Petición para una asamblea parlamentaria presentada al representante de la ONU
Legisladores de 100 países recomiendan a la ONU que establezca una asamblea parlamentaria
Más de 1250 legisladores activos y retirados de más de cien países y centenares de personalidades de la vida política, cultural y científica han firmado una petición internacional recomendando a las Naciones Unidas y a sus estados miembros que “establezcan una Asamblea Parlamentaria en las Naciones Unidas”. Jueves pasado, la petición y la lista de firmantes fue presentada oficialmente al representante del
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| Jo Leinen, Antonio Vigilante y Andreas Bummel |
| Imagen: CEUNPA |
Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas en las instituciones Europeas en Bruselas, Antonio Vigilante.
La petición, que también está apoyada por alrededor de 400 profesores de 50 países, expone que “para afrontar situaciones complejas como las desigualdades sociales, la proliferación de armas de destrucción masiva, la amenaza del terrorismo o la precariedad de los ecosistemas globales todos los seres humanos deben colaborar.” Declara también que “se debe incluir a las personas de forma más eficiente y directa en las actividades de las Naciones Unidas y sus organizaciones internacionales” y recomienda una “implementación gradual de la participación democrática y representativa a escala global”. La petición fue creada en 2007 y está continuamente abierta a más firmantes.
Durante la presentación, el co-director de la campaña internacional para una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU y miembro del Parlamento Europeo, Jo Leinen, indicó que “la vida diara de los ciudadanos mundiales es progresivamente marcada por las fuerzas sociales, económicas, y políticas que transcenden fronteras nacionales.” Una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU “habilitaría a los representantes civiles para que pudieran estar directamente involucrados en deliberaciones políticas globales y toma de decisiones.”
El secretario general de la campaña, Andreas Bummel, emfatizó que la ONU se beneficiaría de la introducción de representativos electos pues acercaría la organización internacional a los ciudadanos del mundo. También recordó que el establecimiento de la una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU ha estado recomendado por el Parlamento Europeo, el Parlamento Pan-Africano, y el Parlamento Latinoamericano, entre otros.
Lista de firmantes de la campaña
Propuesta de un Parlamento en la ONU presentado en foro de los derechos humanos
La nueva Asamblea Parlamentaria establecería su propio Comité de Derechos Humanos, para supervisar violaciones, proponer soluciones y ofrecer servicios de asesoramiento y asistencia técnica a sugerencia de los expertos.
La propuesta de una Asamblea Parlamentaria Mundial fue presentada en una mesa redonda sobre las nuevas estructuras internacionales que tuvo lugar en el Foro Futuro de los Derechos Humanos en Ginebra el 10 de diciembre de 2013, en el 65 º aniversario de la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos. El representante de la Campaña internacional para una Asamblea Parlamentaria de las Naciones Unidas, Andreas Bummel, presentó la propuesta y destacó que a diferencia de todos los principales órganos de la ONU, incluido el Consejo de Derechos Humanos
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| Panel sobre nuevas estructuras internacionales en el Foro Futuro de los Derechos Humanos |
| Imagen: CEUNPA |
un nuevo conjunto de este tipo estaría compuesto por representantes electos y no diplomáticos de carrera. Según el Sr. Bummel, una Asamblea Parlamentaria Mundial establecería su propio Comité de Derechos Humanos de la Asamblea Parlamentaria para supervisar el cumplimiento de los derechos humanos e investigar situaciones concretas. "La dinámica de un ser humano como comité de derechos parlamentario sería completamente diferente de lo que experimentamos en el Consejo de Derechos Humanos", espera el experto. Esta estructura independiente del gobierno complementaría los órganos existentes de la ONU y podría ayudar a" para impulsar los derechos humanos en todo el mundo".
Se señaló que el propósito general de la nueva asamblea sería la de dar voz a los" ciudadanos del mundo". "Por primera vez en la historia de la humanidad no habría un órgano político para representar a la humanidad en su conjunto", dijo el Sr. Bummel, haciendo hincapié en que la ONU es una organización de los Estados miembros.
El experto Independiente de la ONU sobre la democratización, Alfred de Zayas, que moderó el panel sobre las nuevas estructuras internacionales, dijo que la creación de una Asamblea Parlamentaria de las Naciones Unidas tiene como objetivo" empoderar a los ciudadanos del mundo y, al dar ellos la participación directa en las decisiones políticas que les afectan. La democracia vive de la consulta y la participación y la Asamblea Parlamentaria de las Naciones Unidas de manera significativa puede avanzar en este objetivo".
