A country's budget must take gender equality into consideration

Participants to the Seminar "Parliament and the budgetary process, including from the gender perspective", Manilla (Philippines), 23-25 July 2002. Photo : Joseph Muego

"It is essential to strengthen the capacity of parliamentarians and parliamentary staff to analyse the budget, scrutinize relevant reports and understand general economic issues, including from a gender perspective". This is one of the conclusions of the seminar entitled Parliament and the budgetary process, including from the gender perspective, which took place in Manila from 23 to 25 July 2002.

Organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Congress of the Philippines, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank Institute, the event was opened by the President of the Senate of the Philippines, Mr. Franklin M. Drillon, in the presence of the President of the Parliament of East Timor, Mr. Francisco Guterres "Lu-Olo". At the inaugural ceremony, the following personalities addressed delegates from the parliaments of the ASEAN area (South-East Asia), joined by their counterparts from China, the Russian Federation and Sri Lanka: Mr. José de Valencia Jr., Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, Mr. Mark Malloch Brown, UNDP Administrator (who was in Manila for the world launching of the Human Development Report 2002, prepared with input from the IPU), Mr. Rick Stapenhurst, representing the World Bank Institute, and Mr. Martin Chungong, representing the IPU Secretary General.

In his final report, Philippines Senator Ramon B. Magsaysay Jr. stressed that training parliamentary staff and Chairs of committees in gender analysis of policies and budgets was essential. "This can be done at regional level using the available expertise and the services of a global institution such as the IPU", he concluded.

The Manila seminar is part of a series of regional meetings which the IPU has organised for legislators over the past two years. The world organisation of parliaments intends to use these events to make law-makers aware of the role that Parliament plays and must play in the budget process as a whole and urges them to reflect on ways of incorporating the concerns of men and women in this process in an egalitarian manner, so that all decisions taken, be it at the level of parliament or at the level of government, give equal consideration to the concerns of both genders.

Previous seminars were held in Nairobi (Kenya, 2000) and Bamako (Mali, 2001).

In the words of the President of the Parliament of East Timor:
"The task before us is beset with difficulties"

Mr. Francisco Guterres "Lu-Olo", President of the Parliament of East Timor. Photo : Alex Nuevaespaña

For the first time since the country became independent, a parliamentary delegation from East Timor took part in a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), namely the regional workshop on Parliament and the budgetary process, including from the gender perspective, which was held in Manila (Philippines) in July 2002. The President of the Parliament of East Timor, Mr. Francisco Guterres "Lu-Olo", who led the delegation, summed up the priorities of the world's youngest parliament.

Q: This is the first time that a delegation from East Timor has attended an inter-parliamentary seminar. What does this mean for you? Mr. Francisco Guterres "Lu-Olo": This is indeed the first time that a parliamentary delegation from our country is taking part in an inter-parliamentary seminar. This is an important event for us, the inhabitants of East Timor, in particular for the delegation representing us. As you know, East Timor gained its independence less than three months ago, after a long struggle for self-determination. Our infrastructure was completely destroyed. These difficulties represent a major challenge. We are now entering the rebuilding phase in our country, which calls for a strong, courageous and effective government capable of providing the good governance to which our fellow citizens now aspire. And our presence at this forum, albeit modest, has enabled us to benefit from the experience of our neighbours which have also sent delegations. We have been quite impressed by the quality of the presentations delivered by the keynote speakers. All this has been very useful for our delegation.

Q: What are the main priorities of the new Parliament of East Timor? F.G. L.O.: East Timor is a small country with a people who are just as modest but who aspire to the grandeur of its sovereignty. The National Parliament represents it in conformity with the Constitution and the Law. Nothing could be possible if the National Parliament were to pass legislation against the aspirations of the people. Hence the need for legislation that is as coherent as possible.

Q: What are the main tasks before the parliamentarians of East Timor? F.G. L.O.: The task before us is beset with difficulties. The most immediate one is the need to improve the vocational and technical training of the parliamentary staff. Our facilities are in satisfactory condition, but not for plenary sessions. We also lack annexes where standing committees can work. All we have are a few prefabricated buildings for the secretariat of the National Parliament, along with other basic equipment. Despite all these difficulties, parliamentarians are determined to overcome the obstacles.