The Speaker of the Parliament, Anita Among, has called upon her fellow speakers in the Commonwealth to play a pivotal role in establishing a peaceful and conflict-free world. Speaking at the closure of the 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort in Kampala on Saturday, 06 January 2024, Among emphasized the imperative for Parliaments to actively engage in addressing global challenges.
“The world has witnessed severe geo-political changes, characterized by increased violence and wars, especially in the Middle East and parts of Europe. As Parliaments, we cannot afford to sit and act as bystanders,” Among asserted.
She further rallied her counterparts to advocate for the respect of other states’ values, cultures, and traditions, emphasizing that differences in perspectives should be managed within the bounds of friendship. Among pledged the Parliament of Uganda’s commitment to supporting cooperation among Commonwealth legislatures.
“As the Parliament of Uganda, we shall strengthen Parliamentary diplomacy through the various Inter-Parliamentary bodies at our disposal, including the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. We shall advocate for unity, diversity, greater respect for people, and greater co-existence,” she declared.
The four-day conference, running from 03 to 06 January 2023, provided a platform for Speakers and Presiding Officers to deliberate on various critical issues such as climate change, security of Speakers and Presiding Officers, health, gender inclusivity, and youth engagement in parliamentary processes.
Addressing the importance of youth involvement, Speaker Among referred to Sustainable Development Goal three, stressing the need for deliberate steps to promote youth engagement in parliamentary affairs. She highlighted Uganda Parliament’s efforts, including the annual Youth Parliament, where youth leaders from across the country participate in a moot plenary session.
During a plenary session, India was endorsed to host the 28th CSPOC in 2026. The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, Harivansh Narayan Singh, expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to positively impact the lives of citizens in the Commonwealth through the forum.
“It will be a moment of pride for India, and the people of India are ready to showcase their diverse culture. We look forward to welcoming all of you to India,” Singh remarked.
The overarching goal of the CSPOC is to maintain, foster, and encourage impartiality and fairness among Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth Parliaments. It also seeks to promote knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy in its various forms.
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