En el discurso de apertura de la conferencia Jan Martenson, ex Secretario de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos y ex Director General de la Oficina de las Naciones Unidas en Ginebra, destacó que la idea de una Asamblea Parlamentaria Mundial ya fue aprobada a finales del siglo 18 y, aunque ha sido una" papa caliente" por mucho tiempo, el tiempo para estas ideas había llegado.
El presidente de la conferencia John Pace, un ex alto funcionario de la Oficina del Alto Comisionado de la ONU para los Derechos Humanos y el organizador de la Conferencia Mundial de Derechos Humanos celebrada en Viena en 1993, señaló que la propuesta para una Asamblea Parlamentaria Mundial y su potencial para fortalecer los derechos humanos en todo el mundo merecen una seria consideración. El Presidente del Foro Futuro de los Derechos Humanos, Eric Sottas, subrayo que el foro va a profundizar en el tema.
Otros proyectos que se discuten en la conferencia a la que asistieron alrededor de 250 participantes incluyeron el establecimiento de una Corte Mundial de Derechos Humanos, la elaboración de una Carta Internacional de Derechos que abarcaría todos los tratados existentes desde la Declaración Universal, la erradicación de la iniciativa Ecocide, y el logro de un mundo sin tortura.
Proposal for a World Parliamentary Assembly presented at Future of Human Rights Forum
New Parliamentary Assembly would establish its own Human Rights Committee, monitor violations, propose remedies and offer advisory services and technical assistance, experts suggest
The proposal for a World Parliamentary Assembly was presented at a panel on new international structures held at the Future of Human Rights Forum in Geneva on 10 December 2013, the 65th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The representative of the international Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly, Andreas Bummel, who introduced the proposal, stressed that by contrast to all major UN bodies, including the Human Rights Council,
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| Panel on new international structures at the Future of Human Rights Forum |
| Image: CEUNPA |
such a new assembly would be composed of elected representatives and not career diplomats. According to Mr. Bummel, a World Parliamentary Assembly would set up its own parliamentary Human Rights Committee to monitor compliance with human rights and to inquire into specific situations. "The dynamics in such a parliamentary human rights committee would be completely different from what we experience at the Human Rights Council," the expert expects. This government-independent structure would complement existing UN bodies and could help "to boost human rights worldwide."
It was pointed out that the overall purpose of the new assembly would be to give a voice to "the world's citizens." "For the first time in human history there would be a political body to represent humanity as a whole," Mr. Bummel said, stressing that the UN was an organization of member states.
The UN's Independent Expert on democratization, Alfred de Zayas, who moderated the panel on new international structures, said that the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly is aimed "at empowering world citizens and at giving them direct participation in the political decisions that affect them. Democracy lives from consultation and participation and UN Parliamentary Assembly can meaningfully advance this goal."
In the opening speech of the conference Jan Martenson, former Under-Secretary of the United Nations for Human Rights and former Director-General at the UN Office in Geneva, stressed that the idea of a world parliament was already endorsed in the late 18th century and although it has been a "hot potato" for long, the time for such ideas had come.
The conference chair John Pace, a former high official at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and organizer of the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna in 1993, pointed out that the proposal for a World Parliamentary Assembly and its potential to strengthen human rights worldwide deserved serious consideration. The President of the Future of Human Rights Forum, Eric Sottas, stressed that the forum would pursue the subject further.
Other projects discussed at the conference which was attended by around 250 participants included the establishment of a World Court on Human Rights, the elaboration of an International Bill of Rights which would encompass all existing treaties since the universal declaration, the eradicating Ecocide initiative, and achieving a world without torture.
Website of the Future of Human Rights Forum
Presión al nuevo gobierno alemán para el desarrollo de un Parlamento en la ONU
La Asociación Alemana de las Naciones Unidas aprueba la resolución, apoyando las recomendaciones del Experto Independiente sobre Democratización de la ONU
Tras las elecciones federales alemanas, la prestigiosa Asociación Alemana de las Naciones Unidas urge al nuevo gobierno y parlamento para que desarrolle propuestas para el establecimiento de una Asamblea Parlamentaria de las Naciones Unidas. Una resolución aprobada por la asamblea general de la asociación expresa que una asamblea parlamentaria serviría para introducir “participación parlamentaria al nivel de las Naciones Unidas.”
