Steps sought to reverse trends of inequalities
IPU assembly closes with Dhaka Declaration
The 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) assembly concluded yesterday, with the commitment to address gender, socio-economic and political inequality, which
they termed as particularly important dimensions of multifaceted problems.
Nations participating in the five-day-long meeting in Dhaka also renewed their resolve to combat terrorism and to uphold democracy.
The assembly also stressed on the participation of young leaders in finding possible solutions to the problems plaguing their respective countries and people.
The next IPU assembly is scheduled to be held in October 2017.
The global meeting of parliamentarians held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in its Dhaka Communiqu came up with the consensus that each country would devise its own mechanism in addressing inequalities because no single policy prescription could meet all the respective needs.
The communiqu, however, added that the respective parliaments would consider certain common matters to address inequalities like strengthening legal frameworks, making parliaments more representative, making the economy work for all, strengthening social dialogue and human capital, and improving international cooperation.
Besides, the IPU assembly also adopted several resolutions pertaining to redressing inequalities and delivering on dignity and well-being for all, role of parliaments in preventing outside interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, promoting enhanced international cooperation on the SDGs, in particular on the financial inclusion of women as a driver of development.
The participating parliamentarians expressed grave concern with the extreme political, social and economic inequalities prevalent in the world, and urged immediate action to reverse this trend.
In his concluding remarks, IPU president Saber Chaudhury said this assembly was one of the many steps needed to ensure the well-being and dignity of all people.
He said the parliamentarians had spoken of the St. Petersburg attack and chemical attack in Syria as a part of their commitment to prevent any sort of extremism in the world.
Terming the event as Green Assembly, Chaudhury said, The theme of the subsequent IPU assemblies would be the same.
We have estimated that approximately 3,400 tons of carbon dioxide gas was produced during the assembly by the participation of the delegations. We know 90 per cent of people use traditional modes of stoves for cooking. We would provide improved stoves among them. It would compensate the greenhouse gas that was produced in the assembly, he added.
The forum of women parliamentarians called for greater empowerment of girls and legal measures to end gender-based violence. The women MPs also stressed the urgent need to stop early marriage and female genital mutilation, which were detrimental to the education and health of girls.
After the assemblys conclusion, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury told reporters that the hosting of the event in Dhaka proved that the world leaders had full confidence in the democracy in Bangladesh.
World leaders have full confidence on the 10th Parliament of Bangladesh. The world leaders came to Bangladesh heeding the strong call given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. They have full trust on the democratic trend in Bangladesh. I think it is the biggest success of this assembly, she added.
The IPU leaders also pushed for increased access to investigate human rights violation of parliamentarians.
The parliamentarians also pledged to work towards the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 10, to redress inequalities within and among countries.
