Statements

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

It appears only natural that the UN subscribes to the democratic principles it has so far stood to advocate, both in spirit and form. With a world parliament at the helm of the UN, the real benefits of a truly democratically structured institution can be realized for all member states, big or small, through the peoples’ mandated representatives directly. It is time for a UN Parliamentary Assembly.

Sangay Khandu, Member of Parliament, Bhutan, 2012

The Mercosur Parliament supports the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly as a means to create a citizen-based democratic world order. As a regional international parliament we very well understand the challenges but also the tremendous benefits that this endeavour entails.

Ignacio Mendoza Unzaín, President of the Parliament of Mercosur (Mercosur trade bloc), 2012

Global crises require global solutions. Occasional summits, intergovernmental agreements and international cooperation are not enough. For instance, the globalization of finance requires new functional and democratic institutions as well as an elected body capable of coordinating their activities and determining the contents of international law, a world parliament.

Heikki Patomäki, Professor of World Politics at the University of Helsinki, Finland, 2012

The United Nations is dysfunctional and unable to act. I strongly support the creation of a democratically elected UN Parliamentary Assembly. This is what is desperately needed to give the world's citizens a true voice.

Abdulbaset Sieda, President of the Syrian National Council in exile in Sweden, 2012

The establishment of parliamentary assemblies in the Bretton Woods Institutions, the WTO, and the UN seems worth trying as a first and relatively modest building block of a democratization of global governance.

Anne Peters, Professor for International and Public Law at the University of Basel, 2009

Globalization has transformed the relationship between the individual and the world community, and made necessary the need for practical measures to democratize global governance. A UN Parliamentary Assembly would be an important step in the right direction.

Lloyd Axworthy, Former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, President of the University of Winnipeg, 2010

The time is right to put into practice the principle "That which concerns everyone must be decided by everyone." The Security Council – with the five permanent members’ power of veto – more often than not serves only to block decisions adverse to those five, or even only one of them. Where really is democracy in the world today? We need a World Parliament which effectively represents all the peoples of the Earth.

Mario Capanna, Italian politician and writer, President of the Genetic Rights Foundation in Rome, 2010

Democracy is only complete if elected representatives take part in decision-making. That's why a parliamentary assembly also needs to be created for international organizations. It needs to be vested with adequate powers and shouldn't be a mere talking shop.

Eva Högl, Member of the German Parliament, 2010

Today democracy has become the touchstone for legitimate governance at the local, provincial and national levels. Perhaps the international system's greatest anomaly in our age of globalization is that it is not yet organized along democratic lines. It is time for a global parliamentary assembly.

Andrew Strauss, Professor of Law at Widener University School of Law, United States, 2010