Parliament of Iceland to discuss support for a UN Parliamentary Assembly

Draft resolution introduced in the Alþingi

The Parliament of Iceland is going to deal with the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. A resolution supporting the efforts for such a new UN body of elected delegates was introduced last week by the former minister of the interior, Ögmundur Jónasson.

Ögmundur Jónasson

 

If adopted, the Icelandic government would be called on to present the proposal to the United Nations and its Secretary-General.

According to Mr. Jónasson, "it is in the interest of all nations, small and large alike, to make the UN function more democratically. States, especially large and powerful states, may resist this, but the people irrespective of statehood, want their voice to be heard. That is why I believe that in the years to come there will be increased popular support for a creation of a Parliamentary Assembly at the UN. My proposal in the Parliament of Iceland is a contribution to the struggle to democratize the UN."

The international appeal for a UN Parliamentary Assembly so far has been endorsed by more than 1,400 former and sitting members of parliament from over 100 countries, among others. The most recent supporter whose signature was received today is Dimitris Papadimoulis, a Vice-President of the European Parliament. Four years ago, the European Parliament adopted a supportive resolution.

The Icelandic Parliament has not yet determined when the draft bill will be debated.

Top image: by Mark Turner, Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0