ChristineMarie
November 7th, 2007, 01:14 PM
Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly
In April 2007 the international Campaign for the Establishment of a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations (UNPA) was launched at events in over 10 countries. A UNPA would enhance democracy and transparency in international affairs. One of the assembly's tasks would be to bring the UN closer to the world's citizens. The campaign secretariat is run by the Committee for a Democratic UN. It is possible to sign the campaign's appeal on the Campaign website. To date, the Campaign is supported by over 400 parliamentarians and around 100 NGOs from all over the world.
The Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly is a global network of parliamentarians and non-governmental organizations advocating for citizens' representation at the United Nations. Read more
A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) would be the first parliamentary body directly representing the world's citizens in the United Nations. It is envisaged as first practical step towards the long-term goal of a world parliament
A Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations (UNPA) would serve to bring the voice of the citizens into the United Nations and international politics. Since the establishment of the Pan-African Parliament which is attached to the African Union, the United Nations by now is one of the last government organizations above the national level which does not have some sort of parliamentary representation.
Possible logo of a UNPA, reflecting parliamentary benches
Elected parliamentarians could act as direct representatives of civil society in global decision-making. The UNPA would be the body where these representatives gather and debate global issues. Initially the UNPA could consist of delegates of national and regional parliaments, reflecting their political composition. A UNPA therefore would include members of minority parties not included in government. At a later stage the UNPA could be directly elected. Thus, a UNPA would be a unique and legitimate body to represent the voice of citizens in international matters. The Campaign participants envisage that a UNPA, once established, would develop from a mere consultative body to a world parliament with genuine rights of information, participation and control.
As an institutional hinge between parliaments, civil society, the U.N. and governments, the UNPA could also become an important political catalyst for the further development of the international system and of international law. As such a UNPA could be critical for an in-depth reform of the U.N. system.
A UNPA would not touch upon, let alone replace, existing procedures of the U.N. and other international organizations to involve NGOs. It would be an additional means to integrate civil society at large more effectively into the shaping of globalization.
The "Appeal for the Establishment for a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations" promoted by the UNPA-Campaign reflects the consenus among like-minded parliamentarians, civil society representatives, activists and scholars regarding the proposal.
http://en.unpacampaign.org/about/index.php
In April 2007 the international Campaign for the Establishment of a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations (UNPA) was launched at events in over 10 countries. A UNPA would enhance democracy and transparency in international affairs. One of the assembly's tasks would be to bring the UN closer to the world's citizens. The campaign secretariat is run by the Committee for a Democratic UN. It is possible to sign the campaign's appeal on the Campaign website. To date, the Campaign is supported by over 400 parliamentarians and around 100 NGOs from all over the world.
The Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly is a global network of parliamentarians and non-governmental organizations advocating for citizens' representation at the United Nations. Read more
A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) would be the first parliamentary body directly representing the world's citizens in the United Nations. It is envisaged as first practical step towards the long-term goal of a world parliament
A Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations (UNPA) would serve to bring the voice of the citizens into the United Nations and international politics. Since the establishment of the Pan-African Parliament which is attached to the African Union, the United Nations by now is one of the last government organizations above the national level which does not have some sort of parliamentary representation.
Possible logo of a UNPA, reflecting parliamentary benches
Elected parliamentarians could act as direct representatives of civil society in global decision-making. The UNPA would be the body where these representatives gather and debate global issues. Initially the UNPA could consist of delegates of national and regional parliaments, reflecting their political composition. A UNPA therefore would include members of minority parties not included in government. At a later stage the UNPA could be directly elected. Thus, a UNPA would be a unique and legitimate body to represent the voice of citizens in international matters. The Campaign participants envisage that a UNPA, once established, would develop from a mere consultative body to a world parliament with genuine rights of information, participation and control.
As an institutional hinge between parliaments, civil society, the U.N. and governments, the UNPA could also become an important political catalyst for the further development of the international system and of international law. As such a UNPA could be critical for an in-depth reform of the U.N. system.
A UNPA would not touch upon, let alone replace, existing procedures of the U.N. and other international organizations to involve NGOs. It would be an additional means to integrate civil society at large more effectively into the shaping of globalization.
The "Appeal for the Establishment for a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations" promoted by the UNPA-Campaign reflects the consenus among like-minded parliamentarians, civil society representatives, activists and scholars regarding the proposal.
http://en.unpacampaign.org/about/index.php