Presentation of the UNPA Campaign in Barcelona

On March 5 the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly was officially re-launched in Spain. The campaign and its goals were presented in Pati Llimona in Barcelona where the room was filled with intellectuals, politicians and citizens interested to learn more. The campaign's secretariat in Spain is hosted by the organisation WDGpa (World Democratic Governance project association) which was created one year ago (New association to push for Spain’s support of a UN Parliamentary Assembly).

Fernando Iglesias, President of the World Federalist Movement's Council and a promoter of the UNPA campaign particularly in Latin-America, was the keynote speaker. He was accompanied on the panel by Joan Marc Simon (coordinator of the UNPA Campaign in Spain), Carme Valls (Secretary General of WDGpa) and Salvador Milà (member of the Catalan Parliament and member of WDGpa).

For more information about the UNPA Campaign in Spain please visit:
unpa.apgdm.org

Manifiesto resalta conexión de sustentabibilidad y democracia "en todos los niveles"

El manifiesto popular emprende una agenda global para las acciones y apoya la creación de una Asamblea Parlamentaria de las Naciones Unidas (UNPA, por sus siglas en inglés)

Con el apoyo de un grupo diverso de firmantes iniciales de veinticinco países, hoy se publicó el Manifiesto para la Democracia y la Sustentabilidad. De acuerdo al documento, las actividades humanas han excedido los límites naturales de la tierra, pero la democracia "no está garantizando la sustentabilidad". Los autores han identificado las áreas donde la democracia necesita cambiar de manera urgente para poder ofrecer un entorno sano y justicia para todo el mundo al mismo tiempo. El documento intenta "liderar un movimiento global para un cambio" que ayude a

Participantes en un taller de asesoramiento en el Seminario Mundial de Salzburgo, en diciembre de 2012

Imagen: Rob Fish/SGS

“transformar la democracia con el fin de convertirla en un motor para la sustentabilidad”.

“La democracia y la sustentabilidad son los dos elementos vitales que les transmitiremos a las generaciones futuras, sin embargo, su interdependencia esencial ha sido descuidada", expresó John Lotherington, Presidente de la Fundación por la Democracia y el Desarrollo Sustentable (FDSD, por sus siglas en inglés), organización detrás del proceso internacional que creó el Manifiesto.

Entre otras cosas, el manifiesto enfatiza que "se deberían considerar los intereses de todas las personas afectadas por las decisiones públicas. Los que toman las decisiones en todos los niveles también deberían rendir cuentas a todas las personas afectadas. En consecuencia, continúa,"la dimensión y los efectos de los desafíos de sustentabilidad suelen requerir que la democracia expanda sus fronteras nacionales. La base para el compromiso en la toma de decisiones debería realizarse en una democracia a nivel internacional, y no en el propio interés de los gobiernos individuales ni en el de los grupos gubernamentales. Uno de los compromisos incluidos en el documento promete solemnemente la "creación de una Asamblea Parlamentaria de las Naciones Unidas (UNPA, por sus siglas en inglés) como el primer paso hacia un sistema de democracia global".

El Secretario General de la Campaña para una Asamblea Parlamentaria de las Naciones Unidas, Andreas Bummel, uno de los "fundadores firmantes" del manifiesto explica que "la clave para lograr una sociedad mundial sustentable que respete los límites naturales de la Tierra no es una menor, sino una mayor democracia. Esto es cierto especialmente en lo que respecta al nivel global, donde la democracia todavía es prácticamente inexistente. Es una característica sobresaliente de este manifiesto la que solicita el fortalecimiento en la toma de decisiones, participación y representación democráticas en todos los niveles gubernamentales por igual".

Abrir el video del manifiesto

Sharan Burrow, otro firmante inicial y Secretario General de la Confederación Sindical Internacional, estableció que "todos somos parte de un movimiento global democrático por el cambio. Esta es una iniciativa importante”.

El manifiesto es el corazón de una nueva plataforma en línea que invita al público a compartir ideas y acciones en torno a los temas de la democracia y de la sustentabilidad. Entre los miembros fundadores se encuentran políticos, expertos, educadores y activistas, actuales y anteriores, así como personas, redes y alianzas nacionales e internacionales interesados en participar.

