UN Photo/Rick Bajornas
In a time where we see less connection between the will of peoples and the policies put forward in their name, the world's citizens need representation on the global stage. Democratic initiatives, including the proposal to create a World Parliamentary Assembly, would include all citizens in global decision-making and give voice to currently neglected global public opinion.
Alfred de Zayas, first UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of an Equitable and Democratic International Order, March 2018
© Jens Holm
Min långsiktiga vision är skapandet av ett världsparlament. Istället för att makten ligger i händerna på ett fåtal ministrar som bakom lyckta dörrar ska besluta över världens ödesfrågor vill jag att mer av inflytandet ska finnas i en direktvald parlamentarisk församling som kan vara ett komplement (som en andra kammare) till FN:s generalförsamling.
Jens Holm, Member of the Swedish parliament for the left party in his book "Om inte vi, vem?" (If not we, then who), 2017
iDominick @Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Our world is getting smaller, and we’re becoming a more tolerant, and integrated human family. We’re also seeing trends that are resisting these changes, and anxieties about multiculturalism spur the forces of disintegration. Ultimately, unity in our diversity will win over. Love will win over. After all, we are one people, and one planet.Our needs to establish a single social order to celebrate our oneness as a human family are practical as much as they are spiritual. We cannot meet global challenges like climate change, multinational corporate exploitation, nuclear proliferation, and so many more threats to humanity without international regulation. We need a World Parliament elected by the peoples of the world to give them a voice in the process of globalization.Nations should have their own borders, and constitutions, and of course their cultures must be unique, but we need a federal government above nations that ensures peace and prosperity, too.I’d like to add my name to the list of supporters of the proposed UN Parliamentary Assembly because our survival depends on us all realizing we are in this together and, as a Baha’i, I believe in the message of Baha’u’llah: “The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens”.
Justin Baldoni, American actor, director and filmmaker, 24 October 2017
The United Nations needs to become more representative and inclusive relative to those who are most affected by its work and global challenges. A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly would be a way to achieve this. This new body would have to guarantee that the voices of farmers from around the world are better heard and understood, especially for developing countries particularly in Africa.
Brylyne Chitsunge, Ambassador of the Pan-African Parliament on Food Security in Africa, 2017
I support the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. For a better world order we need a World Parliament now!
Toshiki Kaifu, President of the World Federalist Movement-Japan and 76th and 77th Prime Minister of Japan
The United Nations is the only true extant forum for global governance, but it is currently a forum that represents governments, not people. Democratic global governance is essential that includes opposition and minority opinions. All of humanity needs to be represented on a permanent and formal basis. A citizen-elected UN Parliamentary Assembly is a pragmatic step towards this goal and will help developing a true democratic and open world society.
Smári McCarthy, Member of Parliament and Chair of the European Pirate Party, Iceland, 2017
Chatham House, CC BY 2.0
The United Nations needs to open its doors to elected representatives. The best way to achieve this is the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly that would complement the General Assembly where the governments come together. I've been supporting this goal for a long time and congratulate the international campaign on its sustained efforts to make this a reality.
Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs, India, 2017
twitter.com/VSuarezd
As President of the Permanent Commission on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, I believe that we need to use our mandate from the congress to boost public policies that would give a voice to the world’s citizens and would work to the benefit of our peoples. For this reason I commit myself to advance the campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly both at the global level as well as from our region in the Caribbean
Víctor Suárez, President of the Commission on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic, 2017
Ralf Roletschek, CC BY 3.0
It is with pleasure that I endorse the proposal for the creation of a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations. There's a functioning world economy but no functioning and democratically legitimate global politics. The latter is urgently needed, however. I very much hope that this initiative will be successful.
Gregor Gysi, Member of the German Parliament and President of the European Left Party, 2017
© Peter Tatchell
Creating a UN Parliamentary Assembly would help strengthen global democracy and, through international political cooperation, help tackle the common problems faced by all of humanity. Bringing politicians together worldwide is the key to transcending the barriers of national borders and the limits of national parliaments. The UN General Assembly is a voice for the world's governments. A UN Parliamentary Assembly would give a voice to the elected representatives of the world's peoples.
Peter Tatchell, Human rights activist and Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, U.K., 2017
Det är hög tid att Förenta Nationerna får ett organ som för samman parlamentariker från alla FN:s medlemsstater. FN skulle tjäna på att involvera valda representanter i sina förhandlingar. När allt kommer omkring är det ofta de som behövs för att hjälpa till med att implementera FN-beslut på nationell nivå, särskilt när det gäller Agenda 2030. En parlamentarisk församling inom FN skulle dessutom ge demokratisk överblick över FN:s verksamheter, inklusive fylla en meningsfull funktion gentemot Säkerhetsrådet. En sådan ytterligare nivå av ansvarighet skulle stärka världsorganisationens demokratiska karaktär och dess trovärdighet, så att starka nationerna kan hindras från att kontrollera och ekonomiskt exploatera de svagare.
Nomsa Tarabella-Marchesi, Member of the National Assembly of South Africa, 2017
