History & Milestones

The Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly, launched in 2007, can build on a long tradition of support and activism. The proposal for the creation of a UNPA is as old as the UN itself. The idea of a political body elected by the world's citizens can be traced back to the days of the French revolution in the 18th century. Here's a brief overview of important milestones.

Latest developments

2023

According to a survey in G7 and BRICS countries, overall 62% of respondents support the creation of a UN Parliamentary Network while only 17% opposed
A UNPA is supported by the Interim's People's Pact drafted by civil society's Global Futures Forum
2022

The foreign minister of Malaysia, Saifuddin bin Abdullah, supports the creation of a UNPA
A joint statement of over 120 lawmakers from over 40 countries endorses the "We The Peoples" campaign and a UNPA
2021

A joint statement of over 100 civil society organizations supports a UNPA, launching the "We The Peoples" campaign for inclusive global governance
The United Nations publishes its UN75 report with a reference to UNPA as a way to make the UN more inclusive
2020

A UNPA is supported by civil society's UN75 People's Declaration
2018

The European Parliament calls on the EU's governments to support a UNPA
2017

The support of the international campaign has grown to over 1,500 current and former members of parliament
The European Parliament calls for a UN debate on a UNPA
2016

The Pan-African Parliament calls on the African Union to support the establishment of a UNPA
2015

The Commission on Global Security, Justice & Governance endorses a UN Parliamentary Network
The government of Catalonia, Spain, endorses a UNPA
2013

The support of the international campaign has grown to over 1,200 current and former members of parliament
At a Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka, the Foreign Minister of Malta endorses a UNPA
The Fifth International Meeting on a UNPA comes together at the European Parliament in Brussels
The first Global Week of Action for a World Parliament is launched
The UN's Independent Expert for the Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order endorses a UNPA
The East African Legislative Assembly endorses a UNPA
2012

The third Green World Congress reiterates the Green's support for a UNPA in Dakar
2011

The Parliament of Mercosur endorses a UNPA
In a resolution on the EU's UN policy, the European Parliament endorses a UNPA
2010

The Fourth International Meeting on a UNPA comes together in premises of the Senate of Argentina in Buenos Aires
The National Assembly of the Seychelles endorses a UNPA

Before 2010

2009

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe supports a UNPA
The Third International Meeting on a UNPA gathers in New York
The Argentinian Chamber of Deputies endorses a UNPA
The campaign issues a "Call for global democratic oversight of international financial and economic institutions"
The support of the international campaign has grown to 600 current and former members of parliament
2008

The Second International Meeting on a UNPA meets at the European Parliament in Brussels
The Senate of Argentina supports a UNPA
The Latin-American Parliament endorses a UNPA
In an official report, the government of Switzerland expresses a supportive view
2008

The first Green World Congress in Sao Paulo supports a UNPA
The First International Meeting on a UNPA comes together in Geneva under the patronage of former UN Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali
2007

In a resolution adopted on UN day, the Pan-African Parliament calls for a UNPA
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Canadian House of Commons supports a UNPA
Former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali addresses a supportive message to the participants of the UNPA campaign
The international campaign for a UNPA is launched with events in over ten countries. The campaign's appeal for a UNPA is endorsed by around 400 members of parliament from 70 countries, among others.

Before 2007

2006

The Congress of the World Federation of United Nations Associations, meeting in Buenos Aires, adopts a resolution that calls for a UNPA
2005

An open letter signed by a majority of Swiss parliamentarians asks UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to look into the proposal of a UNPA
The Congress of the Liberal International endorses a UNPA
2003

The 22nd Congress of the Socialist International, meeting in Sao Paulo, endorses the goal of a UNPA
2002

The London Declaration of the World Campaign for In-Depth Reform of the System of International Institutions lead by UBUNTU Forum, a network of international NGOs and intellecutals, endorses a world parliament
2001

The first International Conference of Chief Justices of the World meets in Lucknow, India, and supports the establishment of a world parliament ever since
2000

In Paris, a Committee for a World Parliament is formed. Many former heads of state join the advisory board, including South Africa's Nelson Mandela
The president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, calls for an elected world parliament in his speech at the UN's Millennium Summit

Before 2000

1999

On the occasion of the WTO's conference in Seattle, 150 international parliamentarians and the European Parliament call for the establishment of a WTO Parliamentary Assembly
1997

Professors Richard Falk and Andrew Strauss from the U.S. publish the first article in a subsequent influential series that promotes a world parliament
1995

The report of the Commission on Global Governance says that when the time comes, a global parliamentary body should be considered
1994

In a resolution on UN reform, the European Parliament suggests that a UNPA should be considered
A report of the InterAction Council, an association of former heads of state and government, suggests that a UNPA should be studied
A study by renown UN experts Erskine Childers and Brian Urquhart, "Renewing the United Nations System," recommends a UNPA
1993

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Canadian House of Commons endorses a UNPA
1992

The World Federalist Movement, an international NGO established in 1947, promotes a UNPA as a first step towards a world parliament. A WFM paper published by Dieter Heinrich creates new momentum.
A report of the Liberal International endorses the long-term goal of a directly elected world parliament
1990

The Conference on a More Democratic United Nations, CAMDUN, discusses proposals for a world parliament, among other things

Before 1990

1985

The International NGO Network for a UN Second Assembly, INFUSA, calls on the UN to study proposals for a "Second Chamber"
1954

In a speech at the UN, the Indian UN Ambassador calls a world parliament "a very desirable thing"
1953

Assembling in Copenhagen, Denmark, more than 400 parliamentarians endorse a UN Charter revision that would establish a world parliament
1949

A former U.S. delegate to the San Francisco conference that established the United Nations in 1945 suggests the establishment of a UNPA according to Article 22 of the UN's Charter
1947

Albert Einstein publishes an open letter to the UN General Assembly that calls for direct elections of UN delegates
1946

In a poll conducted in the United States, 62 percent agree that the U.S. should participate in an elected world parliament
1945

After the end of the Second World War, the British Foreign Minister suggests that the establishment of a world parliament should be studied

Before 1945

1943

Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company, calls for a directly elected world parliament
1938

Shoghi Effendi, Guardian and appointed head of the Bahá'í Faith, endorses a world parliament
1919

The international conference of League of Nations societies in Berne calls for an international parliament
1918

The British delegation at the Versailles Peace talks following the First World War suggests that the League of Nations should include a world parliament
1914

The German peace movement headed by feminist and peace activist Bertha von Suttner supports a world parliament
1905

At a conference in Brussels, a delegation of the United States Congress suggests the establishment of a world parliament
1837

Alfred Tennyson, a British poet, promotes a parliament of mankind in the poem "Locksley Hall"
1793

During the French Revolution, cosmopolitan revolutionaries call for the creation of a world republic with a world parliament