What has been a dream for many years is taking another step toward becoming a reality. Global Citizens are on their way to having their voices heard within the United Nations. On Saturday, June 4th, 2005, the Citizens for a United Nations Peoples' Assembly hosted the day-long dialogue "Creating a UN Peoples' Parliamentary Assembly", chaired by Dr. Robert Muller, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The program included a High Tea Reception, Panel Discussion and Press Event. It was held at the Sheraton Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco from 10:00AM-4:30PM as part of the UN-60th Anniversary Celebrations and UN World Environment Day. Canadian Senator Douglas Roche was the featured speaker. Presenting their expert perspectives on establishing this democratic body within the United Nations system was panelists Joseph E. Schwartzberg, Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota; Andrew Strauss, Professor of International Law at Widener University School of Law; and Susan Zipp, Advisor to the Communications Coordination Committee for the United Nations and Co-Chair of the Global Peoples Assembly. Douglas Mattern, President of the Association of World Citizens, served as moderator.

This special event built upon the proposal from members of Switzerland's Parliament and their National Council, to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, calling for the Establishment of a Parliamentary Assembly within the UN. Highlighting efforts from parliamentarians and civil society organizations around the world, an Open Letter was forwarded to Secretary-General Annan requesting that he convene a High Level Panel to explore the possibility of establishing a Peoples' Parliamentary Assembly within the United Nations.

Many people have worked for decades towards reforming the United Nations and empowering the organization with the voices of the people. Now, the current status of this campaign was presented to the press and the public. Following the event, the results was forwarded to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the Heads of State of the 191 UN member nations. We hope that you will join us in this effort.

Co-sponsors present included:
Association of World Citizens
Celebrating Solutions!
Coalition for a World Parliament and World Democracy
CODEPINK
Democratic World Federalists
Earth Charter Marin
East Beach Press
Global Exchange
Global Security Institute
Ik Onkar Peace Foundation
Institute of Noetic Sciences
Club of Budapest USA
MasterPeace Inc.
Next Generation
The North-South Institute
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
Pathways To Peace
Peace Sunday
Praxis Peace Institute
Roots of Peace
Seattle People's Assembly
Soka Gakkai International-USA
Sustainable World Coalition
Syntony Quest
The Peace Alliance
Unitarian Universalists 4 Peace
United Nations Association of San Francisco (UNA-SF)
United Nations Association Film Festival
United Peoples Assembly - LA
United Religions Initiative
Unity-and-Diversity World Council
Unity Foundation
Young General Assembly

For more information, contact Citizens for a United Nations Peoples' Assembly, 55 New Montgomery St., Suite 224, San Francisco, CA 94105, by phone at (415) 896-2242, by e-mail at sfpa@sbcglobal.net.