La presidenta de UNA-Germany y parlamentaria retirada
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| Detlef Dzembritzki, apoyó la resolución |
| Imagen : DGVN |
Detlef Dzembritzki argumenta que un cuerpo parlamentario en la ONU es necesario para “mejorar el nivel de calidad democrática de la organización mundial.” El vicepresidente de la asociación y representante federal reelecto Jürgen Klimke enfatizó que, en su opinión, el Bundestag alemán tendria que encargarse de esta cuestión en la próxima legislatura y que sería posible trabajar con las fundaciones de una reunión que se llevó a cabo en junio. Ekkehard Griep, la otra vicepresidenta de UNA-Germany, expresó que el objectivo final es que el gobierno alemán y el Parlamento consideren seriamente la propuesta.
La resolución de UNA-Germany ratificó también dos recomendaciones llevadas a cabo este mismo año por el Experto Independiente para la Promoción de una Orden Internacional Democrática e Igualitaria, Alfred de Zayas. Éste recomendó que el Consejo de Derechos Humanos comisione un estudio sobre la posibilidad de una Asamblea Parlamentaria de la ONU y que la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas considere preparar una conferencia sobre este asunto.
La petición ha sido defendida por UNA-Germany des del 2005
La creación de una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU ya fue apoyada por UNA-Germany en las elecciones federales del 2005 y el 2009. En 2011 la asociación, juntamente con otras 40 ONGs alemanas y numerosas personalidades, envió una carta abierta al canciller alemán y al Ministro de Asuntos Exteriores que promovía una resolución del Parlamento Europeo que incluía una declaración a favor de una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU.
La Federación Mundial de Asociaciones de las Naciones Unidas, que incluye UNA-Germany, ratificó una resolución a favor the una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU en su Congreso Mundial en Buenos Aires el año 2006.
La asamblea general de UNA-Germany se celebró el 7 de diciembre de 2013. En una ceremonia el día anterior, la Medalla de Honor de Dag Hammarskjöld fue presentada a Benjamin Ferencz, antiguo fiscal general del Tribunal de Nuremberg, y a la Corte Penal Internacional, representada por el fiscal Fatou Bensouda.
Más información
14 de Junio 2013: El subcomité en las Naciones Unidas considera la Asamblea Parlamentaria de la ONU
Imagen superior: Ceremonia en el día antes a la Asamblea General. (UNA-Germany)
New German government urged to develop proposals for a UN Parliamentary Assembly
United Nations Association of Germany adopts resolution, supports recommendations of the UN's Independent Expert on Democratization
Following the German federal elections, the prestigious United Nations Association of Germany urged the new German government and the parliament to develop proposals for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. A resolution adopted by the association's general meeting in Frankfurt am Main states that a parliamentary assembly would serve the purpose of introducing "parliamentary participation and oversight at the level of the United Nations."
The chairperson of UNA-Germany and former parliamentarian
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| Detlef Dzembritzki, chair of UNA-Germany, supported the resolution |
| Bild: DGVN |
Detlef Dzembritzki said that a parliamentary body at the UN is required in order "to improve the democratic quality of the world organization." The association's vice-chair and re-elected federal representative Jürgen Klimke emphasized that in his opinion, the German Bundestag should deal with this question in the new legislative term and that it would be possible to build on a meeting that was already held in June. Ekkehard Griep, the other vice-chair of UNA-Germany, stressed that the point is that the German government and parliament make a serious assessment of the proposal.
The resolution of UNA-Germany at the same time endorsed two recommendations put forward earlier this year by the UN's Independent Expert on a Democratic and Equitable Order, Alfred de Zayas. He recommended that the Human Rights Council should commission a study on the question of a UN Parliamentary Assembly and that the UN General Assembly should consider convening a conference on the matter.
Request has been raised by UNA-Germany since 2005
The creation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly was already supported by UNA-Germany on the occasion of the German federal elections in 2005 and 2009. In 2011 the association joined around 40 other German non-governmental organizations and numerous personalities in sending a joint open letter to the German chancellor and foreign minister that endorsed a resolution of the European Parliament that included a call for a UN Parliamentary Assembly.
