Luanda - The SADC Parliamentary Forum recommended that member states adhere to and recognize the organization's Framework Laws, in order to serve as a basis for legislation, said this Sunday, in Luanda, the Angola National Assembly (AN) Speaker, Carolina Cerqueira.
Carolina Cerqueira said that these are laws linked to the fight against poverty, protection of women's rights, children's rights, women's empowerment and, particularly, the protection of financial assets, to prevent resources from being illegally exported to other regions or countries.
According to the official, special attention has also been given to trafficking of resources, especially construction aggregates, minerals such as diamonds and oil, subject to smuggling across borders, damaging the economic stability of countries.
To this end, she added, it was recommended that member countries adhere to the Model Laws to take measures that can sternly respond to the transgressions of the institutional and constitutional order.
Regarding the situation of women on the African continent, such as lack of access to credit, the feminization of poverty, empowerment and the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, Carolina Cerqueira said that Angola spoke about her experience.
The Angolan parliament Speaker also mentioned the fact that Angola spoke about the actions developed by the National Assembly, in the communities, with the collaboration of schools and civil society, for education against gender violence, the concern for the situation of young girls, for being subject to sexual crimes, domestic violence, pornography and trafficking, among other crimes.
Carolina Cerqueira recalled that the meeting also focused on issues linked to catastrophes and natural accidents, caused by climate disturbances and other irregularities in the environment.
Regarding the holding of the SADC PF's 55th Plenary Assembly, in July 2024, she said that, once again, Angola will show that it is up to the challenges in terms of parliamentary diplomacy in the region and on the international scene.
The member states thanked Angola in general and the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, for the successful engagement in the 147th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
”In July 2024 we will have the 15 countries of the SADC PF to discuss issues linked to the most pressing regional problems, future challenges and the role of parliaments in continuing to develop justice and peace actions and present themselves as strong and credible institutions”, she stressed.
The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) is the regional inter-parliamentary body made up of deputies from the national parliaments of member states, representing more than 3500 parliamentarians in the Southern African region.
Created by the SADC Summit on September 8, 1997, the Forum is comprised by the President of the Session and a maximum of five representatives elected by the National Parliament of each member state.
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 the region.
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