Objective 7 2020
Mobilize parliaments around the global development agenda
Recent data from the UN Economic Commission for Africa indicates that at the current rate of progress the continent is now likely to meet just one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).1 Despite the setbacks – compounded by the pandemic – progress can still be made. All stakeholders, including parliaments, can help to accelerate momentum. In 2020, the IPU continued supporting parliaments to turn the SDGs into reality for their citizens.
Global tools and advocacy for local impact
COVID-19 presents both challenges and opportunities. We work
ed with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to produce a policy note for parliamentarians on green approaches to COVID-19 recovery. The policy note suggests multiplepossible actions by parliaments for national recovery from COVID-19. If implemented, the suggestions will help countries to meet the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as create new jobs. The IPU has invited parliaments to share any experiences and lessons learned to facilitate these green recoveries.
Sustaining development priorities in times of pandemic
Often organized with partners, multiple online events helped build parliamentary capacity for implementation of the Paris Agreement, emergency preparedness, the reduction of disaster risk, and awareness of the SDGs. In 2020, more than 1,400 parliamentarians participated, a record number since we initiated these meetings.
At the regional level, we worked with the UN Economic Commissions for Asia and the Pacific, Africa and the Arab regions to mobilize parliaments in a bid to exchange ideas and build capacity to achieve the SDGs. Attendees included parliamentary members and staff from 46 countries around the world. Some workshops emphasized the role of parliaments in mountainous countries in lessening the impacts
of climate change.
We also collaborated with the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and the Global Center on Adaptation to co-organize the inaugural meeting of parliamentarians of the CVF. The event focused on the role of parliaments in the 48 countries most threatened by climate change, including many Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The IPU has paid particular attention to the needs and vulnerabilities of small countries such as SIDS for many years, and a number of political pronouncements have been initiated by SIDS through the IPU.
Building support for parliaments on climate change, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UNFCCC Secretariat. We also extended an existing agreement with UNEP by five years.
We also continued our cooperation with the World Health Organization, raising awareness and providing COVID-related information to parliaments in some of the key stages of the pandemic. Special attention was paid to the needs of the populations particularly vulnerable to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as women, children and adolescents, and the ways in which parliaments can address those vulnerabilities. Child marriage as a common consequence of poverty was a particular focus of our cooperation with the WHO.
Following up on our commitments
The IPU’s 2019 resolution on universal health coverage
provided a good opportunity for parliamentarians to recommit in 2020, and to discuss how strong health systems can help protect the population during times of emergency. Due for publication in 2021, an accountability report will show implementation of the 2019 resolution. Marginalized and vulnerable populations are worst affected by crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the IPU President engaged with the Every Woman Every Child movement to keep attention on the issue.
At the regional level, we followed up with south Asian parliaments on implementation of the Malé Declaration, adopted at the 2019 South Asian Speakers’ Summit on Achieving the SDGs. South Asian parliaments have been making progress on the SDGs, especially on gender equality (SDG 5). Between them, they have passed more than 20 pieces of legislation, especially on the following topics: maternity leave and benefits, parliamentary seats for women, women’ property rights, and protection against harassment of women in the workplace.
An IPU 2020 survey found that 58 per cent of parliaments had completed Voluntary National Reviews, progress reports to the UN on implementation of the SDGs. The survey showed an increase in engagement from 38 per cent in 2019, but also how more work is needed to engage parliaments more fully in the process.
“This has been an excellent session and I would like all heads of government to listen to programmes like this so better quality of health care can be given to the people who need it the most.”
Mr. Dineshwar Nand JaiprashadMP Guyana, on the webinar Universal health coverage in times of COVID19 – Parliamentary best practices and challenges
Case study
Rwanda’s parliament takes legislative action on women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health
An IPU-supported workshop in Rwanda helped to sensitize new members of parliament on key issues for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health, following elections in January 2020.
Rwanda’s Parliamentary Network for Population and Development is now starting a consultative process to address these gaps. In 2020, the Parliament also revised legislation to enable civil registration at health facilities. Enabling civil registration allows individuals to have a legal identity and thus to access vital services.
The IPU has been collaborating with Rwanda’s parliament on these issues for several years. Collaboration includes capacity development as well as support for community outreach and field visits. Notable results include the 2016 Reproductive Health Law.
Our impact
As part of our global engagement on women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (WCAH), we published an action-oriented roadmap to help parliamentarians develop solutions on WCAH. Produced jointly with the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, an alliance of more than 1,000 organizations, the roadmap helps parliamentary members and staff, for example in Rwanda, to spot any legal obstacles that might prevent women, children and adolescents from accessing health care.
We also trained more than 100 parliamentary staff from 12 sub-Saharan countries to understand how legislation can better respond to the needs of women, children and adolescents. The Parliament of Botswana subsequently reviewed its legislation on adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Recognizing that COVID-19 has provoked more gender-based violence, the parliament has also been working on new legislation on this topic. In 2020, it passed the Sexual Offenders Registry Bill. The parliament of Zambia organized a seminar to ensure implementation of legislation on nutrition, after the IPU Secretary General, Martin Chungong (a member of the Scaling Up Nutrition movement lead group) urged all parliaments to sustain efforts and investment in nutrition.
As well as supporting the translation of the SDG self-assessment toolkit, we worked with parliamentary members and staff in Albania, Indonesia and Ukraine to raise awareness and knowledge of the SDGs. Such activities will inform parliamentary self -assessments that will help countries to design and implement their SDG action plans.