There exists no formal body that would give citizen-elected representatives a say in global governance. At best they have an observer status. This is not acceptable. In a democratic system, elected representatives are not standing by and observe what the governments do. They provide oversight and hold the executive accountable. This is what a UN Parliamentary Assembly needs to do.
Jo Leinen, Member of the European Parliament and Co-Chair of the Advisory Group of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly, 2013
We must not be silent when the Oceans are dying because short-sighted national interests make effective global rules impossible. Through a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly a platform could be established that finally makes the voice of humanity heard in support of the global interest and sustainable life on Earth.
Isabella Lövin, Member of the European Parliament and author of the book "Silent Seas", 2013
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
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
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
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
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
We must insist on behalf of our citizens that international organizations be open to public scrutiny instead of mysterious, secret diplomacy. I support the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly within the UN system to allow for greater public participation in the activities of the UN.
Elmar Brok, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the European Parliament, 2013
A UN Parliamentary Assembly could be designed in more innovative ways than just as a copy of existing parliaments at the global scale. I conceive of it as a Cosmopolitan Congress that deals with all matters that concern humanity. In addition to elected representatives as core members it could also involve other international parliamentary networks as well as cities and local authorities, civil society, and representatives of indigenous peoples and nations.
Andreas Bummel, Co-founder and coordinator of the Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, 2013
Because parliament is the democratic institution par excellence and the cradle of true democracies, a democratic global order worth this name has to be based on a global parliament that represents humanity as a whole.
Rafael Domingo Oslé, Visiting Professor of Law at Emory University, Atlanta, and former Dean of the University of Navarra School of Law in Spain, 2013
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