© EALA
The fact that there still is no parliamentary body at the UN more and more interferes with the world organization's democratic legitimacy. A UN Parliamentary Assembly would strengthen the democratic nature of the UN and bring it closer to the citizens. That's one of the reasons why the East African Legislative Assembly supports its establishment.
Margaret Zziwa, Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, former Member of Parliament, Uganda, former Member of the Constituent Assembly drafting the 1995 Ugandan Constitution, 2013
In a democratic order, citizens elect representatives at multiple levels. There are city councils, provincial or state parliaments and national parliaments. And yet for global matters that affect each and every person on the planet, there exists no elected world parliament. A world parliament would be an instrument to find and implement solutions that are democratic, accountable and serve the best interest of humanity.
Global Week of Action, From the announcement of the first Global Week of Action for a World Parliament, 17-24 October 2013, 2013
© Don Davies
Co-operation at the global level is essential and democratic input by citizens inevitably is vital in global governance. For issues such as climate change, this is not a luxury, but a necessity. This points inexorably to the need for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly.
Don Davies, Member of Parliament and Official Opposition Critic for International Trade, Canada, 2014
© Democracia Global
There are different ways to build a better global order and many initiatives for any of them. But there is only one path towards a democratic global order: a world parliament. The campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly currently is the most advanced initiative in existence that works towards this goal.
Fernando Iglesias, Council Chair of the World Federalist Movement and President of Democracia Global, Argentina, 2014
© Makers.com
Without a global parliament, a democratic deficit exists in the way that the world's citizens are involved in global matters. Through elected representatives, a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly would resonate with the global population, providing it with a voice for presenting sensitive issues, to include addressing human rights violations, tackling corruption in governments and international administrations, and promoting democratic rights at all levels.
Patricia Schroeder, Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1973-1997), 2014
© Torbjörn Tannsjö
Gobal warming can only be handled by a global authority. This will happen once the consequences become conspicuous. But will it be done in a democratic manner? I hope so, and I see the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assemby as a first step to assure this.
Torbjörn Tannsjö, Professor of Practical Philosophy at Stockholm University and author of the book "Global Democracy: The Case for a World Government., 2014
© Ögmundur Jónasson
In a globalized world – where development is dominated by international corporations, operating under the wings of the most powerful states – the role of democracy needs to be strengthened. The UN power structure reflects these realities, with veto power resting in the hands of the few and mighty in the Security Council. Democratizing the UN is more than timely and a UN Parliamentary Assembly could be an essential element in this.
Ögmundur Jónasson, Member of Parliament in Iceland, Chairman of the Constitutional and Supervisory Committee of the Icelandic Parliament and former Minister of Interior in Iceland, 2015
Thomas Hummitzsch, CC-by-sa 3.0
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.
Frieder Otto Wolf, President of the Humanist Association of Germany and Professor of Philosophy at Free University of Berlin, 2013
© Youssou N'Dour
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
© Vasso Papandreou
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
© Liliane Maury Pasquier
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
