Duarte Pacheco, who spoke to Lusa on the sidelines of the 147th UIP assembly, highlighted the increase in the number of parliaments associated with the organization, with 180 members, with the approval this Tuesday, in Luanda, Bahamas, leaving only 13 left to the one hundred percent of States recognized by the United Nations.
According to Duarte Pacheco, the organization's governance was also reinforced, with a new communication strategy, a policy against violence "even within the organization, because any type of harassment can exist and precautions must be taken".
The Portuguese deputy also pointed out "symbolic issues" such as the creation of the "Cremer-Passy" Prize, named after the two founders of the organization, to be awarded every year and for the second time in Angola, to a parliamentarian with global prominence in favor of democracy , human rights and parliamentarism.
During his mandate, the organization's anthem was also created, which was played for the first time in Luanda, highlighted Duarte Pacheco, adding that attention was paid to all conflicts, seeking to provide answers.
The outgoing president, who is expected to be replaced by one of the four African women running to succeed him, considered it "very important" that it be someone from Africa, that the election takes place in Angola and that it is a woman.
Candidates for the presidency of the IPU are Adji Kanoute, from Senegal, Catherine Hara, from Malawi, Tília Ackson, from Tanzania, and Marwa Hagi, from Somalia.
"We have to show that the Inter-Parliamentary Union is a space where both genders have the capacity, have the chance, to aspire to be president of the IPU. Before me there was a lady, a Mexican senator, it was a man and again a woman, I think that we set a good example to the world of how things should be, I wish you all the best", he said.
According to Duarte Pacheco, his successor assumes the presidency of the organization at a difficult time, because "she will have to have a lot of ingenuity and art to always try to promote dialogue, to resolve conflicts and continue to strengthen the IPU".
"But I know the candidates and I know that they have that ability and that desire," he said.
Duarte Pacheco considered that without peace we cannot think about the rest of the other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), because the public resources that should be used for this purpose are channeled into the "war machine".
"All of us who defend that there must be a better future and support the millennium goals, the Sustainable Development Goals and others, know that we have to have an assumption that is peace", he stressed.
The forum, which takes place under the theme "Parliamentary Action in Favor of Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions", seeks that all parliamentarians from 130 countries commit to peace and are available to sit at the table, he added.