The international umbrella organization of UNA-Germany, the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), adopted a resolution in support of a UN Parliamentary Assembly at its World Congress in Buenos Aires in 2006.
The general meeting of UNA-Germany was held on 7 December 2013. At a ceremony the day before, the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal of Honor was awarded to the former chief prosecutor of the Nuremberg Tribunal Benjamin Ferencz and to the International Criminal Court which was represented by prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.
Read more
16 September 2013: UN expert recommends study on a UN Parliamentary Assembly, Egypt voices support
Top image: Ceremony on the day before the general meeting, by UNA-Germany
Political Platform of the Young European Federalists calls for a UN Parliamentary Assembly
JEF action for a Europe without borders in Brussels with Jo Leinen MEP who is also Co-Chair of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly
Over 160 young delegates from sections of the Young European Federalists (JEF) coming from all over Europe gathered in Paris on 1-3 November 2013 for the organization's XXII. European Congress.
Seven months ahead of the European elections, JEF adopted a renewed political platform stating the organization's demands for the future of Europe. In a section on "Federalism in Europe and the World," the new political platform includes support for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly:
A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly should also be established as a consultative body within the United Nations system as a voice of the citizens. A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) for the first time would give citizen representatives, not only states, a direct and influential role in global policy. The assembly would not replace existing UN bodies but would be an additional means to integrate parliamentarians more effectively into the shaping of globalization. As a transitional step until direct elections become practical, the UN Parliamentary Assembly could consist of delegates from national and possibly regional parliaments, reflecting their political diversity. The UNPA would therefore include members of minority parties whose opinions are often not represented in the United Nations.JEF is a pan-European network of young people established in 1972. The network now includes 31 official member sections and about 30,000 activists in over 35 countries. According to the organization's statutes, the goal of JEF is the creation of a democratic European federation as a crucial ingredient for peace, a guarantee for a more free, just and democratic society and a first step towards a world federation.
The congress in Paris re-elected Pauline Gessant as the organization's president.
JEF website
JEF online magazine "The New Federalist"
Now is the time: The European Union should support a UN Parliamentary Assembly
Last month, the UN's independent expert on democracy, Alfred de Zayas, told the organistion's General Assembly that the UN should convene an international conference to debate the establishment of a World Parliamentary Assembly. Now it's the time for the EU to take a stand and support the proposal, write Jo Leinen and Andreas Bummel.
Andreas Bummel (left) and Jo Leinen (right) at a meeting in Strasbourg in 2011
The European Union, it is said, is a value-based community. One of the core values of this unique supranational community is democracy. The EU cares about promoting freedom and democracy not only within its own borders, but worldwide. An important step was the establishment of the European Endowment for Democracy last year to supports pro-democracy efforts in transition countries. The problem is that in our time of unprecedented and increasing global interdependence democratization is no longer a matter that can be limited to the level of the nation-state. Decision-making in global forums and institutions has a strong impact on national policies in all sorts of areas but it is still in the exclusive purview of government executives. This undermines the influence and weight of parliaments everywhere and negates important democratic principles such as checks and balances.
The EU's own experience shows that growing interdependence and cooperation makes it necessary to develop democracy beyond the level of the nation-state. Although it is always stressed that there is no global integration process that could be compared to what has been done in Europe, the reality looks otherwise. The simple example of the financial system shows that global integration already exists. It is true, however, that the process of globalization is incomplete and hardly under any meaningful political control. There is a widespread denial to acknowledge this and to aspire the obvious, namely to renovate global political institutions so they are actually able to address the issues of our global civilization. In many political areas of vital importance such as climate change mitigation, disarmament, eradication of poverty, financial governance, or world trade, it is obvious that the existing international institutions achieve too little, too slowly.
Despite its vast treasure of experience and its support of democracy, the EU so far has not stood out with regard to the democratization of the United Nations. One suggestion that has been put forward by the European Parliament again and again since 1994 is the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, UNPA. Most recently on 8 June 2011, the European Parliament passed the recommendation to the EU Council "to advocate the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly within the UN system in order to increase the democratic nature, the democratic accountability and the transparency of global governance and to allow for greater public participation in the activities of the UN." Five months later, responding to a formal parliamentary question, the EU Council noted that it was aware of the recommendation but that it does not have a position on the matter. As far as we can tell, until now it still has no position. What is more, the Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, did not follow up on the matter and neither has the EU Council's President Herman Van Rompuy. At the very least, the European Parliament's proposal should have been mentioned in one of the speeches at the United Nations, now that the EU has a special status at the General Assembly.
