South Centre supports stronger Participation in the UN-System

In a paper published on the occassion of the Second South Summit in Doha from June 12 to 16, 2005, the South Centre, an intergovernmental think tank of 48 countries, supports a stronger inclusion of the people into the United Nations: "A more inclusive participation in UN deliberations and decision-making is an indispensable part of the process of democratization of the UN organizations" (p. 38). The paper picks up the proposal to establish a Parliamentary Assembly at the UN.

United Nations: EU Lawmakers call for Democratization through a Parliamentary Assembly

In a resolution on UN reform the European Parliament (EP) called for the democratization of the world organization through a Parliamentary Assembly. The new assembly "would increase the democratic profile and internal democratic process" of the United Nations. The EU countries could resume a leading role to establish a UN parliament, similar to their leadership in the establishment of the International Criminal Court, said the Commitee for a Democratic UN. The EP resolution is an important step in this direction.

Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches for UN Parliament

In a position paper on the reform of the United Nations the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches supports the proposal to establish a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. The position paper has been adopted by the Council in April 2005 and released mid-May. The federation represents about 2.4 million Swiss protestants.

Committee welcomes Resolution of Liberal International for UN Parliament

By adopting a resolution in Sofia, the 53rd Congress of the Liberal International (LI) has backed the proposal to establish a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations. The resolution of the LI Congress has been welcomed by the non-partisan "Committee for a Democratic UN" (KDUN) as important support for the reform proposal.

Survey: Majority for strengthened and more democratic United Nations

According to a representative survey conducted on behalf of BBC World Service by the opinion research institutes GlobeScan and PIPA in 23 countries, the population worldwide is in favor of a strengthened and more democratic U.N. A majority for example believes, that the reversal of a veto of a single country in the UN Security Council should be made possible. In all countries it is agreed that the U.N. should be "significantly strengthened in international affairs". "The readiness for dramatic change is very palpable", said Doug Miller, President of GlobeScan.

Committee Representatives at Hearing in German Parliament

The Sub-Committee "United Nations" of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the German Bundestag has conducted a hearing on the parliamentary dimension of the United Nations on February 14. Subject of the expert hearing was the function of the Inter-Parliamentary-Union (IPU) and parliamentary representation within the "global governance system". In their testimonies the representatives of the Committee for a Democratic U.N. recommended the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly which, step by step, should be vested with rights of information, participation and control.

Majority of Swiss National Council for United Nations Parliament

At a press conference in the Swiss federal building in Bern, an open letter to UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, was presented on Wednesday. With their signature, 108 members of parliament, among them the majority of the Swiss National Council, support the idea of the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA). The UN Secretary General is requested to "introduce the idea of a Parliamentary Assembly at the UN into the reform debate and to forward this suggestion to the governments of the UN member states for further discussion".