On 13 June, the IPU, in cooperation with the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) held a panel discussion in New York entitled “Parliaments, Peacebuilding and Reconciliation”. Dr. Frene Ginwala, former Speaker of the South African Parliament; Senator Rosario Green, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Mexican Senate; and Senator Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, former President of Burundi, joined PBC Chairman Yukio Takasu (Japan) and other members of the United Nations diplomatic community for a substantive and interactive exchange of views.
The discussion focused on some of the major challenges facing newly established post-conflict parliaments and their dramatic impact on the peacebuilding and reconciliation process in the respective countries. Conflict resolution is a long-term process where many crucial issues are referred to the legislative body for consideration and action, such as the question of amnesty, the new electoral system, civilian oversight of the security sector, or representation of vulnerable/minority groups in parliament. Unfortunately, the institution of parliament cannot always meet the expectations conferred upon it.
In many regions around the world, the roots of conflict are at the same time political, economic and social. There is an urgent need for political parties to be strengthened and democratized from within. Parliaments should establish clear rules on the financing of political parties to prevent, for example, money from drug trafficking and other forms of organized crime from polluting the political and governance processes.
In order to restore a clean and healthy political system, it may be necessary to finance political parties and election campaigns from public funds, rather than from non-transparent private contributions. The integrity of members of parliament is very important, as is the need to encourage the active participation and engagement of youth in the political process. Last, but not least, the need for independent media channels should not be underestimated as a vital tool to bring the undistorted messages of politicians and of parliaments to the public at large.
Special attention was given during the panel discussion to the current situation in Burundi, one of the countries where the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission is focusing its work. The Arusha peace accords signed in August 2000 launched a transition period that continues to be characterized by tension. Nevertheless, the National Assembly has sought to play a constructive role. Some reforms have been made, such as the reform of the defence sector, and several innovations have been brought to the institution of parliament itself. As an example, the Senate of Burundi is composed of an equal number of Hutu and Tutsi members, along with representatives of minorities and former heads of State. According to the Constitution, 30 per cent of the members of the lower house should be women.
Today, Burundi continues to face many problems. The peace process is not complete and the transitional justice phase has experienced many delays. There is a lack of dialogue and cooperation among the political parties, which in turn bears a negative impact on the functioning of State institutions. Political parties are disintegrating, and some Constitutional provisions now hinder the functioning of parliament. Tribal politics, compounded by growing poverty, threaten once again to derail the peace process.
Looking ahead, the Parliament of Burundi faces two main challenges: first, taking action and shaping a regulating body to deliver transitional justice; second, preparing for peaceful elections in 2010. Senator Ntibantunganya concluded his remarks by emphasizing the crucial need for the international community to provide assistance to the Parliament of Burundi as the key institution of democratic governance. There is also a genuine need to assist the political parties as they prepare for the upcoming elections.
All speakers, in highlighting lessons learned and good practices that have emerged from their experiences, at the same time expressed their hope that this discussion – and those to follow – would also inspire future work and support by the United Nations system. In particular, there is a need for greater understanding and more structured support by the international community for the parliamentary institutions in countries emerging from conflict. The IPU is committed to assisting the parliaments in these countries and is active on the ground in Burundi and Sierra Leone. The IPU has also developed programmes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere for the consideration of the United Nations and is currently launching a major project on reconciliation issues benefiting nine parliaments in Africa.
