Understanding the Importance of Inter Parliamentary Forums

Inter-parliamentary forums have long been recognized as a necessary platform for parliamentarians to discuss common concerns and share experiences. Established organizations such as the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) have provided such platforms since the late 19th and early 20th centuries respectively. The South Asian Speaker Summit is an extension of these efforts, focusing on common issues like SDGs.

These forums provide a unique opportunity for parliamentarians and presiding officers to interact and exchange ideas. The South Asian Speakers' Summit, in particular, sought to explore ways in which legislatures can contribute to SDGs through deliberation and accountability.

Focus Areas of the Male Declaration

The Male declaration recognizes South Asia as a region with shared challenges such as poverty, sustainable livelihood, clean air and water, youth issues, malnutrition, among others. The declaration emphasizes a collective commitment to address these issues, with a particular focus on equality at work and food and nutritional security.

The declaration also underlines the need to strengthen the regional agenda for achieving the goals of the Paris agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC). The declaration aims to create a unified voice for South Asian countries on these common issues and reflects the potential of legislatures to address these concerns, regardless of the political climate in respective countries.

Implications of the Male Declaration for SDGs

The United Nations General Assembly adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, with a target completion date of 2030. The Male declaration aligns with the broader objectives of these SDGs. The summit itself is an embodiment of SDG 17, which emphasizes the need for global partnerships to achieve these goals.

The declaration not only highlights the subject areas of focus but also underscores the role of legislatures, at both national and subnational levels, in prioritizing these issues. One of the key areas of discussion at the summit was the labour sector, where India was able to share recent legislative developments such as the Maternity Benefits Act and the Wage Code Bill.

Significance of the Summit for India

The South Asian Speakers' Summit holds considerable importance for India. It serves as a platform to showcase India's commendable progress in achieving SDGs and offers an opportunity to learn from the efforts of other countries.

India has made significant strides in eradicating poverty, promoting growth, and creating opportunities for all sections of society in line with SDGs. India has demonstrated tangible progress in several SDGs, with some targets preponed to 2022, the 75th year of India's independence. Forums like the South Asian Speakers' Summit enable India to demonstrate its leadership in capacity building, technology, and governance models.

Need for Discussing Common Issues among Neighbouring Countries

The primary purpose of forums like the South Asian Speakers' Summit is to strengthen ties with neighbouring legislatures. These forums provide an opportunity to discuss common challenges and share best practices. For instance, issues like poverty, drinking water, food security, housing, and electricity are common to all South Asian countries and are also discussed at SAARC summits.

Improving Parliamentary Debates and Legislation through Forums

Parliaments play a crucial role in overseeing the executive and controlling the budget. When presiding officers of various legislatures interact at forums like the South Asian Speakers' Summit, they can bring back valuable insights to their respective houses. These forums also provide an opportunity to discuss legislations with international ramifications.

India's Response to Pakistan's Attempt to Raise Bilateral Issues

During the summit, India successfully thwarted an attempt by Pakistan to raise the issue of Kashmir. The Vice Chairman of the Rajya Sabha questioned Pakistan's moral right to raise concerns about Kashmir, given its own history of genocide in eastern Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1971.

Ensuring Bilateral Issues Do Not Derail the Purpose of Forums

The main agenda of forums like the South Asian Speakers' Summit is to discuss common challenges such as poverty and SDGs. It is essential that participants adhere to the specified agenda and avoid raising political issues in such forums.

Preventing Bilateral Issues from Being Raised in Future Forums

The fundamental purpose of forums like the South Asian Speakers' Summit is to benefit from mutual experience, set aside differences, and work towards common goals. Countries should recognize that there are other forums, such as the UNSC and UNGA, where political issues can be discussed.

Conclusion

The South Asian Speakers' Summit serves as an important platform for discussion and collaboration on common issues. The insights gained from such forums should be utilized to improve the quality and efficiency of legislation in the respective countries.

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