Luanda - Angola will host, in 2024, the 55th Plenary Assembly of the Parliamentary Forum of the Southern African Development Community (SADC-PF), according to a decision taken by the body's summit taking place in Port Louis, Mauritius.
Regarding this decision, the National Assembly Speaker, Carolina Cerqueira, mentioned the fact that Angola has become a turning point for regional and global parliamentarism.
The Angolan parliamentary leader welcomed parliamentarians from the region, stressing that they will be well received in Angola.
On Wednesday, during the first day of the 54th Plenary Assembly of the SADC-PF, Carolina Cerqueira advocated a reflection on the role of parliaments in the search for solutions for social progress and well-being in countries of community because, in her view, caring for humanity requires preserving nature and placing it at the center of political decisions and legislative agendas.
"Concerns with political, economic and budgetary issues require addressing the importance that the environment has for economic and social development, remembering that the SADC Parliamentary Forum has, among its objectives, to promote peace, security , the stability and sustainable development of the States that comprise it, whose cornerstone is the guarantee of the existence of an ecologically balanced environment", she said.
The Angolan parliamentarian also called for reflection on the principle of cooperation between countries in the region, which requires the commitment of all parties concerned to adopt integrated legislative measures that prevent calamities resulting from climate change, mitigate its impact and contribute to the region's recovery and lasting development.
The aim of this forum is to provide a platform to support and improve regional integration through parliamentary participation and promote best practices in terms of the role of parliaments in regional integration and cooperation.
The specific objectives of the Parliamentary Forum address a wide range of issues, including, among others, promoting human rights, gender equality, good governance, democracy and transparency, promoting peace, security and stability, accelerating the pace of cooperation economic, development and integration based on equity and mutual benefits, facilitation of networking with other inter-parliamentary organizations.
The objectives also include promoting the participation of non-governmental organizations, businesses and intellectual communities in SADC activities, familiarizing SADC citizens with SADC goals and objectives and informing SADC about popular opinions on development and issues that affect region.
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