Lea y apruebe el manifiesto aquí

Imagen superior: El logo de la iniciativa de FDSD

Manifesto highlights connection of sustainability and democracy "at all levels"

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

Participants of a consultation workshop at the Salzburg Global Seminar in December 2012

Image: Rob Fish/SGS

“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

Human Development Report 2013 includes feature on the proposal of a world parliament

This year's Human Development Report 2013 titled "Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World" that was presented to the public yesterday includes a feature article contributed by the Member of the European Parliament from Germany, Jo Leinen, who is also Co-Chair of the Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. As flagship publication of the United Nations Development Program, the report is highly respected and receives strong international attention.

"At a time when intergovernmental decision-making has shown its limits, the quest for equity and sustainability and the urgency of addressing defining challenges for our planet require the engagement of the global citizenship, " Mr Leinen argues in the article published on page 112 (PDF here).

He explains that a world parliament would "complement the United Nations General Assembly" and would be "composed of delegates from national parliaments, representing multiple political parties from each country." Countering one of the standard arguments that refers to the existence of countries with doubtable democratic character, Mr Leinen goes on to note that "since the great majority of national parliaments are democratically elected, such a body would have a high level of representativeness and political accountability." Furthermore, Mr Leinen points out that

The deliberations would possess a high moral and political authority, although the final decisionmaking power would remain with national governments. The composition of each national delegation could be determined either by national parliaments or through special elections allowing citizens to choose representatives for the world parliament. Delegation size would be proportional to a country’s population, an approach considerably different from international bodies where voting quotas are based on monetary contributions.

It is not the first time that the UNDP's Human Development Report elaborated on the subject. In 1999 already, for example, the report argued that:

With the new challenges of globalization, and the need to ensure stronger action on old problems and new, the time has come to rethink the global architecture. Some of the key elements of an improved international architecture: ...  A broader United Nations, including a two-chamber General Assembly to allow for civil society representation.

Resolution of the East African Legislative Assembly

As reported, the East African Legislative Assembly, the parliamentary body of the East African Community, adopted a resolution in support of the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly on 29 January 2013. In a subsequent statement, the assembly's speaker, Margaret Zziwa from Uganda, said that 

The fact that there still is no parliamentary body at the UN more and more interferes with the world organization's democratic legitimacy. A UN Parliamentary Assembly would strengthen the democratic nature of the UN and bring it closer to the citizens. That's one of the reasons why the East African Legislative Assembly supports its establishment.

In the meantime, the full text of the resolution as adopted by EALA has been released.

According to the resolution, EALA believes that a "United Nations Parliamentary Assembly would improve the transparency, accountability and the effectiveness of the United Nations." Among other things, it is stressed 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."

This is an important point as amending the UN's Charter is a very difficult process and only happened five times so far since 1945. Not only would the five permanent members of the UN Security Council have to agree, any change would also have to be ratified by two thirds of the UN member states.

Finally, EALA "urges the Partner States of the East African Community to take the initiative to promote the development of a common African position in support of the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly."

We are very curious about how the EAC governments will respond to this call.

Here's the official document.

Legisladores del África Oriental apoyan una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU

Gobiernos de la CAO instan a promover una posición africana colectiva

En una sesión realizada en Bujumbura, Burundi el día martes, la Asamblea Legislativa del África Oriental adoptó una resolución en la que apoya la creación de una Asamblea Parlamentaria en las Naciones Unidas. En el documento, que fue presentado por el diputado ugandés Mike Sebalu, el organismo parlamentario de la

El diputado Mike Sebalu propuso la resolución adoptada por la asamblea en Bujumbura, Burundi

Imagen: Asamblea Legislativa del África Oriental (EALA)

Comunidad del África Oriental (CAO) insta a los cinco Estados miembros de la organización: Burundi, Kenia, Ruanda, Tanzania y Uganda, "a tomar la iniciativa de promover el desarrollo de una posición colectiva de África en apoyo al establecimiento de una Asamblea Parlamentaria en las Naciones Unidas".

