At its 2025 online congress on 1-2 November, the World Federalist Movement (WFM) discussed a wide-ranging program to advance global change.
Coinciding with the United Nations’s 80th anniversary, special consideration was given to ways to reform and strengthen the UN organization. Further topics discussed in various commissions included climate and environmental protection, nuclear disarmament, strengthening international law and criminal justice, regulating artificial intelligence, fighting corruption, advancing global democracy and the rights of future generations.
Endorsement of UN Charter reform and a UN Parliamentary Assembly
The congress endorsed the Article 109 Coalition, relaunched in September, which calls for a UN Charter review conference as foreseen in Article 109 of the UN’s 1945 founding document. A resolution adopted to this effect additionally endorsed the draft Second UN Charter as “an illustration for useful potential reforms for modernizing and democratizing the UN”. Among other things, the document shows how a Parliamentary Assembly can be included in the architecture of a renewed UN.
WFM used the opportunity to reaffirm its support of a UN Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA), pointing out that at first it could be created below the threshold of UN Charter reform and serve as a catalyst for this next step. A UNPA would allow elected representatives to participate in UN affairs, introducing democratic accountability into a system currently dominated by government executives.
In terms of funding the UN and international action, the Congress stated that “genuine global taxation must be considered and discussed”, noting in addition that according to the principle of “no taxation without representation”, a “world parliament must be a central part of the global fiscal architecture of the future to make the UN system more independent from member states.”
The Congress condemned attacks against the International Criminal Court
Delegates further reaffirmed WFM’s commitment to international law and international criminal justice in particular. The Congress condemned attacks against the International Criminal Court. Support was reiterated for a strengthening of the International Court of Justice and the creation of a Latin American Criminal Court against Transnational Organized Crime (COPLA). Delegates also expressed concern about the global impact of corruption and welcomed initiatives to establish an International Anti-Corruption Court.
WFM’s program Mobilizing an Earth Governance Alliance (MEGA), launched last year, was recognised as an important framework for advancing representation of future interests in decision-making at all levels, among other things.
On artificial intelligence, the Congress adopted policy to support the development of global regulatory frameworks. It endorsed the Global AI Governance Alliance (GAIGANow), recently founded by WFM, as a platform to help address risks posed by AI to human rights, security and democracy.
Newly elected board members include Co-President Kehkashan Basu and Congress Chair Dorothea Christiana, who succeeded Fernando Iglesias and Donna Park, respectively, both of whom did not stand again for those positions. The board is chaired by John Vlasto and program work is implemented by Alyn Ware.
WFM was founded in 1947 and has consultative status at the UN. It is an umbrella for organizations committed to the vision of democratic world federation. Democracy Without Borders is one of its members.