A/76/PV.85 General Assembly

The world continues to face complex and interlinked crises. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has loomed over our existence for the past two years, joins a list of other critical issues that we must work together to address. Conflicts pervade our world  — in Ukraine, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Palestine, among many other countries  — taking thousands of lives and leaving a tragic humanitarian toll. The climate crisis continues unabated, despite the fact that increasing climate-related disasters, irregular and extreme weather patterns, global warming and devastated ecosystems have made the urgency of resolving it all the more evident. The multilateral system that has kept our world intact since 1945 is under unprecedented pressure. We face economic uncertainty, growing food insecurity and immense strain on our global supply chains. Other endemic issues, from development challenges and poverty to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism, have cast a shadow on the global agenda. It is beyond the capacity of any single State or global institution to resolve such serious and urgent issues unilaterally. It requires a comprehensive effort that leverages the energy and expertise of all States and stakeholders, in a true spirit of multilateralism, and parliaments play a key role in that — something that as a former parliamentarian and Speaker of Parliament I keenly appreciate. Global agendas cannot succeed without concrete progress at the national level, where legislatures play a profoundly important role. As I have said before, parliaments serve as the platform from which United Nations resolutions can be turned into national legislation. They also help channel local concerns to the international community in order to better inform its debates and deliberations. While that synergy has always been important, it is especially so now, at a time when major global crises such as COVID-19, climate change, conflict and poverty are converging and compounding one another. The input and insights of parliamentarians from across the political spectrum will help us to face and overcome those challenges. Their collective knowledge and expertise can help our world find peace, strengthen our democracies and support the economic well-being of our communities. I am pleased that the cooperation between the United Nations system, parliamentary organizations and national parliaments has expanded over the past two years, despite the challenges of the pandemic. That cooperation has been greatly facilitated by the very effective work of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), whose efforts I commend and applaud. Going forward, the collaboration and partnership between the United Nations, national parliaments and the IPU must be further strengthened. I want to assure everyone that throughout my presidency of hope, I will continue to work with all the relevant stakeholders to facilitate those partnerships and build synergies. When Governments, civil society, the private sector and legislatures work together, we can achieve great feats. We can realize our common vision of a brighter future — one in which we address the climate crisis, build sustainable economies, alleviate poverty, realize gender equality and do right by our young people. Parliaments continue to be vital to maintaining the political momentum necessary to turn those visions into a reality. We in turn have a responsibility to work with parliaments in order to help realize a brighter future for all the peoples who make up our United Nations. I now give the floor to the representative of Portugal to introduce draft resolution A/76/L.63.

I have the honour to introduce draft resolution A/76/L.63, entitled “Interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union”, under agenda item 128. Portugal has long been a strong supporter of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). We are honoured that Mr. Duarte Pacheco, a member of the Portuguese Parliament, is President of the IPU. Today’s draft resolution takes stock of the many ways in which parliaments and the IPU are contributing to the work of the United Nations at both the operational and political levels. Since the General Assembly’s adoption of the landmark Millennium Declaration (resolution 55/2), which encouraged the IPU to help bring a parliamentary perspective to the United Nations in every area from peace to democracy to development, parliaments have gained recognition within our Organization for their key roles in holding Governments to account for their commitments made at the United Nations and in implementing those commitments through legislation and budgetary allocations. But there is still a long road ahead before we achieve that goal. Through draft resolution A/76/L.63, the States Members of the United Nations have expressed their willingness to forge ahead towards a more inclusive, transparent system of global governance in which parliaments and their world organization, the IPU, make their voices heard at the United Nations. As paragraph 2 of the draft resolution describes, that cooperation encompasses a wide range of areas and activities within the United Nations system, some of which I have already alluded to. I would also like to draw the General Assembly’s attention to paragraph 28, which requests that the Secretary-General submit to the Assembly at its seventy-ninth session a report on the cooperation between the United Nations system and the IPU, whereby the Assembly would be seized of this agenda item every three years. In conclusion, on behalf of the Portuguese Mission, I would like to thank all the delegations that participated in the negotiations on this draft resolution for their cooperation and their flexibility. I recommend that the Assembly adopt the draft resolution without a vote.

