INSIDE ISSUES
OUR DIVERSITY HIGHLIGHTS SHARED CONCERNS
The Editor’s note
Development is the focus of issue one of The Parliamentarian for this year. The 15-year target for the original Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was 2015, making this an appropriate time to reflect on the progress made, and to consider the route forwards as the new Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) are finalised and agreed. Inside, Paul Foster-Bell MP (New Zealand) and Mr Justin Bundi (Kenya) give us perspectives on the development agenda from two very different parts of the world. But, as often is the case across
the Commonwealth, there are many common areas of concern, and much to be gained from the sharing of knowledge amongst parliamentarians.
Mr Bundi links the slow progress on the MDGs to the lack of engagement of parliaments in the development agenda. “The process remained, and still is very much an executive agenda with very little engagement (if any) of parliaments,” he says. This is a point that has been made very clearly in many CPA conferences, events and workshops. It is also a
shortcoming that the CPA and parliamentarians throughout the Commonwealth have been addressing as the SDG process has evolved.
Mr Foster-Bell’s article emphasises the importance of New Zealand’s regional role in the development process along with the key role of local communities.
“A key strength of our approach has been engaging with local communities to develop tailor-made solutions to problems, rather than simply imposing our plans upon others,” he says.
New Zealand is acutely aware of its regional role in the Pacific
He also highlights the issue of access to natural resources. “Around US$4 billion of tuna is harvested in Pacific waters each year. Yet only about 10% of that amount, by value, makes its way back to the Pacific nations – the rightful owners of the resource,” he says. Development is a topic never far from the surface in many of the articles you will find in this issue. In her ‘View’ the Rt Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, MP, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians and Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, emphasises that gender equality is an issue for all – inequalities hinder economic development for everyone.
“The importance of achieving gender equality cannot be over stated,” she says. “Research studies show that economic stability and growth for developing countries is greatly boosted by improved gender equality.”
The ‘View’ from the Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee and Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, is based on the text of a speech the Hon. Speaker made at Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day.
4 | The Parliamentarian | 2015: Issue One
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