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IPU discusses
Dafur mayhem
By Uchenna Awom
National
Assembly Correspondent in Geneva
The sour issues of
humanitarian and security crisis in Dafur, Southern Sudan and Africa’s
precarious security situation were part of the major highlights of the 111th
assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) that opened in Geneva on
Tuesday.
No fewer than 140
countries are expected to attend the assembly that would also deliberate on the
role of parliaments in addressing the security challenges facing Africa and the
need to respect humanitarian law.
The security
challenge and the crisis in Darfur constituted an emergency item on the agenda
and was proposed by South African delegation apparently sequel to a late night
meeting of the African parliamentary group held at the Committee Room four of
the Geneva International Conference Center overlooking the United Nations
Organisation (UNO) office.
The Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament was also on Tuesday
admitted as an affiliate member of IPU.
ECOWAS Parliament's
Secretary-General, Halima Ahmed, told journalists that, “before now,
ECOWAS Parliament was merely an observer but applied two years ago to become an
affiliate member based on the activities it has been performing in the
region.”
Nigeria’s
Senate President Adolphus Wabara, and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker,
Austin Opara, are leading the Nigerian delegation that includes the House
Leader, Abdul Ningi, senators Uche Chukwumerije, Iyabode Anisulowo and Sule
Yari Gandi.
Addressing a
plenary session, Wabara said the fight against terrorism would not be
accomplished unless poverty is conquered.
He tasked meembers
to enact legally-binding instrument that would hold manufacturers, suppliers,
traffickers, facilitators and users of small arms and light weapons accountable
for their roles in the illicit trade that has become weapon of mass destruction
in the sub-Saharan Africa.
He said, “The
greatest and worst weapons of mass destruction are poverty and diseases. These
have claimed the lives of millions of people and will continue to do so, unless
something is done.
The IPU would also
deliberate on the role of parliaments in strengthening multilateral regimes for
non-proliferation of weapons and for disarmament in the light of new security
challenges as well as the role of parliaments in preserving biodiversity and
Beijing+10: an evaluation from parliamentary perspective.
The body would also
stress respect for international humanitarian laws by canvassing extensive
political mobilisation based on both knowledge and know-how.
“Parliamentarians
not only oversee the executive's action in applying the law, but also have the
capability and authority to transmit the rules of international humanitarian
law to the population and to ensure that the competent institutions, including
the army and security forces, receive adequate instruction in them.
“Humanitarian
law addresses such critical issues as the treatment in conflicts of civilians,
prisoners and vulnerable groups and the need to avoid the use of indiscriminate
and disproportional force in warfare.
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