Lord Fakafanua is currently in New York attending different meetings organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the European Union, and associated events in the margins of the Summit of the Future.  

Lord Speaker attended and spoke on a high-level dialogue on theme New Beginning for Multilateralism: The Role of Parliaments, a side event that was hosted by the European Parliament. He was amongst leading parliamentarians from across the globe who took part in a panel discussion reflecting on the future of legislators at the heart of the multilateral system.  

As a parliamentarian, he recognised two modes of how legislatures including the Tongan Parliament can contribute inwardly and outwardly to strengthen multilateral diplomacy and international cooperation.  

“Inwardly we can hold our governments accountable to the implementation of international commitments such as the UNFCCC NDCs and SDGs, of which 80 percent are human rights, within our parliaments and standing committees. 

Advocate for stronger oversight of our governments by localising and harmonising international best practices such as having more inclusive processes, and promoting equality, peace, and security. Also, build local capacities within our parliaments to support the institutionalising of these processes,” advocated the Lord Speaker. 

He also mentioned that outwardly parliamentarians and Parliaments must be at the table and participating in UN processes at the formation and inception phases of international efforts. 

“We must engage and participate at international forums such as the UN and parliamentary gatherings under the IPU and CPA for instance. It has been said that if we are not at the table, we are on the menu, and we owe it to our constituencies to strengthen multilateralism through parliamentary partnership on the international level.” 

Lord Fakafanua told the gathering that Parliaments must do this to combat the growing inequalities, political turmoil, environment, and technological challenges of climate change, multiplying conflicts ranging from the Middle East to Ukraine and Sudan, among other issues. He concluded by reading from Francois Taddei’s “Learning to Planetize Under Planet’s Eyes”, which to him clearly outlined why those who democratically represent global citizens must be at the forefront of international consensus building. 

As the event organiser, the European Parliament continues to be steadfast in its support for the UN, and welcomes efforts to make it more effective, equitable and inclusive – including through the Summit of the Future process. 

Lord Fakafanua also attended an IPU Parliamentary Event, where participants were invited to provide concrete ideas to better articulate the parliaments-UN relationship given next year's General Assembly resolution on "Interaction between the UN, national parliaments and IPU”. 

THE Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) President Dr. Tulia Ackson has urged parliamentarians attending the UN Summit of the Future in New York to step up their oversight role and capacity to shape and strengthen multilateralism. Madame Ackson told the participants that the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterrez conceived the summit as an opportunity to have the multilateral systems delivered to the people.  

“Indeed, today’s multilateralism is all too prone to political impasse double standards, and lack of accountability for commitment. So, to fix this broken system will require a lot of work beginning with Parliaments and the IPU as their world organisations.” 

IPU has worked steadily over the last quarter of the century to bring Parliaments closer to the United Nations, and was among the first to recognise the need for a stronger link between parliamentarians as representatives of the people and the United Nations.  

“To make sure decisions made at the global level, make sense, and are realised at the national level. As parliamentarians, we must do our part in implementing global commitment through legislation and budget allocations.  

At the same time, we must do our homework to strengthen parliamentarians' capacities for oversight and legislation. And to get our governments to respond to our concerns regarding the United Nation’s processes,” said Madame President Ackson. 

IPU mobilises parliaments including the Legislative Assembly of Tonga to contribute to the deliberation of the United Nations and to bring about better and more legitimate outcomes of such deliberations. And lastly, will look at how parliaments including Tonga can implement these at the national level.  

The Summit of the Future marks a new beginning for global governance, an opportunity to produce a vision for the future of global cooperation. 

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