The need of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, in short UNPA, was raised at an international peace forum organized by civil society in South Korea from 9-11 February. Bringing together participants from all over the world, the PyeongChang Global Peace Forum was held on the occasion […]
Parliamentarians should not only play a role in galvanizing intergovernmental action and in implementing global commitments nationally. Elected representatives should have a formal role to play in international negotiations and decision-making. The creation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly should be promoted as a key reform in order to achieve this goal and to increase the UN's democratic legitimacy. The UN cannot go on as an exclusive club of governments. Otherwise the world organization will not be able to advance much.
Florence Mutua, Member of the National Assembly of Kenya, 2019
The UN still grants governments a monopoly on the representation of their societies. This monopoly is no longer tenable. A more inclusive system of global democracy is needed. As an important step towards a fundamental transformation of the UN and the development of a democratic world parliament, I support the creation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly which would give citizen-elected representatives a voice.
Prof. Tim Murithi, Extraordinary Professor of African Studies, Centre for African Studies, University of the Free State, and Head of Programme, Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, Cape Town, South Africa, 2017