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.
La Table ronde parlementaire sur la désertification soutient une UNPA
Une conférence réunissant 65 législateurs internationaux adopte la déclaration
La Table ronde parlementaire sur la désertification, organisée à Windhoek, en Namibie, les 20 et 21 septembre 2013, a émis une déclaration sur « le rôle des parlementaires dans les efforts visant à lutter contre la désertification, la dégradation des sols et la sécheresse » et sur « les contributions parlementaires à la création d'un monde sans effet sur la dégradation des sols dans le contexte
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| Logo de la conférence CP 11 de la CLD à Windhoek |
| Image: UNCCD |
du programme de développement pour l'après-2015 ». Selon les vingt recommandations finales, les législateurs doivent « promouvoir la création d'une Assemblée parlementaire auprès des Nations Unies ». Ce document déclare également que « des mécanismes de contrôle parlementaire, par exemple du Fonds pour l'environnement mondial, des banques de développement régionales, du Fonds vert pour le climat » devraient être créés.
La 10e table ronde des parlementaires a été organisée parallèlement au déroulement de la 11e session de la Conférence des parties à la Convention des Nations Unies sur la lutte contre la désertification, la CLD. Organisée conjointement par le Parlement national de Namibie et le secrétariat de la CLD, cette table ronde a réuni 65 parlementaires originaires de 18 pays. Cette déclaration sera présentée lors de la dernière session plénière de la Conférence des parties, CP 11, qui se termine vendredi 27 septembre.
Le manuel des Nations Unies sur le rôle des parlementaires dans la mise en œuvre de la Convention des Nations Unies sur la lutte contre la désertification publié fin juillet suggère que les parlementaires impliqués dans ce processus « pourraient jouer un rôle décisif » dans la création d'une Assemblée parlementaire auprès de l'ONU.
Selon une déclaration adoptée en novembre 2009 par la Table ronde parlementaire de la CLD, « une Assemblée parlementaire auprès de l'ONU pourrait renforcer l'efficacité, la transparence, la représentativité, la pluralité et la légitimité du travail effectué par les institutions composant le système onusien. La création d'une APNU pourrait également constituer l'axe central du contrôle parlementaire sur le nouveau système de gouvernance financière et économique internationale ».
Pour en savoir plus
Image du haut : gestion de la désertification à Tinfou au Maroc en 2011, par Richard Allaway, CC BY 2.0
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
L'expert de l'ONU recommande une étude sur l'APNU, l'Égypte exprime son soutien
L'expert indépendant des Nations Unies pour un ordre international démocratique et équitable présente son rapport d'activité à Genève
Alfred de Zayas, l'expert indépendant des Nations Unies « pour la promotion d'un ordre international démocratique et équitable », recommande au Conseil des droits humains de réaliser une étude sur la manière dont une Assemblée parlementaire mondiale « pourrait faire progresser la participation véritable ». Selon M. de Zayas, cette étude devrait être confiée au Comité consultatif du Conseil.
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| Alfred de Zayas, expert indépendant de l'ONU |
M. de Zayas a fait cette recommandation le 10 septembre dernier, à Genève, alors qu'il présentait son rapport d'activité en tant qu'expert indépendant, dans le cadre de la 24e session du Conseil des droits humains. Dans sa déclaration , l'ancien fonctionnaire onusien et juriste a noté que « la participation aux prises de décision internationales est toujours loin d'être égale ou même équitable. En effet, le Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies n'est pas démocratique, tout comme les institutions de Bretton Woods ».
Selon M. de Zayas, un organe parlementaire mondial permettant à la société civile de s'exprimer aux Nations Unies au moyen d'une représentation plus directe est « une initiative prometteuse qui mérite d'être explorée dans les prochains rapports ». Dans son rapport, il examine cette proposition en détail et déclare que l'idée d'une assemblée parlementaire mondiale permettrait « de remédier aux déficits démocratiques en donnant à l'opinion publique internationale la possibilité de se faire entendre et faisant participer les citoyens aux prises de décision mondiales par l'intermédiaire d'élus ». Il a conclu en déclarant que les décisions internationales jouiraient d'une plus grande légitimité en bénéficiant de la contribution et de la participation des citoyens, si l'Assemblée générale représentait la population aussi bien que les États de la planète.
L'Égypte considère « favorablement » le projet d'Assemblée parlementaire auprès de l'ONU
Au cours du débat, le représentant de l'Égypte a souligné que son pays voit « favorablement la référence faite au projet d'Assemblée parlementaire auprès de l'ONU en tant qu'instrument permettant de faire participer l'opinion publique internationale au processus mondial de prise de décision ». Il a déclaré que l'Égypte a fait bon accueil « aux conclusion importantes figurant dans le rapport de l'expert indépendant au sujet des bonnes pratiques visant à améliorer et à promouvoir un ordre international démocratique et équitable ».
La Campagne pour la création d'une APNU, un réseau international de législateurs, de représentants de la société civile et d'experts, a d'abord réagi en déclarant qu'une étude réalisée par le Comité consultatif du Conseil des droits humains au sujet d'une Assemblée parlementaire auprès de l'ONU constituerait une grande avancée. « Cela serait la première fois qu'un organe onusien considère véritablement cette question de manière détaillée. Nous ne pouvons qu'applaudir chaleureusement cette suggestion », a déclaré Andreas Bummel, le Secrétaire général de la Campagne, avant d'ajouter : « Nous exhortons les membres du Conseil des droits humains à suivre la recommandation de son expert indépendant ».
Pour en savoir plus
17 mai 2013 : La nouvelle assemblée citoyenne mondiale devra figurer sur l'agenda de l'après 2015
3 novembre 2012 : l'expert indépendant de l'ONU va examiner les propositions de création d'une APNU
Image du haut : 24e session du Conseil des droits humains, photo de l'ONU, CC BY-NC-ND 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.
Read more
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.