The 3rd World Conference of Speakers of Parliament closed today with the adoption of a declaration on the need to secure global democratic accountability. Over 130 Speakers of Parliament gave their assent to a text that affirmed how accountability and representation lie at the heart of democracy.
The Speakers warned that the global development gap is still widening. They said that since their previous meeting five years ago in New York, economic growth had been stymied by a global financial and economic crisis. Although the economy was showing signs of recovery, the deep-rooted structural problems remained.
In discussing accountability, the parliamentary leaders took a searching look at their own institution, voicing their preoccupation with how politics can become a closed space where there is insufficient room for opposing opinions and consideration of alternative policies. "We will do all we can" said the Speakers "to ensure that the rights of all members of parliament are guaranteed; they must be free to speak out without fear of harassment or punishment".
Looking at the position of parliaments on the international stage, the Speakers declared that today's multilateral systems should allow for much greater consideration for the thoughts, feelings and aspirations of people everywhere whose voices go unheard. They called for greater parliamentary involvement in international cooperation, while stressing that it should be firmly rooted in the daily work of the parliament, much of which relates to providing accountability.
After hearing the UN Secretary General speak at the opening of the Conference, the Speakers pledged their support for the United Nations and its Charter. They commended the world body for enshrining the world's development objectives in the Millennium Development Goals, emphasizing the need for a closer relationship with parliaments in their fulfillment. The encouraged their parliaments, when they reviewed and debated draft budgets and bills to assess their impact on the fulfillment of the goals.
Turning to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), convener of the global conference, they affirmed that the IPU is the international body best suited to build the relationship between parliaments and the United Nations. The Speakers concluded by saying that parliaments would do their part in securing global democratic accountability for the common good. For the full text of the declaration, see http://www.ipu.org/splz-e/speakers10/declaration.pdf. For the conference blog, see http://speakersconference2010.wordpress.com/.
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