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"id": 97144,
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"legal_name": "Nuh Nassir Abdi",
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"content": "Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I beg to move:- THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Kenya Delegation to the 120th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between 5th and 10th April, 2009 laid on the Table of the House on 7th April, 2010. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the Report is a summary of the proceedings and resolutions of the 120th Assembly of the IPU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, between the said dates. In accordance with the statutes and rules of IPU, and on behalf of the Executive of the Kenya National Assembly Group, three Members were nominated to represent our Parliament during the 120th IPU Assembly held in Addis Ababa. The delegation comprised of the following Members:- 1. Hon. Farah Maalim, MP â Deputy Speaker â Leader of Delegation. 2. Hon. (Dr.) Joyce Laboso, MP. 3. Hon. (Dr.) Nasir Abdi, MP. 4. Mr. James Mwangi â Deputy Clerk/Deputy Director. 5. Ms. Anita Thuranira â Principal Clerk Assistant. I am presenting this report on behalf of Mr. Farah Maalim. On behalf of the members of the delegation, I wish to thank most sincerely, the Speaker of the National Assembly for having given us the opportunity to represent the National Assembly in this international forum and having accorded us, together with the Clerk, all the necessary financial assistance to attend that conference. The delegation also wishes to express its gratitude to the Clerk of the National Assembly on the same behalf. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the IPU is an international organization of parliaments of 154 member States, most of which are parliaments of sovereign states, save for a few. It was established in 1889 and in some ways, it can be described as the âunited nationsâ of parliaments of the world. It strives for co-operation among the people and for the firm establishment of representative institutions. It is the sole international organization that represents the legislative branch of governments on a global scale. The conference was attended by 1,193 delegates; 28 of them presiding officers, 35 deputy presiding officers; 165 of whom were women. Other participants also included associate members, observer representatives and various organs of the UN. The objective of IPU is to promote the globalization of democracy to assist parliamentarians to exercise their shared responsibility as global custodians of democracy and human rights. This forum enables parliaments to get better grasp of international issues and establish personal contacts and strength, mutual trust through dialogue and exchange of ideas. The inaugural addresses which were given by hon. members of parliaments, Heads of States among them the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Mr. Meles Zenawi, Mr. Teshome Toga who is the Speaker of the Ethiopian House of Peoplesâ Representatives, Mr. Defege Bula, President of the Ethiopian House of Federation, Mr. Jane, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa and Dr. Theodore Gurirab who is the President of IPU. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, in their addresses, the heat of the matter then was the financial crisis that had engulfed the whole world and, in his address, His Excellency, Meles Zenawi, the Prime Minister, said that the world was facing a serious financial crisis with the potential to create complex economic and security problems. It was opportune that the IPU had recognized the magnitude of the problem and engaged parliaments which have a crucial role in seeking a workable solution. He then observed that in recent times, African economies had started to grow and several long running conflicts had been resolved. For the first time in history, Ethiopia had also experienced five consecutive years of economic growth while he was trying to elucidate the leaps that were made by several other African nations. In his message, Mr. Jane, who was representing the General-Secretary to the UN, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, expressed concerns that the economic crisis the world was facing could easily reverse the hard won development gains already made by many nations. He said that the world could be at the brink of widespread social unrest and that is why he had requested the G20, during the London Summit, to come up with a stimulus plan and reforms of global rules of institutions. These stimulus plans were also to some scale implemented in our nation to forestall the crisis that was engulfing the world. The president to the IPU, Dr. Gurirab said that the catalyst for the economic upheaval the world was facing was in the uses and abuses of banking systems. The crisis was triggered by the failure of a system, which many foresaw and none managed to correct. So, everybody, including Members of Parliament, had some share of responsibility. This is because parliaments are expected to be watchdogs, whistle blowers and auditors of the day to day working of Governments and societies. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the immediate consequences we faced from the economic problems were skyrocketing of food prices, unstable fuel costs, job losses, leading to increased global poverty levels and putting at stake, the attainment of millennium development goals. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, there were panel discussions at the conference, some of which were directed towards discussing matters of development of adolescent girls. The UNICEF, which was the lead agency then, engaged parliamentarians on many challenges faced by adolescent girls. Participants focused on several ways in which they could promote the lives of girls by investing in their education and promoting an end to the violence against girls in the social settings. I would like to laud our Parliament for trying to take some bold steps towards that goal. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, a second panel discussion deliberated on managing diversities. The main focus of this discussion was on various aspects of managing diversities, with particular emphasis on political participation of minorities and indigenous people. Parliamentarians addressed the benefit of diversity in the globalised economy, the international agreement that supports the rights of minorities and the various mechanisms for ensuring political participation of all sectors in the society. At this point, I would want to laud the court ruling that ruled that the Ogiek and other minorities in this nation deserve better representation and to be awarded constituencies of their own, where they can have MPs who can articulate their issues. I know the hon. Member for Kuria is one who always stands and talks about how minorities in this country should be treated - in a better way. Another panel discussion centred on the countdown to the year 2015 that has to do with the millennium development goals to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality. These were identified as gaps and new actions proposed to assist nations in achieving the MDG 4 and the MDG 5. There were several conference topics; the first one was the general debate on the political, economic and social situation in the world. The conference had envisaged a topic and a theme that centred on building peace, democracy, development in times of crisis, and the economic crisis that had existed then. Another topic was advancing nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and securing the entry into force of comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. This was a conference topic which I fully participated in; I happened to be a rapporteur. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, another topic engaged in by Members of Parliament was on climate change, sustainable development, models and renewable energies, freedom of expression and right to information. The conference also discussed an emergency item. This was the role of Members of Parliaments in mitigating the social and political impact of the international economic and financial crisis. In building peace and democracy, parliamentarians noted with concern the rising levels of insecurity all over the world, and the threat it was posing to stability and peace necessary for political, social and economic development, particularly in third world countries. In his contribution, the Deputy Speaker of the Kenya National Assembly emphasized the need for countries to maintain peace and security, which were pre- requisites for national growth and development, and without which democracy would not survive. He said that it was saddening to note that most states in Africa paid lip service to the tenets of democracy. He said the political elite were hell bent to maintain the status quo. In their rule and control very often, they compromise the principles of democracy. He urged the countries in the Horn of Africa to rise to the occasion and lead by example in matters of democracy, human rights, equality and equity to warrant the pivotal position they hold in the continent. In matters pertaining to advancement of nuclear non-proliferation, parliamentarians lauded the efforts made by the IPU to constantly remind the world of the dangers of possession and use of nuclear weapons, both on mankind, other living beings and also the environment. Several countries are signatories to the nuclear ban treaties, which they undertook to implement for the universal good. Parliaments were, however, concerned that there were over 26,000 nuclear war heads in the world, whose use could trigger unprecedented devastation and human suffering. The tendency by some states with nuclear weapons to justify the possession of those nuclear war heads with the argument that the weapons are vital for their security and the security of their friends and allies was equally worrying. The concern is further compounded by the fact that there is very little transparency over the actual amount of existing nuclear stockpiles. So, parliaments were urged to put pressure on their governments, which have not signed and ratified the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty to do so without further delay. I am happy to say that our country is a signatory to that treaty. On climate change, sustainable development, models and renewable energies, parliamentarians noted with great concern that most emissions causing global warming were generated in the developed countries. Whereas their extreme effect are felt in the developing countries, it was noted that the quantities of carbon dioxide, which forms over 76 per cent of green house gases and other green houses emissions, have increased by more than 30 per cent since pre-industrial times. Parliaments were therefore urged to impress upon their governments to promote energy efficiency in generation and distribution as well as to encourage the use of energy saving appliances in all sectors. I do not know whether the provision of energy-saving bulbs is one attempt by our nation to go the same direction. Parliaments were thus urged that they should put pressure in place to protect vulnerable groups, particularly in Third World countries, from the effects of climate change. In respect of freedom of expression and right to information, parliamentarians expressed their concerns that over the years, governments have increasingly restricted the right to freedom of expression by their citizens. This is despite the fact that the right to freedom of expression is recognized by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights; it is also included in the freedom to hold opinions and to impart information. Parliamentarians were, therefore, urged not only to be at the forefront of protecting this freedom in order to ensure the growth of democracy, but to also protect the youth from getting access to undesirable and destructive information by enacting appropriate legislation in that respect."
}