A UNPA could begin modestly as a largely consultative body attached to the UN, composed of national or optionally of directly elected parliamentarians. As the European Parliament's President Martin Schulz pointed out recently on the occasion of the 5th International Meeting on a UNPA in the European Parliament, 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, even if the development is still ongoing."
Just as the European Parliament was decisive in pushing European integration and democratization ahead, a UNPA could be instrumental to finally bring about real reforms at the UN and to "achieve democratic control of globalization," as former UN Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali said. The prospect of achieving a breakthrough in UN reform in particular should make this project interesting to many governments once they look into it seriously. In fact, the UN's Independent Expert on democratization, Alfred de Zayas, has now recommended to the UN to take steps to study the UNPA proposal, either at an international conference or through the Advisory Committee of the UN's Human Rights Council. Speaking at the UN Mr. de Zayas stated that "if the United Nations General Assembly is to be revitalized and strengthened, it also needs to be made more democratic and representative. Complementing the General Assembly with a parliamentary body could be a key to achieving other reforms to the United Nations system."
This is the moment for the European Union and its governments to wake up and to seize the initiative. With the necessary political will it is possible to overcome the key challenges that are connected with such a complex endeavor like the creation of a global parliamentary body. The democratic countries need to assume the responsibility that the project goes into the right direction. It would be highly deplorable and against the expressed wish of the European Parliament, if the EU would continue to remain inactive.
Jo Leinen is a member of the European Parliament and co-chair of the advisory group of the campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. Andreas Bummel is the campaign's secretary-general. They are working on a book discussing the creation of a world parliament. This opinion piece was originally published on 6 November 2013 by EurActiv.com.
El ministro de Exteriores maltés llama al apoyo de una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU
Declaración en una cumbre de ministros exteriores
El ministro de Exteriores maltés, George Vella, expresa en la cumbre de la Commonwealth en Sri Lanka la necesidad de considerar el apoyo al establecimiento de
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| El ministro de Exteriores maltés George Vella |
| Imagen: Parlamento de Malta |
una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU.
Según el diario Malta Today, el ministro Vella hizo una declaración sobre este asunto durante una reunión de los ministros de Exteriores de la Commonwealth, argumentando que “uno de los pilares de la democracia es la representación directa en los cuerpos legislativos."
Remarcando el hecho de que la Commonwealth incluye 54 países, Vella dijo, según Malta Today, que estos países “podrían influenciar la ONU y conseguir una asamblea que reforzaría la representación democrática y la diplomacia parlamentaria."
La Cumbre de Jefes de Estado de la Commonwealth se celebró del 10 al 17 de Noviembre de 2013. Hasta 3500 delegados de los países miembros asistieron a la cumbre. Los jefes de gobierno de la Commonwealth acordaron unánimemente que la siguiente Cumbre se celebre en Malta el 2015.
En una declaración publicada el 4 de Julio de este año, Vella dijo que apoya la “creación de una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU, pues creo firmemente en la democracia parlamentaria, y creo que una Asamblea de este tipo será una materialización del concepto de la gobernación representativa y la personificación de lo que nos referimos cuando hablamos del refuerzo democrático de los representantes votados.”
La Campaña para el Establecimiento de una Asamblea Parlamentaria en las Naciones Unidas es apoyada por alrededor de 800 parlamentarios y personalidades de más de 100 países. El Ministro Vella es el primer ministro de Exteriores en activo que llama a la creación de la Asamblea. En un informe presentado a la Asamblea General de la ONU el mes pasado, el experto en democracia de la Organización, Alfred de Zayas, recomendó a los estados miembros que considerasen convocar una conferencia internacional para estudiar el asunto.
Imagen superior: Ceremonia de apertura de la Cumbre de Jefes de Estado de la Commonwealth
Maltese foreign minister calls on Commonwealth to support a UN Parliamentary Assembly
Statement at a meeting of Commonwealth foreign ministers
At the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka, the foreign minister of Malta, George Vella, urged the governments of the Commonwealth member states and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to consider backing the campaign for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly.
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| Maltese foreign minister George Vella |
| Image: Parliament of Malta |
According to a report of Malta Today, foreign minister Vella made a statement to this regard during a meeting for Commonwealth foreign ministers and argued that "one of democracy's pillars is direct representation in decision making bodies."
