Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly

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Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (CUNPA)

What it is
- A global network of more than 300 NGOs and about 1,800 current and former parliamentarians from roughly 150 countries.
- It works to create a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) to give elected representatives a greater voice in global affairs.
- The campaign is coordinated by Democracy Without Borders.

Campaign objectives (in simple terms)
- Bring the idea of a UNPA into political debates and the media.
- Help build national and local networks of people, NGOs, and parliamentarians who support a UNPA.
- Create a global, multi-stakeholder coalition that unites parliamentary and civil-society efforts.
- Encourage discussions and collaboration with like-minded parliaments and governments.

Profile
- The Campaign’s Secretariat is led by Democracy Without Borders.
- It is guided by an informal Steering Committee made up of Democracy Without Borders, Society for Threatened Peoples International, World Federalist Movement-IGP, Democracia Global, and The Workable World Trust.

Regional and national networks
- The Campaign has built coalitions and networks around the world, including in Israel, Germany, Argentina, Sweden, Canada, and Spain.
- Global Weeks of Action for a World Parliament have been held and supported activities worldwide.

History
- The idea began with the Appeal for the Establishment of a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations, launched in 2007 in many countries.
- About 552 people signed the petition, including parliamentarians, Nobel laureates, and other prominent figures.
- Early materials discussed whether delegates should be indirect or direct-elected. The UNPA could also oversee international financial and economic institutions.
- In 2016, the Pan-African Parliament gave strong support, and in 2017 its chair spoke to the Parliament about the UNPA.
- By 2018, the Campaign claimed support from around 1,535 former and current MPs worldwide, plus support from academics, political parties, intergovernmental bodies, and NGOs.

Support and relevance
- The Campaign has drawn support from across the political spectrum.
- It continues to advocate for UN reforms and a more cosmopolitan form of global democracy.

See also
- United Nations Parliamentary Assembly
- Democracy Without Borders
- Reform of the United Nations
- Cosmopolitan democracy

Website
- unpacampaign.org

Formation and scope
- The campaign operates as a global network with a secretariat and a broad coalition, aiming to persuade governments and parliaments to create a UNPA.