Democracy Without Borders, or DWB is an international nongovernmental organization based in Berlin and founded in 2003 that advocates the “democratization and strengthening of the United Nations and other international organizations”.
DEMOCRACY WITHOUT BORDERS
OUR MISSION
Democracy Without Borders, in short DWB, advocates a democratic world order in which citizens and their representatives participate in shaping global policy in the interest of humanity. This order needs to be based on equal global citizenship as well as on federalism, subsidiarity, the separation of powers, the rule of law, fundamental human rights, and the protection of minorities.
OUR GOALS
Democracy Without Borders
− pursues as a key objective the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly as a step towards the development of a global parliament, a world parliament, that is jointly elected by all world citizens.
− promotes a strong collaboration between all forces that support the establishment and strengthening of democratic principles at the national, regional, and international levels.
− supports free and general elections at the national and transnational levels and the strengthening of freedom rights in all states and intergovernmental bodies in the world.
− advocates a strengthening of democracy in regional transnational integration processes in the world.
− works towards a democratization and reform of the United Nations and intergovernmental bodies in order to enable them to deal with transnational issues and threats successfully and on a legitimate basis.
− defends and supports democracy pioneers all over the world and speaks out against a restriction or refusal of democratic rights by national governments or other actors.
− advocates an expansion of democracy-related research and a stronger discussion of democratic principles in the public.
− provides assistance relative to research, development, and implementation of democratic instruments and processes, among them for example innovative forms of citizen participation such as models of electronic, direct or “liquid” democracy.
OUR NETWORK
DWB is an international network that is running global programs. We work with associates and advisors as well as partner organizations across the world. In addition, there are DWB chapters in Germany, Kenya, Sweden and Switzerland . As of March 2021, further chapters are in preparation in Greece, India, Mauritius, Nigeria, Spain and UK.
UN PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY
Democracy Without Borders’ main program is to promote a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, in short UNPA. In 2007 DWB co-founded the Campaign for a UNPA. A UNPA for the first time will give elected representatives a formal role in global affairs. As an additional body, the assembly will directly represent the world’s citizens and not governments.
The UNPA Campaign is supported by a broad range of individuals and institutions from more than 150 countries. Individual supporters include over 1,600 current and former politicians as well as numerous former UN officials, distinguished scholars, cultural innovators, NGO representatives, and committed citizens from all walks of life.
UN WORLD CITIZENS’ INITIATIVE
Democracy Without Borders’ second main program is to promote the creation of the instrument of a UN World Citizens’ Initiative, in short UNWCI. In 2019, DWB in collaboration with Democracy International and CIVICUS launched the Campaign for a UNWCI which by now is supported by over 200 civil society groups and networks from around the world.
The instrument of a UNWCI will allow gobal citizens to put proposals on the agenda of the UN General Assembly if they manage to collect sufficient support from all world regions. A UNWCI will help establish a global political space and bring the UN closer to the citizens.
KEY PEOPLE
Andreas Bummel
Founder & Executive Director
Germany
Ivone Soares MP of Mozambique
Co-Chair, UNPA-Campaign
Daniel Jositsch
Senator of Switzerland
President, DWB-Switzerland
Achyuta Samanta
Member of Parliament, India
President, DWB-India (in formation)
ADVISERS
Daniele Archibugi (Italy), Italian National Research Council in Rome;
Evin Incir (Sweden), Member of the European Parliament;
Tienchi Liao-Martin (China), former President, Independent Chinese PEN;
Tim Murithi (Kenya), Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, Cape Town;
Lenin Raghuvanshi (India), Peoples Vigilance Committee on Human Rights;
Andrew Strauss (United States), Dean and Professor of Law, University of Dayton School of Law;
Takehiko Uemura (Japan), Professor, International College of Arts and Sciences, Yokohama City University.
Source: https://www.democracywithoutborders.org/de/
