Network for UN Parliamentary Assembly planned in Uruguay

On 25 September 2007 Prof. Fernando Iglesias, the Executive Director of Democracia Global, an NGO participating in the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) gave a lecture on the needs and perspectives of democracy at the regional and international level. The event, taking place in the building of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Congress, was co-organized by deputy Beatriz Argimón and the local Social Science College (UDELAR) and attracted distinguished political and cultural leaders. After the event participants met and agreed to work on the establishment of a network seated in Montevideo. The support of the UNPA-Campaign and the transformation of the Mercosur Parliament into a real regional parliament were defined as priority tasks of the planned group.

Uganda: Support for UNPA further mounting

Support of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly mounts in Uganda.On 21 September the leader of the opposition in parliament, Prof. Morris Ogenga-Latigo, MP for the Forum of Democratic Change, signed the Campaign’s appeal for a UNPA (in the picture). Also in this month, the Clerk of Parliament, Aeneas Tandekwire, and Deputy Foreign Secretary, Stephen Makonzi, signed the appeal for a UNPA, the latter representing Ssekabaka Muteesa I Foundation, a civil society organization with around 4,300 members founded in 1979. Other organizations who have joined include Uganda Youth Federal Alliance and Uganda Young Conservatives. With Ogenga-Latigo joining the campaign, major leaders of the two largest parties in Uganda are backing the initiative. In 2006 already, the speaker of parliament, Edward Sekandi, MP for the National Resistance Movement, signed the appeal.

UNPA activist visits Canada / Researcher calls for government to support proposal

While passing through Vancouver recently, Gordon Glass, representing 2020*Vision Ltd. on the UNPA-Campaign Steering Committee, met with local Campaign activists, including all Board members of the World Federalist Movement Canada - Vancouver Branch. They agreed that most people approached about the UNPA Campaign seem to understand it immediately, almost as if it were in the air. "We now have supporters in over 100 countries" said Gordon Glass, "and we are quickly encircling the world. The UNPA will be a symbol of our common humanity, will act as a citizens' watchdog at the UN and will no doubt usher in an era of UN reform to enable that institution to meet the serious challenges of the twenty-first century.” In a press release issued by WFM-Canada at the occasion of the International Day of Peace, Dr. Michael Byers, Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at UBC added that “the Canadian Government should make realization of a UNPA a key element in our contribution to promoting world-wide peace and democracy.”

International Campaign meeting in Geneva

At a meeting on August 29 the Steering Committee of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) convened in Geneva with Campaign activists from Argentina, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States attending. After its launch in April 2007 the Campaign is now entering a further stage, consolidating and advancing its outreach around the world. Up to date, more than 400 parliamentarians, 80 NGOs and further 800 individuals from more than 100 countries are backing the Campaign's appeal. The meeting took place at the occasion of the World Congress of the World Federalist Movement.

Uganda: Leader of Buganda Kingdom Caucus endorses UNPA

The Chairperson of the parliamentary Caucus of the Buganda Kingdom, Rose Namayanja, MP, has officially endorsed the Campaign’s appeal for a UN Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) at a meeting on 13th August 2007 at the Grand Imperial Hotel in Kampala. In her discussion with the President of the African Federalist Association (AFA), Prince Joseph Simbwa, the Caucus chairperson promised to support the UNPA-Campaign at the local and international level. Rose Namayanja also indicated support of the Buganda Caucus should a resolution to support the UNPA proposal be tabled in the Ugandan national parliament. The caucus includes a total of 78 MPs. Buganda is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in Uganda.

Canada: Foreign Affairs Committee recommends UN Parliamentary Assembly

In a report adopted on 9 June 2007, the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development under chairman Kevin Sorenson recommends that “the Parliament of Canada should give favourable consideration to the establishment of a United Nations ParliamentaryAssembly” (UNPA). The Committee thus reiterates after more than 10 years its support for a UNPA formulated in a different report in 1993. The new report of June includes a total of 28 recommendations which cover Canada’s contribution to development of democracy in the world. The Committee met with a wide range of experts, in Canada and various other countries, before drafting its report. Among the NGOs given the opportunity to give testimony was the World Federalist Movement-Canada which participates actively in the UNPA-Campaign. The report was tabled on 11 July.

Mayor of London supports appeal for UN Parliament

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, supports the Appeal for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA). The appeal is the core document of an international campaign launched in April/May this year. The Secretariat of the Campaign was notified of Mr. Livingstone’s support today. The Mayor of London is the third top executive of a world metropolis endorsing the UNPA proposal: Among the supporters are also Cesar Maia, the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, and Helen Zille, Mayor of Capetown. "Estimated 49 percent of the world population live in urban zones today, often under extremly bad conditions at least partly determined by international influences. Thus it is particularly important to include city authorities into our efforts", said Andreas Bummel who leads the Secretariat of the UNPA-Campaign. With a population of 12 million people, the metropolitan area of Rio, for example, has more inhabitants than Portugal.

Leading activist for UN Parliament honoured with "Vision Award"

One of the leading activists of the Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) was honoured on Monday in Berlin at a civil society gathering at the fringe of the G8-Summit in Heiligendamm, Germany. Andreas Bummel, who was one of the recipients of the "Vision Award", has been working for a UN Parliament since 1997. He is chairman of the Committee for a Democratic UN and leads the UNPA-Campaign’s Secretariat. The establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly was one of the ten projects featured at the "Vision Summit" initiated by the Global Economic Network, an association of progressive entrepreneurs and economic leaders. Among the other visionary leaders honoured with the Summit’s award were Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank, or Franz Josef Radermacher, activist for a "Global Marshall Plan". The conference was attended by more than 700 participants.

Boutros-Ghali: Democratization at global level needed

In a message addressed to the Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali stressed the necessity to establish democratic participation of citizens at the global level. Boutros-Ghali is among the initial signatories of the Campaign’s appeal for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. In the past weeks the proposal was presented to the public in ten countries on five continents. Meanwhile the Campaign’s call for Parliamentary Assembly at the global level is endorsed by 398 Members of Parliament, 57 Non-Governmental Organizations and further 620 individuals from more than 100 countries.

UNPA Campaign launched in India

India joins the global force today of the ongoing campaign for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA). Dr. V. Rangaraj, Sr. Vice President, Rolta India Limited and former Chairman of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce launched the historic campaign in India at an event held at SIES School, Matunga, Mumbai. Veteran journalist Dr. Vimla Patil (former Editor of Femina) who is one of first signatories to the Campaign’s UNPA Appeal spoke about the objectives and goals of this global initiative. Earlier, Vijayam Raghunathan, Coordinator in India for the Campaign, spoke about the UNPA and its significance today. People from different walks of life attended the launch and expressed their solidarity in support of the UNPA proposal.