La resolución destaca el creciente papel y participación de organizaciones internacionales como las Naciones Unidas y de sus organismos especializados en sectores clave como la promoción de la paz y la seguridad, el desarrollo económico, de la salud, la educación, el medio ambiente y el desarrollo sustentable. Señala, sin embargo, que no existe un organismo parlamentario oficial en la ONU que les permita a los parlamentarios poder participar en sus deliberaciones. Según el Sr. Sebalu, la insuficiente participación oficial de los representantes electos limita la legitimidad democrática de la organización mundial. De acuerdo a la resolución, la formación de una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU sería una herramienta para "mejorar la transparencia, la rendición de cuentas y la eficacia de las Naciones Unidas".

Con la aprobación de la resolución, la Asamblea Legislativa del África Oriental (EALA, por sus siglas en inglés) se une a una serie de parlamentos regionales y continentales que han expresado su apoyo a la creación de una Asamblea Parlamentaria en las Naciones Unidas. En particular, una resolución similar fue aprobada por el Parlamento Panafricano el 24 de octubre de 2007. Como primera reacción, el Secretario General de la Campaña Internacional para el establecimiento de una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU, Andreas Bummel, afirmó que la resolución de EALA constituye "un paso importante en los esfuerzos internacionales para lograr la democratización de las Naciones Unidas".

La resolución señala que podría establecerse una Asamblea Parlamentaria en la ONU simplemente con el voto de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas, en conformidad con el artículo 22 de la Carta de las Naciones Unidas, sin necesidad de realizar una reforma en la Carta de las Naciones Unidas.

La Asamblea Legislativa del África Oriental (EALA) se estableció en el año 2001. La componen nueve representantes de cada Estado miembro de la CAO, elegidos por los parlamentos nacionales. Desde junio de 2012, la asamblea es presidida por Margaret Zziwa de Ugana. El tratado de la Comunidad del África Oriental (CAO) dispone que los Estados socios deben otorgar especial importancia a la cooperación con las Naciones Unidas, con sus organismos, y con otras organizaciones internacionales.

Sitio web de EALA

Imagen superior: Banderas de la CAO y de sus Estados miembros. Foto: Comunidad del África Oriental (CAO)

East African legislators support the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly

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

Lawmaker Mike Sebalu moved the resolution adopted by the assembly in Bujumbura, Burundi

Image: EALA

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

Protesting for "real democracy" in Israel and the world, Israeli citizens cede their vote to Palestinians

Ahead of the upcoming elections in Israel on 22 January 2013, Israeli and Palestinian peace activists have called on Israeli citizens to cast their vote according to instructions taken by Palestinian counterparts. Making use of a Facebook page established for the purpose, numerous pairs of Israeli and Palestine citizens have already agreed on such an arrangement.

A statement published on the Facebook page declares that 

We are Palestinians and Israelis who refuse to participate in the illusion of democracy anymore. In the upcoming Israeli elections we, citizens of Palestine, will exercise our civic right to vote. We, Israeli citizens, will give up our own votes and instead vote as our Palestinian counterparts tell us to.

According to the statement, the campaigners believe that the principle of democratic equality requires that "either the Israeli occupation stops, or  all Palestinians must be allowed to vote in the Israeli elections." "To leave Palestinians subjects of a state in which they are not full citizens, is in contradicion with the basic principles of democracy."

The campaign's statement also declares that "without equality between citizens, the UN and other global institutions cannot be democratic."

In addition to "getting rid" of the veto power of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council as "one of the most important steps" to make the UN more democratic, the campaigners thus are convinced that

No less important is giving citizens, not just governments, a voice in the UN system. A specific proposal that has been gaining considerable support in recent years is the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. Such a UNPA, an embryo for a UN parliament and modelled after the European Parliament, would allow representation even for those citizens that have no recognized government, like the Palestinians. A UNPA will also give a voice not just to the majority but also to minorities within Israel - minorities that are not represented by the Israeli government but by opposition parties.

