PMNCH at the 147th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly

Tweet

As part of its ongoing cooperation with Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), PMNCH actively participated in the IPU Assembly in Luanda, Angola from 23-27 October 2023. The central theme of this Assembly was ‘Parliamentary action for peace, justice, and strong institutions. The  Luanda declaration has a strong equity focus, and emphasizes visibility for women, and youth.  The declaration calls on parliamentarians to "strengthen trust and ensure the more active participation of citizens in institutions at all levels, beginning with our own parliaments, where women and youth, as well as the poor and other disadvantaged groups, deserve to be more equitably represented."

H.E. President Lourenco opening the 147th IPU Assembly

Other key topics discussed during the Assembly included parliamentary action needed to reduce harm in relation to orphanage trafficking and the importance of partnerships in promoting access to affordable green energy, as well as ensuring innovation, responsibility, and equity. The proceedings of the Assembly emphasized dialogue and international cooperation facilitated by parliamentary diplomacy and advocacy as key drivers of peace and prosperity.

Based on PMNCH’s work on nurturing care, child protection, and prevention of violence, including in humanitarian and fragile (HFS) settings, PMNCH collaborated with like-minded parliamentarians to strengthen the resolution on orphanage trafficking. The focus was on incorporating measures for reintegrating children rescued from trafficking into society, including through support services such as psycho-social counselling, legal assistance (if needed), (re)training, and education.

An important moment during the Assembly was the election of the 31st President of the IPU. Hon. Tulia Ackson of the United Republic of Tanzania was elected as the first African woman President of the IPU. The other three candidates, all of whom were African women leaders - a historic first for the IPU. Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee of Ireland was elected as the President of the Advisory Group on Health. The election of these women leaders demonstrates the IPU's commitment to gender equality and the robust enforcement of gender equality policies through its structures, events, and procedures. PMNCH is committed to working with the new leadership of the IPU to advance the issues of gender equality and equity especially in relation to parliamentary action to advance the health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents.

The PMNCH delegation actively participated in the discussions of the Assembly and IPU Governing council, contributed to the meetings of Women Parliamentarians and of Young Parliamentarians, as well as the Advisory Group on Health and participated in field visit to a maternal and infant hospital. PMNCH also participated in the WHO-IPU workshop on the Pandemic Accord and met with over 18 delegations from member states and regional parliaments.

The visit to Angola’s state of the art ‘Hospital Materno Infantil do Camama’ servicing the heavily populated province of Luanda underscored the Angolan Government’s commitment to investing in quality health infrastructure to ameliorate access equity barriers. During the field visit, Parliamentarian Paula Oliveira highlighted that access to family planning services can prevent 1300 maternal deaths, 99 000 unsafe abortions and 517000 unwanted pregnancies in Angola per year between now and 2030.

Through bilateral engagements, the PMNCH delegation raised the visibility of, advocated for and discussed joint advocacy opportunities with parliaments to prioritize women, children, and adolescent health issues (WCAH). The delegation highlighted the recent momentum gathered on the issue of adolescent well-being through the 1.8 Billion Young People for Change Campaign. It also offered the emerging commitment scoping and assessment reports developed by country partners as a valuable resource of parliaments. Through these bilateral meetings, the PMNCH delegation also strategized collaborations with key parliamentarians, including the President of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, on how to give visibility to WCAH issues through high level political engagements in 2024, including those alongside the 79th UNGA and the Summit for the Future.

Actions arising from these rich discussions will be followed up in ensuing engagements, including during the next PMNCH Board meeting, to be held on 28-29 November 2023, and leading up to the 148^th IPU Assembly in Geneva (23-27 March 2024).