the role of non-governmental organizations be reassessed within the institution that is meant to represent us, the peoples, and not merely our governments which – more often than not – represent only a fraction of the people they govern?
Although the non-governmental organizations, through their different organizations, represent us in our millions, has it not become an urgent need to establish an avenue through which we, the grassroots peoples, can cooperate, support and directly and individually feel our connection with the UN and make our voices heard?
These are some of the questions, which form the basis for the ongoing campaign for a more democratic UN.
Already in November 1945, Ernest Bevin, former UK Foreign Secretary, during a debate on the UN Charter in the House of Commons said: “We need a new study for the purpose of creating a world assembly, elected directly from the people of the world as a whole, to whom the governments who form the United Nations are responsible.”
Since the 1980s UN senior servants, such as Erskine Childers and Brian Urquhart, as well as the non-governmental organizations, groups, and individuals joining the Campaign for a More Democratic UN (CAMDUN), founded by Jeffrey Segall and Harry Lerner, and many others, have put much thought and effort into the promotion of the establishment of a UN second peoples’ assembly. Through such an assembly the peoples of the world can work within the UN, alongside their governments, in a partnership for peace.
Real democracy must happen through – not to - us the world’s peoples.
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