His Excellency the President of the Republic of South Africa and Vice-Patron of the CPA: President Jacob Zuma,
Co- President of the CPA and Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa: Hon Max Sisulu,
Speakers and Deputy Speakers from different Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures,
Chairperson of the CPA International: Sir Alan Haselhurst,
President of the CWP International Hon Thapelo Chiloane,
Chairperson of CWP International: Hon Alix Boyd Knights MHA,
Secretary General of the CPA: Dr William Shija,
Members of the Executive and Steering Committees,
Delegates,
Members of the Secretariat,
Ladies and gentleman.
We, as the CPA South Africa Branch, are pleased to host this Conference of the Parliaments and Legislatures of the Commonwealth only a few months shy of the 20th anniversary of our hard-won democratic dispensation. South Africa is forever thankful to all those who used various platforms, including the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, to contribute to the struggle against apartheid.
As such, I am honoured to welcome you on behalf of the Branch and host country, to the 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, which is held under the theme Effective Solutions to Commonwealth Developmental Challenges.
As the theme suggests, the Commonwealth community of nations has not been immune to developmental challenges. In order to understand these challenges better, it is imperative to critically analyse the nature of the current developmental trends within the Commonwealth community.
Our challenges are numerous and diverse. They include the multiple crises of unemployment, landlessness, homelessness, lack of basic services, HIV and AIDS, food insecurity and unacceptable levels of crime and violence. These challenges persist making it difficult for some nations to realise their full potential and thus improve the lives of their people.
It is within this context that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, as a collective, must build and maintain the momentum to promote socio-economic development. This must go hand in hand with sustained efforts to entrench a culture of peaceful resolution of conflicts.
The new society that we aspire to build should ensure that peace, security and stability are a prerequisite for socio-economic development in the Commonwealth community and the entire world. The developing world has in the last few decades witnessed significant progress in its political landscape.
The CPA should redouble efforts to address the remaining conflicts plaguing certain parts of the Commonwealth. The CPA should also continue to work with various stakeholders at global, regional and national organisations to promote peace in the world
Furthermore, the Commonwealth should ensure that the process of the democratisation of the institutions of global governance is strengthened to create conditions conducive for the international political, economic and trade integration process and to ensure economic development.
Due attention must be given to gender equality and women emancipation. Commonwealth countries must channel more resources towards improving access to education, health, sanitation and water, and make child-bearing safer for women.
Parliaments have an obligation to ensure equal treatment of all citizens and to stand up against any form of discrimination and marginalisation of women. We need to acknowledge that, in a developmental paradigm, achieving gender equality must necessarily extend beyond elevating women into positions of power. Issues of gender equality should be part of our culture and socialisation.
In an effort to ensure gender equality, our parliaments have an important role to play by passing laws that are responsive to the developmental needs of our people and are able to correct imbalances prevalent in many societies.
Distinguished delegates,
The Commonwealth Charter stresses the importance of democracy, human rights, international peace and security, tolerance, respect and understanding amongst countries, freedom of expression; the importance of separation of powers, rule of law, good governance, sustainable development; the importance of protecting the environment, the need for access to health, education and food; and the importance of protecting the rights of women and youth. The Charter also calls for the recognition of the needs of small and vulnerable states as well as the role of civil society.
It is in our interests that the 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference re-affirms our commitment to principles of people-centred democracy, sustainable development, good governance, rule of law, and respect for human rights. It, therefore, becomes important that Parliaments, as custodians of law-making and oversight and representatives of our people, must ensure that the Executive is held accountable.
Going forward, for us the face of the world that we seek to build should ensure a better world, a just world, and an equitable world. I wish you fruitful engagements in your deliberations and a wonderful stay in our beloved country.
I thank you!
