Statements

Our global society needs a reformed United Nations: a democratically structured, global decision-making organization, that better mirrors our world of today. For this reason, I support the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly.

Lars Engqvist, Former Minister of Health and Social Affairs and former Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden, 2013

The United Nations could become significantly more authentic and credible in promoting parliamentary democracy around the world if it were under parliamentary control itself, exercised by a UN Parliamentary Assembly.

Mátyás Eörsi, Secretary-General of the Parliamentary Forum for Democracy, 2013

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.

Sándor Fülöp, Former Parliamentary Commissioner for Future Generations, Hungary, 2013

We in India should support the creation of a global parliamentary assembly at the United Nations. Of course a lot of details need to be investigated. Still the government of India could express at the UN General Assembly that, in principle, it regards the proposal with favor.

Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament from India, former UN Under-Secretary General for Public Information, 2012

A parliamentary assembly would strengthen the UN's democratic foundation and at the same time provide new perspectives on the challenges of tomorrow.

Cecilia Wikström, Member of the European Parliament from Sweden, 2012

Intergovernmental summits have proven to be ineffective, too ineffective, in addressing the challenges of climate change, the loss of biodiversity or environmental protection. Negotiators are trapped in narrow national interests as well as the interests of corporations on their national delegations. The lowest common denominator negotiated by the world's governments is not enough. It is indeed time to have the world's citizens heard through an elected UN Parliamentary Assembly.

Nnimmo Bassey, Nigerian environmentalist, Chair of Friends of the Earth International 2008-2012, 2012

There is no substitute for the United Nations as the primary organization in which almost all countries participate. However, reflecting the realities of an ever-changing world, the UN should be complemented by a Parliamentary Assembly that helps maintain a strong relationship with the public across the world, feels its pulse, and tries to meet people's needs and desires.

Yossi Beilin, Israeli politician, former Minister of Justice and a longtime Member of the Knesset (until 2008), 2012

A world parliament of citizens would complement the UN system in a democratic way and contribute to strengthening the compliance to international law and human rights principles.

Ove Bring, Professor emeritus of International Law at Stockholm University, Sweden, 2012

There should be established for the prevalence and happiness of humankind a representative assembly, a global parliament, for the people of the Earth, based on the principle of one person, one vote, one value.

Bob Brown, Environmentalist and Australian Senator, 2012

For over a century, parliamentarians from all over the world have worked together to uphold democracy, and to advance peace, international law, disarmament, and many other issues. The time has come to give them a firm and strong role in deliberations and decision-making at the United Nations by establishing a UN Parliamentary Assembly.

Najma Heptulla, Indian parliamentarian, Honorary President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and Vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, 2012