National Assembly expresses support for sustainable development goals |08 April 2015

The National Assembly of Seychelles was among the 133 parliaments of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to express support for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be adopted in September 2015 by heads of state of the United Nation.

The 132nd Assembly of the IPU was held in Hanoi, Viet Nam, from March 28 to April 1, 2015. The National Assembly was represented by the Speaker, Dr Patrick Herminie.

Held under the theme ‘The Sustainable Development Goals: Turning Words into Actions’, parliaments from across the world reaffirmed their vision of sustainable development based on human rights, poverty eradication, peace and security.

The Assembly resolved that reducing poverty is not a simple matter given that poverty is rooted in a whole system of inequality and injustice.

The IPU Assembly thus stressed on the need for parliaments to be strengthened to hold governments to account and translate the 17 SDGs into enforceable domestic laws.

In his intervention, Speaker Herminie welcomed the initiative of having new set of goals which he described as important aspirations for the unremitting development of mankind and which will provide an opportunity to complete the unfinished business of the Millennium Development Goals.

He said that Seychelles welcomes the inclusion of goal 14 of the SDGs which promotes the sustainable use of marine resources though the Blue Economy concept.

The Speaker was equally supportive of goal 13 relating to climate change, stating that climate change remains one of the biggest threats to Post 2015 sustainable growth, especially for small island developing states.

The 132nd Assembly of the IPU further adopted a resolution condemning terrorism, in particular the actions of Boko Haram and ISIS, and called for an equitable international order based on the rule of law and non-intervention on the internal affairs of states.

The Speaker was accompanied at the 132nd IPU Assembly by the acting Clerk, Shelda Commettant.