World Parliament: Support growing for a UN Parliamentary Assembly

Now with just under 1300 signatories in 89 countries, the United Nation Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) campaign is gaining momentum. A World Parliament could be closer then imagined.

Preparations for the Campaign go as far back as September 2004, supporters now hope “to bring the voice of the citizens into the United Nations and international politics,” in the very near future. With such organizations as the European Union and the African Union now represented by a parliamentary assembly, the United Nations is now the only international union without parliamentary representation. Aiming to give more legitimacy to UN decisions, this assembly would initially be constituted of delegates from national and regional parliaments, in line with the composition of each parliament. Minority parties would therefore have a voice in talks concerning their country. Later this assembly would become directly elected. “Elected parliamentarians could act as direct representatives of civil society in global decision-making,” explains the UNPA website. Campaign supporters believe the UN Parliamentary Assembly could allow for more effective global action on world issues and more respect for international laws. The assembly would also constitute a driving force for a UN reform. “As the voice of citizens, the assembly would be the manifestation and vehicle of a changed consciousness and understanding of international politics. (…) It could also substantially contribute to the United Nation’s capacity to realize its high objectives and to shape globalization positively.” The steering committee behind the project is made up of a group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs): Committee for a Democratic United Nations, Society for Threatened Peoples International, World Federalist Movement, 2020*Vision Ltd. Many Canadian parliamentarians – past and present – support this initiative. Canadian supporters include: Elmwood—Transcona MP Bill Blaikie (NDP), Brampton West MP Colleen Beaumier (Lib), Ottawa Centre MP Paul Dewar (NDP), Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine MP Marlene Jennings (Lib), Pierrefonds—Dollard MP and Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade Bernard Patry (Lib), Sackville—Eastern Shore MP Peter Stoffer (NDP) among others. However, no Canadian government MPs currently back the initiative. "A Parliamentary Assembly would make the U.N. more transparent, efficient and more democratic. I support the efforts of the Committee for a Democratic UN because more citizen participation at the UN is urgently necessary," said former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, on the campaign website. The "Conference for the Establishment of a Global Coalition for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly" is planned for sometime in 2008, under the symbolic patronage of Boutros Boutros-Ghali. For more information or to join the appeal, visit: http://en.unpacampaign.org/index.php