Underlining the fact that the Commonwealth includes 54 nations, Vella said according to Malta Today that these countries "could influence the 194-member UN and push through the establishment of an assembly which would strengthen representation and parliamentary diplomacy."
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting CHOGM in Sri Lanka was held from 10-17 November 2013. Up to 3,500 delegates from the Commonwealth member states attended. The Commonwealth heads of government unanimously agreed for Malta to host the 2015 meeting.
In a statement released on 4 July this year, Mr. Vella said that he agrees with "the setting up of a Parliamentary Assembly for the United Nations, as I am a firm believer in parliamentary democracy, and believe that such an assembly will be the embodiment of the whole concept of representative governance and the epitome of what we mean by democratic empowerment of elected representatives."
The Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly is supported by around 800 members of parliament and numerous distinguished personalities from over 100 countries. Mr. Vella is the first sitting foreign minister in recent times to call for the creation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly. In a report presented to the UN General Assembly last month, the UN's expert on democracy, Alfred de Zayas, recommended to the UN member states to consider convening an international conference to study the issue.
Top image: Opening ceremony of CHOMG 2013 in Sri Lanka, by Taskforce Secretariat for CHOGM 2013
Global Week of Action: New citizens movement for a World Parliament takes first step
With the Global Week of Action for a World Parliament that was held for the first time this year from 17-24 October, a new citizens movement has started to emerge that supports the creation of a directly elected global assembly. The week's announcement that was hammered out by an ad-hoc international group of activists noted that despite critical global problems, the world's citizens are left out of global decision-making. "For global matters that affect each and every person on the planet, there exists no elected world parliament," the statement noted. The week of action's slogan was "Let the People Decide - World Parliament Now!"
Collection of pictures taken during the week of action around the world
During the week of action, panel discussions and workshops on the issue of a world parliament were organized in Barcelona, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Forlì in Italy and in London.
Group pictures with banners and signs in support of the week of action were sent from Buenos Aires (Argentina), Sydney (Australia), Brussels (Belgium), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Vancouver and Winnipeg (Canada), Strasbourg (France), Berlin and Münster (Germany), Rajkot (India), Utrecht (Netherlands), El Ma'asara (Palestine), San Lorenzo (Paraguay), Gothenburg (Sweden), Bangkok (Thailand), Kampala (Uganda) as well as from Washington D.C. and New York (USA).
Italy stood out as the country with by far the most activities. Here people came together in Bologna, Chioggia, Florence, Genova, La Spezia, Novara, Pescara, Rome, Salsomaggiore, and Verona to hold banners calling for a "World Parliament Now!"
In Palestine, demonstrators marched through the town of El Ma'asara until they were stopped by police forces. Further activities included information stands in Aachen (Germany) or Gothenburg (Sweden). Individual pictures from around the world were posted on Facebook.
Public action in Genova, Italy
The 5th International Meeting on a UN Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels that was attended by around seventy participants from some 30 countries served as a kick-off event (see our report). It was covered by IPS and EurActiv. In Italy, Spain and Sweden, there was also local press coverage.
Joan Marc Simon, who is a member of the group in Barcelona from where the idea of the week of action originated, said in an interview with us that "the action went very well." He stressed that "it was the first time that something like this has ever been organized on a global scale."
Petter Ölmunger who organized the event in Gothenburg, Sweden, stated that "it felt great to be part of this first ever week of action and to see that around the world, in places like Kampala, São Paulo and Dehli, there are people who, just like me, want to have a world parliament now."
According to Vivian Davidson, organizer of the event in Vancouver, Canada, "we came together to raise awareness for the dire need to find solutions to problems which are now global in scope yet haven't been addressed by today's present nation-state system."
At a conference call on Sunday, it was unanimously agreed to carry out a second Global Week of Action for a World Parliament next year from 17-26 October 2014. "We are once again on planning mode to organize a similar event next year. The time to create a world parliament is long overdue," Vivian Davidson stated.
The week of action is promoted by the international Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. The campaign's Secretary-General Andreas Bummel said that "the week of action is an excellent way to instigate public discussion on the proposal of a world parliament and to make it clear that there is popular support for this. This will help to create the necessary political will to actually democratize global governance through a citizen-elected assembly. It's only beginning and no doubt it will gain more and more momentum."