Just as every town has an elected city council or just as every democratic nation has a parliament, a UN Parliamentary Assembly that reflects the diversity of the world’s citizens and cultures needs to be established at the global level. Such a global parliament would allow for global issues to be dealt with in a democratic and legitimate way.

Youssou N'Dour, Singer, musician, and Minister of Tourism, Senegal, 2013

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.

Vasso Papandreou, Former Minister of Energy, Interior, Public Works and Environment, Greece and Member of the European Commission, 2013

The creation of a consultative Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations would strengthen the legitimacy of the UN and make it breathe some air of democracy. Just like what happens in the Council of Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly could function as the UN's democratic conscience and as an engine for change.

Liliane Maury Pasquier, Member of the Swiss Parliament (Council of States), Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, 2013

The UN system as it exists today does not reflect the changing dynamics of the new world order. Minority communities and opinions continue to be neglected. It is essential that a United Nations Parliamentary Asembly comes into place which reflects the vast diversity of this globe. This could result in better collaboration between governments and addresses current concerns like war, poverty, terrorism, drug trafficing etc. in a better manner.

Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, Minister of Textiles in the Union Government of India, 2013

A UN Parliamentary Assembly would increase the likelihood that the powerless can come together and publicly criticize oppression, racism, slavery, environmental damage, poverty and most of all a lack of education and participation. It would enable them to blow the whistle and make governments and international institutions more accountable.

Hanno Schedler, Asia/Africa Department of the Society for Threatened Peoples, 2013

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. We are delighted that the example of the European Parliament is inspiring and encouraging the efforts for democratizing the UN system and global governance.

Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, 2013

A democratic world parliament could strengthen the voice of our world's women who are often marginalized in the forums of male-dominated national governments. A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly would be a decisive step in this direction.

Gudrun Schyman, Co-founder of the Feminist Initiative of Sweden and former Member of Parliament, 2013

[Je suis d'accord avec] la création d'une Assemblée parlementaire pour les Nations Unies, car je crois fermement à la démocratie parlementaire et je crois qu'une telle assemblée sera l'incarnation de tout le concept de gouvernance représentative et l'incarnation de ce que nous voulons dire par conférer un pouvoir démocratique aux représentants élus. 

George Vella, Ministre des Affaires étrangères de Malte, 2013

Ensuring the well-being of the people of the world and the capacity of our planet to sustain life requires a level of global cooperation never seen before. There will be times when national interests and global interests collide. A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly could act as an arbiter and ensure that the voice of the world's citizens carries weight.

Graham Watson, Member of the European Parliament and President of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, UK, 2013

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.

Johan Galtung, Norwegian sociologist and mathematician, principal founder of the discipline of peace and conflict studies, 2013