The Coalition for the UN We Need, a group advocating for a stronger United Nations (UN), has shared the outcomes of the Global Futures Forum, an international conference held in New York and online in March. The forum brought together civil society representatives and experts to discuss proposals for the UN as it prepares for upcoming conferences on sustainable development, the future, and social development.

The outcomes include the presentation of the "Interim People's Pact for the Future" to the German foreign office and the German parliament's subcommittee on UN affairs. The pact outlines recommendations and next steps in various thematic areas related to the Sustainable Development Goals, environmental governance, human rights, and more.

The proposals aim to establish a longer-term future orientation, reform global institutions, adopt a whole-of-society approach, meet existing commitments, and build trust. The document suggests institutional reforms such as creating a Global Resilience Council, an Environmental Governance Agency, and an International Anti-Corruption Court. It also supports the "We The Peoples" campaign for inclusive global governance, calling for establishing a UN Parliamentary Assembly, a UN World Citizens' Initiative, and a UN Civil Society Envoy.

The People's Pact emphasizes the need for a significant overhaul of the UN and global governance, including a Charter Review Conference to reform the UN Security Council and enhance the role of the UN General Assembly and UN Parliamentary Assembly. The conclusion suggests that 2030 could be an auspicious time for a UN Charter review conference, allowing sufficient time for research and laying the foundations for plans beyond the Sustainable Development Goals.

The UN Chief received a High-Level Advisory Board report proposing measures to enhance multilateralism. The "Breakthrough for People and Planet" report suggests six transformative shifts to address current and future challenges. These shifts include rebuilding trust through inclusion and accountability, restoring balance with nature and providing clean energy, ensuring sustainable finance, facilitating a just digital transition, establishing adequate collective security, and strengthening governance of transnational risks. The report emphasizes ten principles of multilateralism that should guide these shifts, focusing on people-centered, representative, transparent, equitable, networked, resourced, mission-focused, flexible, accountable, and future-oriented approaches.

The report emphasizes the need for a radically inclusive and people-centered multilateral system to rebuild trust. It calls for meaningful participation from all states, civil society, the private sector, local and regional governments, and other traditionally excluded groups in global decision-making. The report suggests involving cities, subnational regions, and the private sector in global governance without diminishing the role of states. It also proposes establishing a network of recognized civil society focal points within the UN to facilitate their inclusion.

Civil society organizations support the report's goals, such as promoting gender equality and amplifying the voices of marginalized groups. However, they criticize the report for neglecting citizen participation and representation. They argue that citizens and their elected representatives are the source of legitimacy and should be involved in global governance processes. They find it concerning that the report calls for involving corporations without addressing citizen participation. Civil society organizations have submitted proposals for a UN World Citizens' Initiative, a UN Parliamentary Assembly, and a High-Level Civil Society Envoy to address these gaps.

The report's recommendations on strengthening the role of the private sector are seen as unbalanced by civil society organizations, who believe that citizen participation and representation should not be overlooked in rebuilding trust. They argue that a focus on corporations alone undermines trust-building efforts. The report lacks mention of a global parliamentary body, despite advocating for representative and accountable multilateralism.

The report is expected to inform discussions leading to the UN's 2023 Sustainable Development Summit and the 2024 Summit of the Future. However, the full range of proposals mentioned in the report is not yet available on the panel's website.

A policy brief published by the Think20 (T20) engagement group of the G20 suggests that the G20 and like-minded members should initiate negotiations on establishing a UN Parliamentary Assembly and a UN World Citizens' Initiative. The brief aims to enhance the legitimacy of multilateralism and aligns with India's priority for a reformed multilateralism during its G20 presidency in 2023.

The proposed UN Parliamentary Assembly would allow elected representatives of UN member states to engage in UN affairs, while the UN World Citizens' Initiative would provide individuals with a mechanism to influence the agenda and decision-making of the UN. Both proposals have the support of over 200 civil society organizations worldwide.

The policy brief argues that these UN bodies would enhance representation and inclusivity within the organization, aligning with India's goal of reformed multilateralism and increasing the UN's legitimacy. It suggests that the G20 and like-minded countries can use their platform to deliberate and coordinate actions to bring about these legitimacy-related changes at the UN, which would benefit both the G20 and the UN by promoting a more legitimate and effective international system.

The authors of the policy brief are Andreas Bummel, Executive Director of Democracy Without Borders, and Thomas Pogge, Director of the Global Justice Program at Yale University.

The Think20 engagement group serves as an idea bank for the G20, bringing together think tanks and experts to discuss policy issues relevant to the G20. The group's recommendations are presented to G20 working groups, ministerial meetings, and the leaders' summit to support the development of concrete policy measures.

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