The vision of a World Parliament promoted during global action week

Around United Nations Day on 24th October 2019, the annual global week of a action was celebrated in support of the establishment of a democratic world parliament. Under the slogan of “World Parliament Now!”, the idea of the action week is to highlight the urgent need for more democratic, legitimate and effective institutions for global decision-making.

The global climate movement shows that what we lack is not engagement or good ideas for a more sustainable future. What we lack is global institutions that can transform this energy into global climate policy.

In Stockholm, in front of the Swedish parliament, Democracy Without Borders-Sweden organized a manifestation with speeches and music promoting global democracy and a sustainable future. In the speeches concerns were raised about the recent backdrop of democracy around the world. As digitalization and a globalization of the economy continue to proceed, a globalization of democracy is needed as well, one of the speakers, the diplomat Olle Wästberg, argued. Another speaker, Evin Incir, member of the European Parliament, pointed out that the UN Security Council is unable to establish global security and to stop wars and escalating conflicts, pushing ever more people around the world to flee from conflict zones. The people affected by the lack of international security should have a stronger voice in the United Nations. A global parliament would provide a channel for the voice of the world people, Incir concluded. The Chair of DWB-Sweden, Petter Ölmunger, expressed admiration for the huge global movement of youth and climate activists which has grown around Greta Thunberg. “This movement shows that what we lack is not engagement or good ideas for a more sustainable future. What we lack is global institutions that can transform this energy into global climate policy. 100 years after the breakthrough of national democracy in Sweden, a World Parliament would fill that void at the global level,” Ölmunger argued in his speech. 

In Berlin, Democracy Without Borders-Germany and the World Parliament Experiment arranged a “Global Democracy Lab”, with courses in political advocacy and leadership and in new digital tools for global voting. In Cincinnati (Ohio, U.S.) and in Orono (Maine, U.S.) Citizens for Global Solutions arranged activities in support of the Campaign for the establishment for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA). There were also events and photo actions for a World Parliament in Si Sa Ket and outside the UN building in Bangkok (Thailand), in Tel Aviv (Israel), in Bologna (Italy) and in Stenungsund (Sweden).

“A just and sustainable world order that allows all of humanity and future generations to live in peace and prosperity requires a new level of global cooperation that is based on full democratic participation and representation of global citizens,” Democracy Without Borders’ Executive Director Andreas Bummel commented.