The Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdirahin Haithar Abdi has called for the inclusion of parliaments in global policy decision making processes. The Speaker made the call on 20 July 2010 while addressing the 3rd World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva. The three-day event organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) opened on Monday 19 July and closes today.
Themed “Parliament in a World of Crisis: Securing Global Democratic Accountability for the Common Good” this year, the global summit focuses on democracy, the role of legislative institutions and their relationship with the United Nations.
Speaking at the conference that was opened by IPU President Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, the EALA Speaker expressed the view that relevant UN statutes needed to be amended to give room for the participation of parliaments in decision-making, saying “for instance it can be made a requirement that every decision of the UN General Assembly or the UN Security Council is subjected to some form of a parliamentary process before it becomes binding”.
The Speaker further proposed that existing international parliamentary fora like the Inter-Parliamentary Union be strengthened to co-determine with the UN General Assembly or Security Council the shape of world policies. “Securing global democratic accountability lies not only in strengthening parliaments, but also in ensuring [their] meaningful participation in global policy decision making,” he said.
Rt. Hon. Abdi also used the occasion to pay tribute to a solid working relationship among the Speakers from the EAC National Parliaments. “We have established a Forum of EAC Speakers to champion the cause of Parliaments in the region and to play an advisory role to the EAC Summit of Heads of State, and some of the issues that will been raised in this conference have been at the cornerstone of our deliberations,” he told delegates.
]Also speaking earlier at the event was UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who also emphasised the importance of parliaments in helping tackle various global challenges. “Elected parliamentarians can play a leading role in tackling some of today's global crises and challenges, including unconstitutional changes of government and threats to the rule of law,” he said.
The conference will examine the collective response of the Parliament Speakers and Presidents as the highest representatives of their legislatures to a world facing multiple challenges. Topics presented for panel discussions include strengthening trust between parliament and the people and strengthening the Inter-Parliamentary Union and its relationship with the United Nations. The conference is expected to adopt a declaration upon its closure, with a call to secure global democratic accountability for the common good.
Accompanying the EALA Speaker at the Conference are EALA Members Hon. Abdallah Mwinyi, Hon Nusra Tiperu and Hon. Issa Ngendakumana as well as Deputy Clerk Mr. Alex Obatre.
BACKGROUND
East African Legislative Assembly
The East African Legislative Assembly is the legislative organ of the East African Community and was inaugurated on 30 November 2001. The Assembly has gradually evolved from very humble beginnings to grow into one of the most robust Organs of the Community, earning international recognition along the way.
This recognition has come about as a result of EALA’s deliberate efforts to have its existence and operations known throughout East Africa and beyond through its outreach programmes, and by constant participation in recognized international meetings like the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conferences.
Inter-Parliamentary Union
The Inter-Parliamentary Union is the global association of Parliamentarians of sovereign states. Through regular meetings, the IPU helps to contribute to better knowledge of representative institutions and to the strengthening and development of their means of action as Members of Parliament.
Preparation of the 3rd World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is coordinated by the Preparatory Committee, composed of some twenty speakers of parliament under the chairmanship of the IPU President, Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab. The two previous Conferences were held in New York in 2000 and 2005 respectively. The 2010 Conference edition is hosted in the IPU's home town, Geneva, on the premises of the United
Nations Office known as the Palais des Nations.
Communications and Public Affairs
Clerks Chambers
East African Legislative Assembly
Arusha, Tanzania
https://www.eala.org
https://www.eac.int
