Speaker to advocate for democratic governance at United Nations

Advocating for democratic governance to be part of the post-2015 development agenda will be the focus of an upcoming visit to the Inter-Parliamentary Union and United Nations in New York by the Speaker, Rt Hon David Carter.

The Speaker will attend the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) Second Meeting of the Preparatory Committee of the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, of which the Speaker is a member. The meeting will examine progress on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, challenges facing parliaments across the globe, as well as practical considerations for the conference to be held in 2015.

The Speaker will also attend the Annual Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations. The hearing will provide a further opportunity to help inform the collective thinking of parliamentarians about the future Sustainable Development Goals. It is intended that the post-2015 development agenda reflect the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental.

“I believe that democratic principles, values and institutions should underpin the post-2015 development agenda. The full involvement of parliaments to implement the agenda and to attain its goals and targets is imperative,” the Speaker said. “Speakers are well placed to advocate for democratic ideals of transparency, accountability and oversight, as we lead the institutions of parliament that are pivotal to democratic governance.”

“I am very pleased at the substantive cooperation between the United Nations, the IPU and member parliaments over recent years. I trust we will maintain regular and systematic interaction between parliamentarians and United Nations officials, as we have a significant role to play in reviewing the implementation of international commitments and facilitating closer ties between countries. In order to achieve the vision of post-2015 development agenda, greater global cooperation will be required and parliaments are integral to this.”

The visit will take place from 17 to 20 November.

ENDS

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