© Gabriela Michetti
Sooner or later, the creation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly as a key for a more democratic global order will be at the top of the political agenda. It is inevitable to give democratically elected representatives of the world's citizens a say in matters that affect all of humanity, for instance environmental and climate protection, global financial issues, human rights, or disarmament.
Gabriela Michetti, Member of the Argentinian Chamber of Deputies, 2013
© Federica Mogherini
Faced with the globalization of economy and finance, the mounting imbalance in the distribution of wealth, or asymmetric threats to international security, the answer that is provided by the cooperation of nation-states is often no longer enough. There's an increased urgency that political institutions and instruments of participation and democracy also go through a process of globalization. That's why I support the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly.
Federica Mogherini, Member of Parliament and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy, since November 2014 High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, 2013
© Kansei Nakano/WFM-Japan
A global parliamentary body elected by and accountable to the world's citizens would increase understanding and solidarity across national borders in an unprecedented way and would contribute to the emergence of a real democratic world community. As a first step, a UN Parliamentary Assembly should be established.
Kansei Nakano, Former Vice-Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives, 2013
Intl. Students' Committee 2012, CC BY-SA 3.0
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
Venstre, CC BY-SA 2.0
We are all global citizens. Our mutual challenges are dealt with by a variety of international institutions and forums, unfortunately with varying lack of effectiveness, and varying lack of transparency and democratic participation. Venstre supports the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly in order to increase democratic participation in the world’s most important international institution.
Trine Skei Grande, Member of Parliament and leader of Venstre, The Liberal Party of Norway, 2013
Wolfram Huke, 2008 CC-BY-SA-3.0
I propose to conceive of the international community as composed of, and constituted by, both states and citizens. This makes the idea of a world parliament indispensable. [Such an institution] would have relevant but rather limited competences and share these competences with the member states of the world organization.
Jürgen Habermas, German philosopher, 2013
Stephan Röhl, CC BY-SA 2.0
Democracy is the core question of our time. We cannot leave the world to decision-making that is in the interest of big money or big powers – but not in the interest of the world’s citizens. A UN Parliamentary Assembly is a first step to establish global democracy. Today, we need to fight for a transnational and global democracy as our fathers fought for a national one.
Gerald Häfner, Member of the European Parliament and Chairman of Democracy International, 2013
CEUNPA
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
© Cecilia Wikström
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
© CEUNPA
Building on its strong democratic tradition and its long-standing involvement at the United Nations, Senegal needs to spearhead the initiative for the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. The UN needs a body with universally elected representatives to become more democratic, more transparent and more legitimate.
Aimé Assine, Vice-President of the National Assembly of Senegal, 2013
© Alban Bagbin
The absence of a UN Parliament has left a wide gap in the architecture of global democratic governance and must be bridged as soon as possible. Representatives of governments alone do not sufficiently represent the people.
Alban Bagbin, Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister in the Office of the President of Ghana in charge of Priority Projects, 2013