I would like to thank you, Mr. President, as well as your Office, for organizing today’s debate in a way that has enabled the fuller participation of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations membership. I am honoured to address the General Assembly today on behalf of my own Government of Canada and, more broadly, the Governments of the CANZ countries, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. I am also speaking here today as a former parliamentarian. Parliaments and legislatures are indispensable stakeholders and partners for the United Nations. While much of what is decided here in the Assembly or other bodies is done by Governments — as you yourself just said, Mr. President — many of those critical decisions rely on parliaments for their implementation. For our three countries, based on the Westminster system, our Governments are made up of parliamentarians, including our Prime Ministers and Ministers. Parliamentarians uphold the rule of law and have the power to ratify international treaties such as the Charter of the United Nations and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. They set national budgets and the funding that is required for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In their own way, parliamentarians are themselves diplomats, forming friendship groups and working internationally with their counterparts to connect the peoples of the world. They are also accountable to their constituents, the public, for all of that. They often form the first line of defence against those who would prefer isolation or unilateralism in addressing the challenges of our time. We celebrate the fact that 30 June is the International Day of Parliamentarism and that 19 November will mark 20 years since the Assembly invited the IPU to participate as an observer. We are very fortunate in Canada to be working so closely and on a regular basis with the IPU’s Permanent Observer, Ms. Patricia Torsney. We would also like to thank Mr. Duarte Pacheco, President of the IPU and Member of Parliament from Portugal, for his participation in this meeting and for the address he will make today. The CANZ countries are happy to sponsor draft resolution A/76/L.63, which is before us today, regarding the cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU. It is a good text that includes many features supported by our Governments and Parliaments. For example, it notes the important contributions that the IPU makes to the work of the United Nations and more broadly to the principles of multilateralism, as underpinned by the successive outcomes of the World Conferences of Speakers of Parliament. It also recognizes the fundamental contributions of parliaments to democracy, the rule of law, human rights and gender equality, to empowering and eliminating all violence against women and girls and in support of young people’s empowerment, as well as diversity and inclusion. It encourages parliaments to reinforce the rule of law and to align national legislation with international commitments, something that is becoming increasingly important where the issue of climate change and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change are concerned. Draft resolution A/76/L.63 invites the IPU to support Governments in facilitating people’s safe, orderly, regular and responsible migration and mobility, including the principles of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. It welcomes the joint work done by the IPU, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism to combat terrorism and violent extremism and support the victims of terrorism, including through good practices in legislation. It calls on parliaments and Governments to enhance their responses to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, including through equitable and global access to medicines and vaccines, diagnostics and related equipment. That is something you have spoken about many times from this platform, Mr. President, and that still needs our continuing support. As I look around today, I see many people wearing masks, in a reflection of the fact that the pandemic is still with us and still requires the concerted action of the Assembly and many national Parliaments around the world. The draft resolution also highlights the importance of women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in parliaments. In that regard, I am very proud to say that the three countries on whose behalf I am speaking today have set national records in our most recent elections. In Canada, women make up 31 per cent of Parliament, for Australia the figure is 38 per cent and for New Zealand it is 48 per cent. Furthermore, our three Cabinets consist of more than 40 per cent women and the international relations of our three countries are led by women Foreign Ministers, all of whom are also parliamentarians. (spoke in French) Finally, we would like to thank the Secretary- General for his report on the cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU (A/76/780), which documents the efforts of the past two years in that regard and includes several useful conclusions and recommendations, some of which the CANZ group would like to highlight and which are of particular interest to us all. For instance, Member States should increase the participation of parliamentarians from their national delegations in United Nations activities. Parliamentarians should ensure that their national budgets advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and the Global Compact on Migration. They also need to make sure that their contributions to the United Nations are paid in full and on time and that all their arrears are settled. Parliaments should strengthen their role in the promotion and protection of human rights, including by monitoring their Governments’ human rights laws and policies. In conclusion, the United Nations will enhance its cooperation with parliamentarians to ensure that commitments to international development assistance, financing, debt relief and resource mobilization are met in order to safeguard the health, rights and welfare of those most affected by the economic impact of COVID-19. Those issues remain at the centre of our affairs, not only in our parliaments but also in the General Assembly, which is so important. Let me thank you again, Mr. President, for convening us here today to discuss this important topic. The CANZ group looks forward to working with you, the Secretariat and our parliaments to address the common challenges of our times.

