19
Nov
8th Statutory Meeting of the Committee on “Economic Development, Regional Integration and Natural Resources” and 8th Joint Statutory Meeting of the Committees on “Humanitarian and Social Issues” and “Gender, Children and Vulnerable Persons” of FP-ICGLR
Kinshasa, October 10, 2024: The Forum of Parliaments of Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) is organizing and the Eighth Statutory Meeting of the Committee on “Economic Development, Regional Integration and Natural Resources”, from 23th to 24th October and the Eighth Joint Statutory Meeting of the Committees on “Humanitarian and Social Issues” and “Gender, Children and Vulnerable Persons” from 25th to 26th October, 2024, in Kampala.
The FP-ICGLR is an inter-parliamentary organization composed of 12 National Parliaments of the ICGLR Member States, namely; the Republic of Angola, the Republic of Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of the Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of Zambia.
The main objective of the FP-ICGLR is to make a significant parliamentary contribution to the implementation of the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region. It intervenes in 5 areas which constitute permanent Committees: “Democracy and Good Governance”, “Peace and Security”, “Humanitarian and Social Issues”, “Economic Development, Natural Resources and Regional Integration” and “Issues of Gender, Children and Vulnerable persons”.
The Great Lakes Region has abundant renewable energy sources, which, if fully harnessed, will allow the region to meet most of its energy needs. To address climate change, the GLR needs a swift and profound transformation across a broad spectrum of economic and social systems towards a low and eventually zero-emissions, climate-resilient region.
Through the oversight role, parliamentarians can ensure that governments honour their international commitments that seek to combat climate change, reduce the use of fossil fuels, and promote renewable energy for the ICGLR Member States' sustainable development.
Following the insightful debate during the 14th Ordinary Session of the Plenary Assembly, held in Livingstone, Republic of Zambia, from April 2024, under the theme: The Role of Parliaments on Climate Change Adaptation, the 8th Committee meeting will continue the discussion debating the Sustainable Energy Transition in the Great Lakes Region: Challenges and Opportunities.
In this context and in line with the content of the 2024-2025 Action Plan, the General Secretariat of the Forum of Parliaments of the Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) and the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda are organizing the 8th Statutory Committee Meeting on October 23-24, 2024.
The meeting will be preceded by a visit to the Oil Exploration Infrastructures located in Hoima District in Western Uganda on October 21, 2024 for participants.
On the other hand, Education is as a fundamental human right and a public responsibility. Unfortunately, many children in the Great Lakes Region (GLR) are unable to exercise this right because of disparities in education based on location, gender, and economic standing. Therefore, it is imperative to secure the resources needed to overhaul our education system. The Meeting is aimed at discussing the critical role of Parliamentarians in ensuring that adequate resources and policies are allocated to this important sector both nationally and regionally. Additionally, the 8th Joint Meeting of the Committees also aims to debate the problematic of Sexual and Reproductive Heath Rights and HIV in the GLR. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and HIV are closely linked.
These meetings will be attended by Parliamentarians who are nominated to serve in these Committees.