For more information, visit the campaign's Facebook page.

Final resolution of the 13th International Conference of Chief Justices

A few days ago we reported on the International Conference of Chief Justices of the World that was organized for the 13th time by City Montessori School in Lucknow, India.

At the closing session of the conference, the participating chief justices and judges unanimously passed a final resolution. This resolution states, among other things, that the participants are...

of the view that the present world scenario requires a democratic global governance structure and enforceable world law, for which the world urgently requires a World Parliament

and that they...

urge all the Heads of State and heads of government of the world, as representatives of the people of their respective countries, to urgently meet to form such a democratic World Parliament in a time-bound manner, on a pattern based on the European Parliament of 27 European nations and the Euro currency of 16 countries.

The full resolution can be downloaded here as a PDF file.

"Cumbre Mundial Judicial" en Lucknow afirma convocatoria para un Parlamento Mundial

Jueces y expertos legales de más de 60 países deliberaron sobre una gobernanza global más democrática y más eficaz

El establecimiento de un parlamento mundial fue el tema principal aprobado en la 13ª "Conferencia Internacional de Presidentes de Cortes Supremas del Mundo" que fue convocada por la City Montessori School en Lucknow, India, este fin de semana. En la reunión, los presidentes de las cortes supremas, jueces y expertos legales de más de 60 países deliberaron sobre la necesidad de fortalecer

Los alumnos dieron una calurosa bienvenida a los participantes de la conferencia que llegaron el miércoles

Imagen: CMS

el derecho internacional con el fin de afrontar los retos de los problemas globales, como el cambio climático.

En la apertura, el presidente de la corte suprema Benjamin Odoki de Uganda declaró que "es necesario tomar medidas para constituir un sistema mundial judicial y un parlamento mundial. Nadie está por encima de la ley, el derecho internacional debe tener una estricta aplicación y ejecución". El orador de la Asamblea de Uttar Pradesh, Mata Prasad Pandey, hizo hincapié en que el parlamento mundial fue "la necesidad del momento".

Según el organizador de la conferencia, Jagdish Gandhi, los magistrados presidentes que se reunieron en Lucknow consensuaron "que a pesar de que las culturas y las tradiciones de los distintos países son muy diferentes, aún prevalece una unidad subyacente ya que todos somos miembros de una misma familia humana. Por lo tanto, necesitamos una ley internacional que pueda cumplirse para mantenernos unidos y prevenir las guerras. Sólo cuando las leyes del mundo sean uniformes y aplicables a todos los países por igual, podremos tener la esperanza de una sociedad mundial pacífica y feliz". El Dr. Gandhi agregó que los jueces participantes están convencidos de que esta misión "sólo puede lograrse mediante el establecimiento de un Parlamento Mundial con representantes de todos los países".

El tema de un parlamento mundial fue abordado en muchas intervenciones. El Primer Presidente de la Corte Suprema de Turquía, Ali Alkan, por ejemplo, declaró que "un parlamento mundial elegido democráticamente, algunas enmiendas en la Carta de la ONU como la exclusión de los poderes de veto y un sistema legal exigible, son los caminos que nos pueden ayudar a proteger el futuro de los niños y de las generaciones venideras a nivel mundial".

En la conferencia anterior del año pasado, se aprobó una resolución final por unanimidad que incluía la recomendación de que "para la promulgación de una ley mundial", "debería construirse un Parlamento Mundial".

Con más de 44.000 alumnos, City Montessori School es reconocida como titular del récord Guinness por ser la escuela más grande del mundo. La institución se "autoproclama guardiana de dos mil millones de niños del mundo y de las generaciones futuras".

La conferencia en Lucknow fue cubierta por el Deccan Herald, The Indian Express, The Pioneer, y otros periódicos de la India.

Sitio web de la Conferencia

Informes anteriores

09 de febrero de 2010: Presidentes de Cortes Supremas de Global South convocan a un parlamento mundial

Imagen superior: Plenario de la Cumbre Mundial Judicial 2012. Foto: City Montessori School