Let me begin by welcoming the Secretary-General’s report (A/76/780), which is a comprehensive catalogue of information about the interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) over the past two years, with a particular focus on achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the efforts to respond to and recover from the coronavirus disease pandemic, as well as on human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, in addition to international peace and security. India is the largest democracy in the world. As my Prime Minister said in his address at the Summit for Democracy in December, the democratic spirit is integral to our civilizational ethos, which over the past 75 years has found full expression and has led to an unparalleled story of democratic nation-building. It is a story of unprecedented socioeconomic inclusion in every arena and of constant improvements in health, education and human well-being on an unimaginable scale. India’s story has one clear message for the world, which is that democracy can deliver and will continue to do so. The story of India’s Parliament is a story of the largest democracy’s constant striving for freedom and dignity, tolerance and equality, peace and progress. It is a unique representation of the values that created our Republic — unity in diversity, secularism, pluralism and the rule of law. At every turn, the people of India, with great enthusiasm and hope, have reiterated their faith in the democratic character of our State and reaffirmed the pluralistic character of our polity and society. The success story of the largest democracy has also seen the empowerment and uplifting of women on the socioeconomic and political fronts. We are witnessing a rapid transition from women’s development to women- led development. Today in India there are more than 1.45 million elected female representatives in various legislative bodies, including Parliament. The success of the democratic principle and all the institutions that it entails have defined India and its approach to relations with the rest of the world. We have been emphasizing the importance of the work of the General Assembly since we joined the United Nations. Through its commitment to the Universal Declaration on Democracy and to the promotion of pluralistic systems of representative Government, the Inter-Parliamentary Union is an important ally of the United Nations in confronting the challenges facing the world community today. Durable solutions to the enormous range of challenges and problems that most societies face require the promotion of democracy, tolerance and respect for diversity. As the world organization for more than 150 national parliaments, the IPU has done yeoman service over the past two decades in promoting closer coherence and interaction with the United Nations and its activities, which include peacebuilding, human rights, gender equality, economic and social development, international law and the protection of the interests of the least- developed countries and others. Now and in the years to come, it will be particularly important for the IPU and its members to play a role in cementing a culture of multilateralism and the rules-based international order. In conclusion, let me reiterate that India attaches high importance to the role of the IPU and to the interaction between the IPU, national parliaments and the United Nations, and we will continue to play a constructive role in contributing to that interaction.

El Salvador wholeheartedly thanks you, Mr. President, for convening today’s plenary debate on the interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. First and foremost, I would like to convey my sincere thanks to the delegation of Portugal for its efforts in leading the negotiations on the important draft resolution to be adopted by the General Assembly today (A/76/L.63). We believe that cooperation between the United Nations and parliaments is conducive to achieving common objectives in key areas of the Organization’s work. It has become particularly relevant in the context of the coronavirus disease pandemic and its profound effects on the global level. For that reason, my country supports the proposals made by the Secretary-General in his report Our Common Agenda (A/75/982), in which he specifically proposes to promote partnerships through more systematic interaction with parliaments. We want to emphasize that El Salvador is playing its part to contribute to an inclusive and effective multilateralism in order to update our governance systems in the future. We recognize the important work being done by the United Nations system and the Inter-Parliamentary Union in support of national parliaments, particularly with regard to the inclusion of a parliamentary perspective in the work of the Organization and in adapting national legislation to international commitments such as those on sustainable development, including the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, among others. Based on the understanding that parliaments play an important role in translating those multilateral instruments into concrete realities, El Salvador encourages the establishment and improvement of mechanisms aimed at incorporating parliamentary input into United Nations processes. The outcomes achieved at the International Migration Review Forum, which took place here at Headquarters in May, are a recent example of such efforts. El Salvador recognizes the enormous challenges that persist with regard to the elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination against women, particularly in political and public life, where unfortunately discrimination is ubiquitous. It is therefore imperative to work together to strengthen women’s participation and leadership in politics and public life, which can break down the structural barriers preventing them from achieving full gender equality and empowerment. As the Inter-Parliamentary Union has stated, in addition to constituting a flagrant violation of human rights, violence against women parliamentarians prevents them from attaining leadership positions and limits their ability to fulfil the mandates for which they were elected. That undermines the effectiveness of parliaments, progress towards gender equality and the spirit of democracy. My country therefore urges the Member States, the United Nations system and the Inter-Parliamentary Union to continue working for the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in all their diversity in parliaments and for the incorporation of a gender perspective in all of their work. In conclusion, El Salvador hopes that the full implementation of the draft resolution to be adopted by the Assembly today will contribute significantly to the important cooperation between the United Nations and national parliaments in all areas of the work of our Organization.

