2 September 2015: Parliamentary leaders from around the world adopted a declaration, titled ‘Placing democracy at the service of peace and sustainable development: Building the world the people want,’ at the close of the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. The Declaration urges countries to: reach agreements that take into account the Rio principles, including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR); ensure that the rule of law is upheld and all have equal access to justice; end all forms of discrimination against women and girls; and ensure politics are open to young people.

Approximately 180 parliamentary leaders from 140 countries met from 31 August-2 September 2015, at UN Headquarters in New York, US. The declaration will feed into the UN summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, which is taking place from 25-27 September 2015.

Forest Whitaker, artist and UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, delivered a keynote address, and Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) President Saber Chowdhury and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon officially opened the conference. During the conference, participants agreed to increase efforts to engage young people in democracy and accelerate progress on gender equality and political representation, and discussed how to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Parliamentary leaders also: pledged to “bring parliament closer to the people” by addressing public skepticism and disconnect with politics, social and political marginalization, gender inequality and an imbalanced power relationship with government; and underlined the need for constitutional and institutional reforms in transition countries, social justice, good governance and respect for human rights.

The Declaration welcomes the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including, among others, the SDGs on: achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls; taking urgent action against climate change; promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development; and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. The Declaration also: states that parliaments must be more active in international affairs by monitoring international negotiations, enforcing existing agreements and ensuring national compliance with international law; recommends strengthening the IPU’s capacity to focus on the post-2015 development agenda; encourages the IPU and the UN to continue expanding their cooperation, particularly in implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), the post-2015 development agenda, and the climate change agreement expected to be adopted in Paris in December; and supports the establishment of mechanisms for tracking and monitoring progress and calls on the IPU to ensure reporting.

At a press conference on 1 September, Saber Chowdhury, head of IPU, noted the importance of parliaments for translating the new agenda into real improvements for people. He highlighted that both the IPU and the UN have “a singular focus on people, their well-being and their security,” making the two institutions “natural partners.” He added that the UN Charter begins with the words ‘We the peoples of the United Nations,’ and “IPU is the organization that is the global platform for elected representatives and institutions of the people.” [Chowdhury Press Conference] [Declaration: Placing democracy at the service of peace and sustainable development: Building the world the people want] [UNISDR Press Release] [UN Press Release] [IISD RS Story on Opening Statements]