An international group of MPs calls for a body to strengthen the democratic representation of the world’s citizens in global affairs and the UN’s decision-making

The UN, the multilateral order and democracy are under attack. Business as usual and lofty rhetoric are not sufficient to counter this threat. Despite many warnings and recommendations, not much has been done to prepare the UN for this challenge. The time for complacency and complaints is over. Now courageous leadership is needed.

The panel of eminent persons on UN-civil society relations warned almost 15 years ago that the UN must do more to strengthen global governance and tackle democratic deficits. The panel stressed that more systematic engagement of parliamentarians, national parliaments and local authorities in the UN would strengthen global governance, confront democratic deficits in intergovernmental affairs, buttress representational democracy and connect the UN better with global opinion. Current arrangements are not adequate.

When the international campaign for a UN parliamentary assembly (UNPA) was launched 11 years ago, the campaign’s patron, the late former UN secretary general Boutros Boutros-Ghali said we need to promote the democratisation of globalisation, before globalisation destroys the foundations of democracy.

It is with great concern that we are now witnessing how this development is unfolding. The establishment of a parliamentary assembly at the UN has become an indispensable step to achieve democratic control of globalisation.

We, the undersigning members of parliament, affirm our commitment to the goal of creating a UNPA in order to strengthen the democratic representation of the world’s citizens in global affairs and the UN’s decision-making.

We invite our fellow MPs from across the world who are democratically elected to join our parliamentary group for a UNPA in order to strengthen and coordinate our efforts. Together we can help build the political momentum and pressure that is needed to achieve our goal.

We believe the 75th anniversary of the UN in 2020 must be used as an opportunity to take stock and initiate far-reaching reforms, including the establishment of a UNPA.

We call on the UN secretary general, the president of the general assembly, the heads of states and governments and their foreign ministers as well as the representatives of UN member states in New York to initiate and support necessary steps in preparation of a meaningful UN reform summit in 2020 and towards the creation of a UNPA.



Alban Bagbin Member of parliament, Ghana

Tommy Broughan Member of parliament, Ireland

Ibrahim Bundu Former member of parliament, Sierra Leone

Omar De Marchena González Member of parliament, Dominican Republic

Jennifer De Temmerman Member of parliament, France

Sigmar Gabriel Member of parliament and former foreign minister, Germany

Nik Gugger Member of parliament, Switzerland

Jens Holm Member of parliament, Sweden

Andrej Hunko Member of parliament, Germany

Fernando Iglesias Member of parliament, Argentina

Daniel Jositsch Senator, Switzerland

Katja Keul Member of parliament, Germany

Jameleddine Khemakhem Former member of parliament, Tunisia

Jo Leinen Member of the European parliament, Germany

Fungayi Jessie Majome Former member of parliament, Zimbabwe

Yannis Maniatis Member of parliament and former minister of environment, energy and climate change, Greece

David Martin Member of the European parliament, Scotland

Smári McCarthy Member of parliament, Iceland

Stevens Mogkalapa Former member of parliament, South Africa

Florence Mutua Member of parliament, Kenya

Sunil B Pant Member of parliament, Nepal

Victor Perli Member of parliament, Germany

Lilia Puig Member of parliament, Argentina

Syed Naveed Qamar Member of parliament and former minister of defence, Pakistan

Achyuta Samanta Member of parliament, India

Axel Schäfer Member of parliament, Germany

Uwe Schummer Member of parliament, Germany

Stefan Schwartze Member of parliament, Germany

Ivone Soares Member of parliament, Mozambique

Mathias Stein Member of parliament, Germany

Nomsa Tarabella-Marchesi Member of parliament, South Africa

George Vella Former member of parliament and former foreign minister, Malta

Heinrich Volmink Former member of parliament, South Africa

• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com

• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

• Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition