Statement to Committee on the Rights of the Child supports UNPA

In a statement submitted for the day of general discussion during the 43rd session of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child on 15 September 2006, the child-managed non-governmental organization ”Young General Assembly” called for support of the proposal to establish a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA). The children's statement refers to the open letter of Swiss parliamentarians on the subject which was initiated in February 2005. The children give hope to the idea of a ”Children's Assembly”. The discussion day's topic was ”To Speak, Participate and Decide - The Child's Right to be Heard”.

KDUN briefs Tanzanian MPs on UN Parliament proposal

On May 22 local representatives of the Committee for a Democratic U.N. were given the opportunity to present the proposal to establish a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Tanzanian Parliament. KDUN assistant Geline Fuko stressed the need and importance of a UNPA to improve citizens participation at the UN. The meeting took place in the offices of the Ministry on Foreign Affairs.

PAP President Mongella receives KDUN representative – Support for U.N. Parliamentary Assembly

On the day of the official opening of the Fifth Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) on May 2, PAP President Hon. Dr. Gertrude Mongella welcomed the Africa-representative of the Committee for a Democratic UN (KDUN) in Midrand, South Africa. In attendance of Ugandan MP Hon. Fred Jachan Omach, President Mongella endorsed KDUN's call for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) and signed a document accordingly.

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recommends UN Parliament

In a resolution adopted on 23 January 2006 in Strasbourg, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has invited the UN General Assembly „to setting up a UN parliamentary assembly, based on national delegations, with consultative functions for the General Assembly“.

German UNA supports call for UN Parliamentary Assembly

The German United Nations Association (DGVN) supports the call for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. In a document adopted by its General Assembly on December 3, 2005, in Bonn, the UNA "requests the German Bundestag and the federal government to thoroughly examine the establishment of a Parliamentary Assembly at the UN". It also says: "The DGVN holds the opinion that parliamentary participation and control on the level of the United Nations in mid-term should be institutionalized in the shape of a Parliamentary Assembly which is integrated into the UN system". The request is part of a comprehensive policy document.

UN at 60: EU Lawmakers call for Democratization

At the occassion of the opening of the 60th UN General Assembly in New York on September 13, 2005, Members of the European Parliament in Brussels have called for democratizing the world organization. At a press conference the parliamentarians called for the establishment of a Parliamentary Assembly at the UN. "The time is ripe to open up the United Nations and the UN system more decisively and to give the people a better say", the parliamentarians said.

NGOs in Italy call for more democratic UN

In Perugia, Italy, more than 200 representatives of people's movements, trade unions, national and international networks, local authorities, universities and research centres gathered to discuss the reform of the United Nations. The final resolution includes the call to establish a parliamentary assembly composed of representatives from national and regional parliaments. Its goal would be to prepare the process for a United Nations parliament elected by citizens from all member states, for the democratisation and strengthening of the UN system.

Speakers of Parliaments stress necessity of "parliamentary dimension"

150 Speakers of parliament, gathered in New York on the eve of the High-Level Meeting of Heads of State and Government, adopted a Declaration in which they take stock of action effected by parliaments since their first Conference in 2000, examine how they can provide more support for international cooperation and the United Nations, and help bridge the democracy gap in international relations.

Swiss United Nations Association supports UN Parliament proposal

In a declaration adopted by its General Assembly on June, 30, the United Nations Association of Switzerland has supported the proposal of more than 100 members of the Swiss National Council in an open letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to establish a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. The Swiss UNA invites its fellow United Nations Asssociations in the world and their international umbrella organization to support the proposal as well.

German Parliament in favour of parliamentary involvement in the UN system

The German Parliament believes "it is necessary to create a parliamentary dimension of the United Nations system", as stated in a resolution of June 16. As institutional form a Parliamentary Assembly could be suitable. Contrary to the Committee for a Democratic UN the resolution assumes that the Inter-Parliamentary Union is the exclusive starting point for such a Parliamentary Assembly.