INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION PLACE DU PETIT-SACONNEX 1211 GENEVA 19, SWITZERLAND |
ACHIEVING PEACE, STABILITY AND COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT IN THE WORLD AND FORGING CLOSER POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL TIES AMONG PEOPLES
Resolution adopted without a vote by the 103rd Inter-Parliamentary Conference
Considering that parliaments, as representatives of the people, play an important role in promoting dialogue and strengthening cordial ties between nations and peoples in the political, economic and cultural fields with a view to attaining global stability and peace, Convinced that the United Nations and regional organisations under the UN Charter are more necessary than ever in order to contain and resolve conflicts between nations and that the United Nations must remain the cornerstone of strong global cooperation and welcoming in this connection the ongoing reforms within the UN, Concerned by the actions of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund that have not succeeded in reducing the gap between rich and poor countries, CoConsidering that although the globalisation of economies, the increase in trade and the acceleration of technical progress undoubtedly fuel growth, they also worsen the imbalances between the wealthiest and poorest countries insofar as they give priority above all else to market forces, Convinced that the inequitable distribution of wealth between countries and the considerable discrepancy in people's living standards are major factors of imbalance and a source of conflict among nations, Convinced also that inequalities within a country prevent sustainable development, Aware that genuine and lasting peace is essential to sustainable economic, social and cultural development focused on the human being and shared by all, Recalling that the participation of people in choices concerning them is necessary for any project to succeed, Stressing that women do not participate equally with men in political, economic and social decision-making and that often discrimination against women, including poverty, denial of access to education, violence and sexual exploitation, limits their ability to contribute to the prevention and resolution of conflict within and between States, Affirming that parliamentary democracy based on respect for human rights is the best means of ensuring transparency, justice, the freedom of peoples and concord among nations, Stressing that transparency in decision-making and full access to information attract greater commitment by those involved, Concerned at overarmament, which generates mistrust between countries and financial waste, Greatly concerned that poverty and its consequences, including hunger, malnutrition and illiteracy, engender helplessness and marginalisation, which are an obstacle to participation in society and in decision-making processes, Reaffirming the importance of the IPU resolution on "Parliamentary action to encourage all countries to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty prohibiting all nuclear testing, to encourage universal and non-discriminatory nuclear non-proliferation measures and to work towards the eventual elimination of all nuclear weapons" adopted by the 101st IPU Conference (April 1999, Brussels), the ultimate aim of which is the abolition of all forms of nuclear weapons,
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