public policy, environmental sciences, international development policy, economics and international relations. This might be a sign that a global democratic world is possible if we are willing to make it happen. Building on the knowledge capital of modelling global parliament, the next session of the MGP will be held in Sydney.
For more information, visit the Model Global Parliament's website and the Facebook page.
Report to the Human Rights Council elaborates on the idea of a World Parliamentary Assembly
Alfred de Zayas at the UN General Assembly on 2nd November 2012
In a report to the Human Rights Council, the UN's Independent Expert for the Promotion of an Equitable and Democratic International Order, Alfred de Zayas from the United States, has elaborated on the question of a World Parliamentary Assembly.
The report which was published online yesterday includes reflections on the nature of democracy, and identifies deficits and obstacles at the domestic and international levels. "In order to test the existence or otherwise of international democracy in recent times," the report says,
one may ask whether States and peoples, including non-represented peoples, have had a democratic opportunity of participating in decisions concerning important issues, such as war and peace, global warming, the environment, trade relations, access to medicine and the common heritage of humankind.In a part on good practices, the independent expert elaborates on the proposal for a World Parliamentary Assembly (see para. 49) and writes that the idea of the proposal "is to address democracy deficits by giving expression to global public opinion and including citizens in global decision-making through elected officials." After stating, among other things, that UN Charter reform would not be required to establish the assembly, he concludes that
global decisions would have greater legitimacy through citizen input and involvement, if the General Assembly represented people as well as States.In the section on good practices, the report also refers to several other initiatives that "endeavour to advance a democratic and equitable international order by providing judicial and constitutional review as well as enforcement mechanisms," in particular the Tunisian proposal to establish an International Constitutional Court and the proposals for a World Court of Human Rights and an International Court for the Environment.
The independent expert will be a special guest at the upcoming 5th international meeting on a UN Parliamentary Assembly which will take place on 16/17 October 2013 in the European Parliament in Brussels. The Secretary-General of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly, Andreas Bummel, recently participated in a consultation convened by Mr. de Zayas in Geneva.