As the newly elected President of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock is being urged to take up and support the proposal for a UN World Citizens’ Initiative (UNWCI). Representatives of Democracy International, Democracy Without Borders, and Mehr Demokratie have made this appeal in a letter addressed to the German Foreign Minister.

The UNWCI would allow people from different countries to place an issue on the agenda of the United Nations.

"The aim is to strengthen the relationship between the UN and the citizens of the world," the letter states. It also highlights that such a mechanism would bring global civil societies closer together, enhance international exchange, and enable more coherent and coordinated civic input.

“Baerbock will preside over the UN General Assembly’s 80th anniversary session. In a world drastically different from 1946, we need a UN that evolves just as boldly,” said Caroline Vernaillen, Lead Global Policy & Advocacy at Democracy International, “At a time of global uncertainty, empowering people to be agents of their own future - rather than worried bystanders - is the only way forward.”

The proposal is inspired by the European Citizens’ Initiative, which allows EU citizens to call directly on the European Commission if they gather one million signatures from at least seven member states.

The authors of the letter refer to a global campaign in support of the UNWCI, which is currently endorsed by 300 organisations from around the world.

Links:

- Read the letter here (German) 

- How would the UNWCI work?

For media inquiries and further information, please contact:

-    Caroline Vernaillen, vernaillen@democracy-international.org, ++49 221 669 665 30