The people’s ability to elect representatives to legislate in their interests is the most fundamental element of democracy. For decades, the Inter-Parliamentary Union has enabled legislators  — women and men  — to forge a community of representatives that fosters dialogue and understanding. That has enabled substantive improvements in legislative work in line with the purposes and principles of the United Nations. We would like to thank the delegation of Portugal for introducing draft resolution A/76/L.63 under agenda item 128. As a firm believer in the benefits of close interaction between national legislative authorities and the work of the United Nations, Mexico has once again sponsored the corresponding draft resolution. Today it is appropriate to recall the importance of the partnership between the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the United Nations. In recent years, the world’s parliamentarians have been confronted with major dilemmas arising from the coronavirus disease pandemic and the socioeconomic damage it has caused. The Inter-Parliamentary Union enables its members to understand that multilateralism is not an ideology but rather a methodology that can help us find solutions to the problems that legislators face on a daily basis. In that regard, all national parliaments are important allies of the General Assembly. They play an essential role in aligning national legislation with the agreements signed by sovereign States. Their legal frameworks have made it possible to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which encourages the adoption of legislation to protect human rights and address climate change. When we link national legislative action and multilateral dialogue we strengthen democracy. Mexico is pleased that the draft resolution we are about to adopt reflects the benefits of those interactions. In particular, we appreciate the participation of parliamentarians in the review process of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. The International Migration Review Forum’s adoption of its first progress declaration reaffirmed for us the important role of legislating on the basis of data and evidence. We want to thank the Secretary-General for his report (A/76/780) issued in accordance with resolution 74/304, which my country introduced, and we emphasize the report’s recommendations on increasing the number of women in national parliaments. We are proud to announce to the Assembly that Mexico’s legislative branch currently maintains gender parity. However, the report makes it clear that there is still much work to be done. Women represent only 25.6 per cent of parliamentarians globally. We call on all States to take account of the Secretary-General’s recommendations. There are multiple ways to increase women’s participation in national parliaments, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Ensuring the full, equal and meaningful participation of women benefits all who occupy representative roles. The same logic applies to young people. We must consult with them on how best to create spaces that facilitate their participation in decision-making. Their level of involvement in the public policies that affect them determines how sustainable those policies will be. For all of those reasons, Mexico welcomes the excellent opportunity that the upcoming consultations on Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) represent for all Member States. We believe that national parliaments, young people and the Inter-Parliamentary Union should play key roles in the Summit of the Future. In assuming its responsibility as a Member State to reach intergovernmental agreements, Mexico will continue to advocate for the inclusion of all stakeholders in those important deliberations.

Belarus attaches great importance to the work of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and to strengthening and developing interparliamentary links between States. We firmly believe that in the face of the numerous current global challenges and unprecedentedly complex threats, a non-politicized and mutually respectful dialogue, including through parliamentary diplomacy, is almost the only tool we have for achieving compromise, solidarity and agreement. I would like to express our gratitude to the Portuguese delegation for its efforts in drafting and negotiating today’s important draft resolution (A/76/L.63), which is founded on the notions of peace, dialogue and greater understanding among States. We share the views on the importance of deepening and expanding the interaction and partnership between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union in order to ensure the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Parliamentarians play an undeniably crucial role in strengthening democracy and maintaining peace and security. In that context, we consider the imposition of any kind of sanctions on parliamentarians to be totally unacceptable. We call on States that have the honour of hosting international events, including those of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, to guarantee parliamentarians of all Member States unhindered access on a non-discriminatory basis so that they can fully and effectively participate in all of those activities. We want to point out that politicizing the activities of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is also unacceptable, as is submitting documents to the IPU Assembly with the aim of putting pressure on sovereign States and spreading unfounded accusations to distort the reality on the ground. The logic, language and focus of such initiatives only worsens stand-offs and conflict, and thereby runs counter to the IPU’s values  — advancing mutual understanding, settling differences and strengthening peace — thus destroying the world’s oldest parliamentary organization. Our country is ready to continue to participate in the work of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and to develop and strengthen cooperation between national parliaments on a bilateral basis.

