The 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) Assembly adopted the
Hanoi Declaration at the end of the five-day gathering that wrapped up
in the capital on April 1.
In its forewords, the
Declaration said international commitments can only be met with strong
political will, leadership and national ownership.
It said the adoption of the new post-2015 development agenda and its
sustainable development goals in September 2015 will afford a unique
opportunity to meet global challenges, using a universal, integrated
approach that will apply to all countries and link poverty eradication
to sustainable development.
It reaffirmed the vision
of a people-centered sustainable development based on the realisation
of all human rights, to eradicate poverty in all its forms, and
eliminate inequalities, thus empowering all individuals to exercise
their full potential.
This requires conditions of
peace and security, in full observance of the Charter of the United
Nations and international law, it said, adding that a people-centred
approach requires environmental justice: the planet and all its
ecosystems must be treated as common assets for the whole of humanity to
enjoy now and in the future. Human well-being must be the driver of all
policies for sustainable development, and progress measured in terms
that go well beyond.
Supporting an ambitious set of 17 goals ,
parliamentarians committed to do their utmost to strengthen national
ownership of the goals, particularly by making them known to their
constituents.
They pledged to translate the goals
into enforceable domestic laws and regulations, including through the
critical budget process. Each country must do its part to ensure that
all the goals are met.
Representatives from African,
Arabian, Asia-Pacific, Latin American and the Caribbean countries
delivered speeches thanking the National Assembly, government and people
of Vietnam for their hospitality during the stay.
In
his closing speech, IPU President Saber Chowdhury said 2015 is a
defining year for the world future in the next 20 years, thereby
parliaments worldwide need to stay united in the global IPU mechanism.
National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, who is
also IPU-132 President, declared the adoption of the Resolution “Cyber
warfare – a serious threat to peace and international security” of the
Standing Committee on Peace and International Security, the Resolution
on “Shaping new mechanisms on water resources management, promoting
parliamentary action on water and sanitation” of the Standing Committee
on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade, and the Resolution “
International law as it relates to national sovereignty,
non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and human rights”
of the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights.
He said the Hanoi Declaration will be submitted to the Summit of the
United Nations General Assembly this September, laying a foundation for
parliaments to suggest ideas to realise SDGs, contributing to peace,
friendship and cooperation among countries, parliaments and advancing
the next development step in the international community beyond 2015.-VNA