Global Climate Policy and World Democracy

by Fernando Iglesias, July 2009

In this contribution Fernando Iglesias argues that global climate change poses a grave risk to human civilisation and that today's structure of the international system is incapable of finding and implementing efficient answers. A world parliament could help to overcome this situation.

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A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly - Basic Ideas and Current Points of Discussion

by Claudia Kissling, December 2008

In this article, Claudia Kissling, Vice-Chair of the Committee for a Democratic U.N., provides a topical overview of the proposal for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. She concludes that the body would "help the global system to function properly" and to meet the global challenges of our time.

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A New (R)evolution: Conflict Resolution and a UN Parliamentary Assembly

by Julia Gin, September 2008

In this paper, Julia Gin outlines the importance of a UN Parliamentary Assembly in the field of conflict resolution. She argues that UNPA delegates would not be bound by state interests and thus would be able to "to raise their voices to address critical situations without the fear of diplomatic repercussions for their country or government". According to Gin, this feature would make a decisive difference in preventing and settling violent conflict.

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Two proposals towards global democracy

by Fernando Iglesias, January 2007

In this article Fernando Iglesias, professor at the Universidad de Lomas de Zamora in Argentina and author of several books on the topic of international democracy argues that the time is ripe for the development of a Global Democracy Forum and the creation of a global multi-stakeholder coalition advocating the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly.

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What the UN can learn from the European integration process

by Jo Leinen, October 2006

In this contribution, Jo Leinen, Member of the European Parliament and President of its Committee on Constitutional Affairs, stresses that the development of the European Parliament could be an instructive example for the creation of a Parliamentary Assembly at the U.N. "Without denying the differences between the European project and the creation of a worldwide Parliamentary Assembly, the lesson is clear: only if we create a direct link between the citizens and the UN, we can give it a real democratic character", says Leinen.

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In the interest of humanity: A Parliamentary Assembly at the UN

by Josef Winkler, October 2006

In this contribution Josef Winkler, German MP and member of the Committee for a Democratic UN, argues that India, the world's largest democracy, is predestined to take up the idea to establish a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations. "The general political mood seems to be very favourable", says Winkler, who is of Indian origin and Vice-Chairman of the German-Indian Parliamentary Group.

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Charting New Ways of Participation: Is it Time for a Parliamentary Assembly at the UN?

by Vincente Garcia-Delgado, February 2006

The author, UN representative of CIVICUS: World Allicance for Citizen Participation, stresses the potential for democratisation and strengthening of the United Nations through a transparent and democratic collaboration between a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, the world's citizens and civil society organisations. "Only more democracy, more transparency, more accountability and active and meaningful citizen participation can make our dysfunctional 19th century system adjust gracefully to the realities of the 21st century", declares Garcia-Delgado in this contribution.

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How to democratize the United Nations

by Hanspeter Bigler, September 2005

In this article, Hanspeter Bigler describes the strategy of the Committee for a Democratic UN of how to lobby for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. Bigler points out that it is only with the consent of the majority of UN member states that the proposal may be realized. Thus, it needs to be addressed primarily to them. Since national parliaments are the directly elected representation of the people and have in interest to participate in international politics and international networking of parliamentary work, they should be a natural ally and central pillar in the campaign.

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