These are some of the highlights of the Declaration of Luanda, a document approved this Friday and which brings together conclusions from the work of the 147th General Assembly of the IPU, having been read, at the end of the meeting, by the president of the National Assembly of Angola, Carolina Cerqueira.
"We, parliamentarians, have the responsibility to ensure that issues addressed throughout the debates are effectively implemented", he argued, highlighting that good governance is considered essential in the Luanda declaration for achieving sustainable development objectives, with parliaments having a key role to play.
"Strengthening the rule of law must be at the center of our action in order to promote good governance, including transparency in the management of public affairs for the common good", it is also highlighted in the Luanda Declaration, which encourages the functioning of higher and independent public financial control institutions.
With regard to the judicial system, it remains necessary to "work towards deepening the impartiality of justice administration bodies, in order to ensure procedural speed and respect for human rights", according to the same document.
The Declaration estimates that the resurgence of conflicts in various parts of the world has "extremely harmful consequences for populations" and is often the result of economic and social asymmetries, as well as discrimination due to issues of gender, race, ethnicity and religious and cultural differences.
The deputies signing the Declaration reaffirm their belief in the rule of law, at national and international level, as the basis for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and reiterate the "need to protect human rights in times of war", launching "a strong appeal to the community international organization to ensure that humanitarian aid is provided in conflict-affected areas".
The declaration also calls for measures to be taken to prevent and combat all forms of violence against women and minority groups.
The document also points out the need to strengthen trust and ensure more active participation of citizens and social groups in all institutions and at all levels, and this must be done "in a more equitable and inclusive way".
