Determined to turn words into actions

Parliamentarians from all over the world gathering in Hanoi to attend the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) have discussed the theme ‘Sustainable Development Goals: Turning words into actions', a topic of great significance to the development of the world and to IPU member countries including Vietnam.

Vietnamese NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung speaks at the IPU-132 Meeting of Women Parliamentarians (photo: VNA)

The people – the focal point of the Sustainable Development Goals

Leaders of the IPU member parliaments, associate members, organisations and international guests all noted their appreciation of the theme of the IPU-132 at meetings and forums held in the past two days. The contents of the IPU-132 are very important and practical for the IPU and all of humanity so that countries can evaluate the results of the implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and discuss post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Addressing the opening ceremony, IPU President Saber Chowdhury emphasised that the focus of discussions at the event is the wellbeing of all individuals and sustainable development, including security issues and human rights. The theme at the IPU-132 has attracted much attention from parliamentarians as it features both topical issues and long-term strategic issues for all countries.

At the United Nations Millennium Summit at the UN headquarters in New York, USA in September 2000, 189 UN member countries including Vietnam agreed to ratify the United Nations Millennium Declaration and pledged to implement MDGs.

To realise MDGs, Vietnam built a Comprehensive Strategy on Growth and Hunger Eradication and Poverty Reduction for the 2011-2015 period. Under the strategy, international MDGs were concretised to match the specific situation in Vietnam and were supplemented by several additional goals to create Vietnam's development goals.

Vietnam has been recognised by the UN and other development partners as one of the leading and most successful countries in implementing MDGs in Asia-Pacific. Vietnam has made significant achievements in hunger eradication, poverty reduction, universal education and gender equality, demonstrating the great efforts of the government, National Assembly and Vietnamese people in implementing MDGs.

Vietnam shared its practical experience in reaching its MDGs at the IPU-132, noting that the country promoted the active participation of the people in the implementation of MDGs, enhanced the role of communication and provided adequate resources for prioritised goals. An important factor was the delivery of a good mechanism for feedback from the people and stakeholders. Many approaches to the implementation of MDGs were pioneered by Vietnam, as the country quickly and sustainably reached its goals.

Enhancing the role of the National Assembly

The IPU-132 is taking place in Hanoi in a transitional year from the implementation of MDGs to the implementation of post-2015 SDGs. At meetings and forums of the IPU-132, parliamentarians all agreed that climate change is becoming more unpredictable, the world economic crisis is still creating negative impacts and world peace and security still face many risks and challenges, among others. The implementation of post-2015 SDGs will see difficulties in sharing the financial responsibility between countries and in ensuring the cohesion of policies in practice.

With this in mind, the IPU and its member parliaments should strengthen their role in shaping and turning SDGs into actions.

Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnamese NA Tong Thi Phong suggested the IPU, its member parliaments and countries ratify the amendments and supplements to legal documents related to the implementation of SDGs, and define socio-economic development plans and the national budget for implementing SDGs. Parliaments also need to intensify their supervision over the implementation of SDGs as well as enhance the dissemination of information on SDGs and related programmes with people at the forefront of the SDGs.

"It is necessary to raise awareness of all classes of people, including the poor and vulnerable, so that they understand they are not only the beneficiaries of SDGs achievements but also an important force behind obtaining these goals", the NA Vice Chairwoman emphasised.

The Vietnamese NA delegation to the IPU-132 also proposed the IPU continue to expand and promote the establishment of global partnerships based on building the trust and determination of parliaments working towards SDGs. Several issues important to the delivery and implementation of SDGs are to strengthen co-operation between the IPU and the UN, and increase the efficiency of regional economic co-operation mechanisms and international commercial institutions.

Topics related to SDGs and the concerns of countries will continue to be discussed as part of the IPU-132 agenda in the coming days.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)