I would first like to thank the President for organizing today’s important debate. I also want to thank the Secretary-General for his report (A/76/780) on the interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Myanmar is a sponsor of draft resolution A/76/L.63 and encourages the United Nations, the IPU and national parliaments to fully implement its provisions. I thank the delegation of Portugal for its leadership in that regard. I also commend the President of the IPU and his team for their hard work. Parliaments are a cornerstone of democracy, and today’s interaction highlights the importance of further cooperation between the United Nations and national parliaments through the IPU. National parliaments represent the voices of the people on the ground. Their perspectives and input are of great value in the formulation of major initiatives of the United Nations. In addition, parliaments continue to be essential partners in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the national level. It is now clear that the coronavirus disease pandemic has made the goal of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in a timely manner even more challenging. Meanwhile, we have seen the vital roles that national parliaments have played in responding to the socioeconomic consequences of the pandemic, including by enacting emergency and budgetary legislation. In the post-pandemic context, we need to strengthen engagement and interactions between the United Nations system, the IPU and national parliaments in order to address implementation challenges and use the global agenda to create concrete results on the ground at the national level. In Myanmar in 2020, the people freely and democratically elected their representatives in free and fair general elections in order to have their voices represented in the national Parliament, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. However, on 1 February 2021 the military perpetrated an illegal coup on a pretext of so-called voter list fraud, in blatant disregard for the democratic will of the people and in violation of the Constitution that they themselves wrote. It was an act of high treason. Since then, the illegal military junta has been committing widespread and systematic atrocities against the people of Myanmar, amounting to crimes against humanity. That is happening before our very eyes, and the devastating coup has shattered every aspect of the lives of entire populations in Myanmar. I want to specifically emphasize that in the elections our people cast a majority of their votes in favour of the National League for Democracy, led by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, demonstrating not only their support for a political party but their trust and confidence in a democratic system of governance. We cannot allow the will of the people to be disregarded or overlooked. Here I would like to remind the Assembly of the words of the Secretary-General, who said that such a military coup is not acceptable in our modern world and that it must fail. Democratically elected members of Parliament continue to represent the people’s will in Myanmar and have been working with all democratic stakeholders to put the country back on a path to a federal democratic future. On 5 February 2021, directly after the illegal coup, the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) was formed from among elected parliamentarians to perform the duties entrusted to them by the people in accordance with the results of the November 2020 general elections. The CRPH has been actively engaging with the international community. The fourth session of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw was held in April, with the participation of nearly 300 elected Members of Parliament and despite the continued physical threats, persecution and illegal arrests by the military. Many Members of Parliament are still being illegally detained by the military and at least one was interrogated to death in custody. Their houses, assets and properties have been illegally confiscated. President Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who were both elected for a second term in the 2020 elections, are now being held hostage by the military. What is happening in Myanmar right now is the result of a humanitarian catastrophe compounded by the illegal military coup. The crisis in Myanmar is on the agenda of various organs of the United Nations, including the General Assembly. The Organization’s engagement in Myanmar is ongoing. The United Nations was founded in the name of the peoples of the world, with the Charter of the United Nations clearly beginning with the words “We the peoples of the United Nations”. I ask the Assembly to please listen to the voices of the people of Myanmar — they have been loud and clear. The people do not want military rule, and they want to build a federal democratic union. The people have accepted and welcomed the CRPH and the National Unity Government of Myanmar to represent them and stand in for them. I want to emphasize that the United Nations, including the representatives of the IPU, should continue strengthening cooperation and engagement with the CRPH and the National Unity Government. If we are to end the violence and atrocities committed by the military and restore democracy in Myanmar, the international community, especially the United Nations, must take decisive action. The support of the international community and the United Nations for the people of Myanmar must not fail at this critical moment. I strongly believe that with strengthened engagement and cooperation among the CRPH, the National Unity Government, the IPU and national parliaments, along with their continued support in our fight for democracy, justice and democracy will prevail in Myanmar.

The Russian Federation attaches great importance to international parliamentary cooperation. Our Federal Assembly actively participates in universal and regional structures and interacts with the United Nations on an ongoing basis. The Federal Assembly’s far-reaching programme of international business contacts and ties is an integral part of our country’s foreign policy. Such interaction is of enormous practical importance, because it ensures that legal systems function better, legislation becomes harmonized and legislative support is provided to enable States to take decisions. We welcome the role of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) as a mediator for relations between the parliaments of different countries and the United Nations with a view to strengthening and broadening international cooperation. The IPU contributes significantly to parliamentary diplomacy by enabling non-politicized, mutually respectful and constructive exchanges of views among parliamentarians in order to find effective solutions to a wide range of current international problems. The General Assembly’s resolution on interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which is adopted by consensus, gives additional impetus to strengthening cooperation between those organizations and national parliaments, which in turn promotes the roles of parliamentary institutions and mutual understanding and dialogue among States. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that it is unacceptable to use sanctions against parliamentarians. It is crucial that States hosting international events on their territory provide their people’s representatives with the opportunity to take part in them and express their views. We are counting on a non-discriminatory approach from all States Members of the United Nations that organize international events on their territories.

I now give the floor to the observer of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Portuguese Mission for its leadership in steering today’s debate around a new draft resolution (A/76/L.63), marking yet another milestone on our journey towards greater parliamentary engagement at the United Nations. As a member of Portugal’s Parliament, I am very proud that my country has delivered on that important task today. The best thing that I can do in these next few minutes is to look at the big picture of where we are at this particular moment in world affairs as a parliamentarian community with regard to the United Nations, and I will do that in three simple points. First, more than ever before, parliamentarians are key to getting the job done for the peoples of the world. Governments deliver on the promises they make at the United Nations when they are pushed by parliamentarians to do so. Accountability is essential, and it is one of the most important tasks of all parliaments. Besides adopting legislation, the primary responsibility of a parliament is holding Governments to account for what they do or fail to do on behalf of their people here at the United Nations. It is the job of parliaments to scrutinize their Governments by asking questions, preparing hearings, issuing independent reports and engaging with constituents at large, including with regard to the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and a whole host of other international treaties. While parliaments are striving to exercise that oversight role, the problem is that it is often an uphill battle, as many parliaments are lacking in resources. But believe me, that is a win-win solution for Governments, the United Nations and the IPU, because we parliamentarians are essential to adopting and implementing the declarations and resolutions that are adopted here in this Hall by our own Governments. And it will be easier to approve them if we are involved in the whole process. That is why the relationship between the IPU and parliaments is important, both to the United Nations and our parliamentarians, because that is how we understand the difficulties there are with regard to achieving agreements and solutions. That will make that our parliaments more committed to implementing everything that has been adopted and agreed here in this Hall. The second point I want to raise is that the world needs interparliamentary dialogue as a central feature of the United Nations-led multilateral governance system. Everyone here knows full well that the world is in deep crisis. The conflict in Ukraine is just a symptom of the instability of the multilateral system, reminding us that we cannot rely on Governments alone. Within weeks of the start of the conflict in Ukraine, the IPU, with its 178 members at the forefront of organizing parliamentarian dialogue on all major issues being dealt with by the United Nations, held a major debate and decided to create a task force to find solutions to what amounts to a devastating failure of politics and dialogue. Very soon, a high-level delegation of the IPU with Speakers and Deputy Speakers of Parliaments will be in Moscow and Kyiv promoting dialogue between the two countries. Which is what should always be done, as war is never a solution to conflict. That is also how I view all regular assemblies and the variety of meetings throughout the year in which we engage parliamentarians from all corners of the world in discussions of human rights, gender equality, democracy, climate change, disarmament, trafficking in human beings, corruption and much more. We try to involve parliaments and identify best practices between one another as a way to engage everyone with all of those issues. The third point that I want to raise is that the United Nations and the IPU must work more closely to counter the most negative forces in our society. For all its virtues, globalization has weakened the power of governance, as well as multilateral organizations such as the United Nations and the IPU. We need to understand that only by working together will it be possible to achieve peace, democracy and development for our world. While there is still a long way to go in building the IPU-United Nations strategy partnership, we are moving in the right direction. Virtually every meeting of the IPU engages the United Nations in one way or another, featuring United Nations representatives or referring to a key United Nations report or resolution. On the United Nations side, we are seeing a more consistent effort to invite parliamentarians to multi-stakeholder debates as experts and participants and to integrate them into national delegations in major meetings. In the field, we are seeing more systematic interaction between United Nations country teams and national parliamentarians. I am very pleased that today’s draft resolution opens a new path of interaction by encouraging the Secretary-General to include Members of Parliament in high-level advisory groups and mediation teams. Going forward, as part of the IPU’s own renewal process, we will embark on an effort to directly engage more of the world’s 46,000 parliamentarians in the day-to-day work of the United Nations, making sure that they are aware of what is going on in the Organization and how the decisions being taken here in this Hall will affect people at home in their own constituencies. The IPU will be rigorously assessing its impact at the United Nations through our surveys and other tools. On the United Nations side, I am hopeful that the Declaration on the Commemoration of the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the United Nations (resolution 75/1) and the Secretary-General’s report on Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) will lead to new initiatives to make the Organization more effective, open and transparent. I am therefore very happy to know that draft resolution A/76/L.63 will be adopted. It will be fair and very important to both the United Nations and the IPU.

