UN Parliamentary Assembly

For decades, WFM has viewed the creation of a parliamentary body as an important component of a democratic United Nations. Currently, this issue is moving forward much faster than anyone predicted. Discussions of the role of parliamentarians are occurring in the larger context of international democracy and democratic global governance. Believing there needs to be greater consideration for the proper role of parliamentarians in global governance, WFM applauds this discussion and monitors the developments.

“WFM is one of the few NGOs monitoring this evolving relationship between the IPU and the UN.”

In 2002, the UN General Assembly granted special observer status to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). WFM is one of the few NGOs monitoring this evolving relationship between the IPU and the UN. The tendency of greater inclusion of parliamentarians on Member-States delegations to UN negotiations is a noticeable step towards democratization of UN processes.

Through our policy analysis and research arm, the Institute for Global Policy (IGP), WFM works with Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), other parliamentary groups and our member organizations to develop proposals for parliamentarian interaction in the UN. Our proposal, along the lines of the early European Parliament, is to bring parliamentarians to the UN to form a formal and consultative assembly. Such a consultative Parliamentary Assembly would be made up of representatives elected by national parliaments and would enable a UN parliament to be created easily and inexpensively in a way which nevertheless creates a valid democratic link between the UN and the world's citizens. Whereas the General Assembly is composed of representatives of governments who ultimately represent institutional interests within the nation-state system, a parliamentary assembly would be made up of individuals who speak for citizens. As elected representatives, parliamentarians would thus bring an important democratic element to the UN as well as adding complimentary, diverse and independent views to broaden the debate of the appointed diplomats. A UN Parliamentary Assembly would be a decisive step towards a new impetus and a stronger representation of citizens into the international system.

The Institute for Global Policy conducts extensive research on the UN Parliamentary Assembly.