Posted by Esta Malibiche on APRIL 4,2017 IN NEWS
Speaker
of the Senate of Kenya, Rt Hon Ekwe Ethuro addresses the Assembly where
he called for urgent international action to save millions of people
from famine and drought
The
EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Daniel F. Kidega consults with Hon Dora Byamukama
at the 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Rt Hon Daniel F. Kidega, Speaker of EALA addresses the IPU Assembly.
A section of the delegates in attendance at the global Parliamentarians meet.
…tells Parliamentarians to take “bull by the horns” in redressing inequalities
East African Legislative Assembly, Dhaka, Bangladesh: 3rd April 2017: EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Daniel Fred Kidega is calling on global Parliamentarians to
pay more attention in ensuring promotion of economic stimulus
programmes that address social challenges and support local value chains
in a bid to narrow the widening poverty gaps and redress inequalities.
At
the same time, Rt Hon Kidega says Parliaments should appropriate more
resources in the States’ budgets to check on rising inequalities and
hold Executive accountable on the same.
The Speaker was addressing the 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU) taking place in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The annual event which is themed: Redressing inequalities: Delivering on dignity and well-being for all” brings together over 50 Speakers and 1400 legislators from the globe.
In his remarks, Rt Hon Kidega maintained that despite the emergence
of BRIC countries and other economies as well as attempts to generate
wealth, much more was needed to reduce the inequality and to raise the
standards of living.
He
said the East African Community region had similarly been gravely
affected by inequalities. “The State of East Africa Report 2016 depicts
not all citizens have seen or felt the benefits of increasing national
GDP figures at the individual/family front. If anything, life continues
to be harsher and harder. The economic boom has not generated the jobs
as was expected, while levels of poverty and malnutrition remain high”,
the Speaker said, while remaining optimistic the trend could be
reversed.
The
Speaker cited issues contributing to inequality as disparity in income
levels throughout the world, uncertain political environments, the
gender norms and stereotypes and the imbalance of economic power.
In
many countries, Rt Hon Kidega said, fruits of economic development
increasingly failed to reach those who deserve the same – instead
benefitting companies, financial services and vested interests. He said the rate of unemployment in the globe was similarly high.
“Statistics in East Africa reveals that 7
out of the 10 persons you see walking in the streets are jobless, while
another 6 out of 10 live in informal settlements. Yet, the largest
population, the youth, constitute about 8 out of 10 persons and their
age range is below 30 years”, Such is replicable in many parts of the
globe”, he noted.
The
Speaker called on Parliaments to enact relevant legislation to make
greater impact. He informed the convention that EALA had legislated a
number of pieces that protect society and address inequalities
including; the EAC Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2016, the EAC Gender,
Equity and Equality Bill, 2016, the EAC Conflict Management Bill, 2011
and the EAC Human and Peoples Rights Act 2011.
“He
further called for dialogue to resolve political issues saying
politically instigated inequalities more often than not arise from
disputed elections and uncertainties which result into conflicts and
sometimes wars. The ramifications are sometimes too much to bear
leading to refugee crises and instabilities in the nations”, Rt Hon Kidega said.
Analysts contend that Poverty
reduction is often compromised by income inequality. The International
Monetary Fund (IMF) urges poor and resource rich nations to
simultaneously explore reduction of inequality and bolster long-term
economic growth. However, inequality correlates to shorter spells of
economic expansion and volatility to crises.
The 136th IPU
was opened by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bangladesh, Hon
Sheikh Hasina at the Parliament of Bangladesh yesterday. The
Prime minister thanked delegates for electing Bangladesh as the chair
of both Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association (CPA). The Prime minister mentioned her government’s short,
medium and long-term initiatives for the development of the country and
said the government is making stride to build the country in a planned
way.
“The
100 Million young people are prepared to make the world a better place.
Let us not make them frustrated. They are the face of change and let us
globalise human compassion”, he said.
The
Emergency items include a call for urgent international action to save
millions of people from famine and drought in parts of Africa and the
Yemen jointly presented by the Republic of Kenya together with Belgium
and the United Kingdom. Speaker of the Senate of Kenya, Rt Hon Ekwe
Ethuro, presented the merged proposal to the Assembly yesterday.
“We
need to request for international organisations to come to the aid of
the affected nations. Without global action, people will simply starve
to death”, the Speaker remarked.The Speaker of
the Parliament of Uganda, Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga and the Speaker of the
Burundi National Assembly, Rt Hon Pascal Nyabenda also addressed the
Assembly.
In
attendance also are a delegation of the Parliament of Rwanda led by the
Deputy Speaker and legislators from the Transitional Assembly of the
Republic of South Sudan.
The
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national
Parliaments. It works to safeguard peace and drives positive democratic
change through political dialogue and concrete action. To that end, IPU
fosters contacts, co-ordination, and the exchange of experience among
Parliaments and Parliamentarians of all countries. IPU also contributes
to the defence and promotion of human rights - an essential factor of
Parliamentary democracy and development. EALA is an Associate Member of
the IPU.
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