I now give the floor to the observer of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

I would like to thank the President for convening today’s important meeting. As an intergovernmental organization that brings together 34 member States dedicated to strengthening democracy, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) strongly supports parliamentary development and cooperation as key components of that endeavour, affirming of the importance of legislatures in advancing peace and security, sustainable development and human rights. International IDEA is committed to peer-to-peer collaborative experience-sharing through global and cross-regional dialogues, as well as capacity-development initiatives. The effectiveness of parliamentary processes and institutions in terms of representation, oversight, lawmaking, debating and budgetary processes is central to the assessment of the quality of democracy, as reflected in our reports on the global state of democracy. Since 2019, International IDEA has implemented INTER PARES, the European Union (EU) flagship programme for parliamentary strengthening, which to date is facilitating 15 partnerships between EU member State parliaments and partner parliaments around the world, supporting their development priorities. That includes the Sustainable Development Goals, because the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development foresees that national parliaments will have an essential role in the effective implementation of those commitments. The Inter-Parliamentary Union is a valued partner of the INTER PARES programme, in which IDEA and the IPU work closely together in the implementation of common priorities. They include parliamentary innovation through digital technology and the development of indicators for democratic parliaments, enabling parliaments themselves to assess and enhance their fundamental role as the quintessential institutions for democratic governance. That attitude to parliamentary strengthening also demonstrates the value of a coordinated approach, in which the capacities and commitments of EU member State Parliaments are leveraged to support parliamentary strengthening globally. Such a collaborative approach provides an excellent model for addressing key policy areas relevant to the action of the United Nations, such as gender equality and climate change. IDEA is also involved in supporting parliaments through its regional and country offices around the world. At times we face setbacks to democratic transitions, and parliaments and elected members of parliament are often among the first targets of anti-democratic reversals. In Myanmar, for instance, a parliament was democratically elected in 2020 but was prevented from convening by a military coup. Dozens of elected members of parliament there have been persecuted and many forced to flee or hide. Myanmar’s Parliament has continued to function under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. The IPU and many parliaments around the world have played a critical role in supporting Myanmar’s legitimate elected representatives. That highlights the continued importance of protecting and assisting parliaments and their members under threat, and we are grateful for the IPU’s leadership and principled role in that regard. International IDEA will remain an active participant in that collective effort. IDEA will continue to partner with the IPU in support of the advancement of United Nations agendas. We will focus on contributions to parliamentary development, political participation and representation, electoral processes, gender equality and inclusion and constitution-building. We value our partnership with the IPU, based on shared commitments to fostering the values of democracy in multilateral forums such as the United Nations. We will therefore further enhance our joint advocacy work and regular consultations on the democratic-governance dimensions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and in particular on transparent, effective and accountable institutions.

I now give the floor to the observer of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean.

I am speaking on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), an assembly of the parliaments of 27 nations from the Euro-Mediterranean region. Those nations are also part of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) community, and as such adhere fully to the principles and actions outlined in draft resolution A/76/L.63, which the General Assembly is about to adopt. Parliaments are the souls of democracies. They embody “We the peoples of the United Nations”, as expressed in the Charter of the United Nations, and we are pleased to see the Organization and its Member States giving due recognition to their role. The draft resolution sets out a comprehensive and ambitious agenda, and it is now up to us — Member States, the United Nations system and parliaments — to implement it, as is indicated in paragraph 2. There are a number of actions that parliaments and parliamentarians must take to maximize the impact of their actions. That places the IPU at the forefront but also assigns responsibility to regional assemblies such as PAM. With regard to the draft resolution’s paragraph 3, many of the actions it stipulates could be better implemented through greater and more active involvement of regional parliamentary bodies. The role of such bodies goes beyond the implementation of the global agenda. It also encompasses ensuring the synchronicity of actions, better coordination, better exchanges of information and better mechanisms for consultations. While the IPU, as the mother ship, must continue to play a crucial leadership role, it is at the national and regional levels where the action takes place, moving beyond policy to the realm of action. While there may be wide-ranging perspectives at the global level, those narrow down at the regional level, improving the potential for practical and meaningful cooperation. For example, as a regional setup and with the help of the United Nations system, PAM is addressing key issues of strategic importance for peace and security, counter- terrorism, the protection of democracy and freedom, respect for the rule of law, food security, sustainable development, migration, climate change and human rights, to name a few. PAM strongly supports the draft resolution and looks forward to greater cooperation among Member States, the United Nations system and parliamentarians through the IPU and regional parliamentary associations such as PAM. We would like to thank the President of the General Assembly for his remarks, as well as the Secretary-General for his report (A/76/780), and the IPU  — particularly its President and Secretary General  — for its tireless promotion of cooperation between Member States, the United Nations system and parliaments. Last but not least, we would like to thank the representative of Portugal — also a member of PAM — for introducing the draft resolution. And I should mention in passing that Senator Pedro Roque of Portugal was the President of PAM two years ago. I wish everyone good luck with the draft resolution.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on agenda item 128. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/76/L.63, entitled “Interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union”. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to those delegations listed in document A/76/L.63, the following countries have also become sponsors of the draft resolution: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, the Central African Republic, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Timor- Leste, Uganda, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Uzbekistan.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/76/L.63?

Before giving the floor for explanations of vote after the voting, I would like to remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I give the floor to the representative of Hungary.

Hungary wishes to highlight its national position on resolution 76/270, on interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The text refers to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, which has not been accepted by all countries, and Hungary does not participate in its implementation in any way. Since 2015, Hungary has consequently emphasized that instead of promoting or facilitating migration, the focus should be on providing assistance locally to third countries by creating conditions more conducive to stable growth and development. For that reason, Hungary disagrees with paragraph 16 of the resolution.

We have had heard the only speaker in explanation of vote after the voting. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 128?

I now invite the attention of the General Assembly to draft decision A/76/L.65, circulated under sub-item (u) of agenda item 100, entitled “Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus”. Members will recall that the General Assembly concluded its consideration of sub-item (u) of agenda item 100 at its 54th plenary meeting, on 24 December 2021. In order for the Assembly to take action on the draft decision, it will be necessary to reopen its consideration of sub-item (u) of agenda item 100. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to reopen consideration of sub-item (u) of agenda item 100?

Members will recall that at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 17 September 2021, the General Assembly decided to allocate sub-item (u) of agenda item 100 to the First Committee. To enable the Assembly to take action expeditiously on the draft decision, may I take it that the Assembly wishes to consider sub-item (u) of agenda item 100 directly in plenary meeting and proceed immediately to its consideration? It was so decided (decision 76/506 B).

The Assembly will now take action on draft decision A/76/L.65, entitled “Convening of the second and third sessions of the open-ended working group to elaborate a set of political commitments as a new global framework that will address existing gaps in through-life ammunition management”. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt the draft decision?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (u) of agenda item 100?

The General Assembly will now take action on draft decision A/76/L.67, entitled “Accreditation and participation of an intergovernmental organization in the 2022 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt draft decision A/76/L.67?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 20 and sub-item (a) of agenda item 78.

The General Assembly will now take action on draft decision A/76/L.64, entitled “The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict”. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to the delegations listed in document A/76/L.64, the following countries have also become sponsors of the draft resolution: Botswana and Zimbabwe.

May I take it that the General Assembly decides to adopt draft decision A/76/L.64?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 34?