14 April 2008
Cape Town — The need for a world concert for a lasting solution to the phenomena of poverty, global warming, and humanitarian crises topped the Sunday's solemn opening speeches at the 118th Interparliamentary Union (IPU) meeting that gathers about 1,000 delegates from around the world in Cape Town, South Africa..
The ceremony, attended by Angolan National Assembly speaker, Roberto de Almeida, was chaired by South African head of State, Thabo Mbeki, who said the reduction of poverty will help the African continent to make progress.
The South African head of State also considered as essential the upgrading of the living and education level of African women, as a means to help reduce poverty in Africa.
Most of the problems discussed at the UN Security Council are concerning Africa, said Thabo Mbeki, when referring to the aggravation of poverty and various conflicts prevailing in the continent.
Thabo Mbeki said the response to the millennium goals of reducing poverty until 2015 has been insufficient, due to the lack of political will on the part of many states.
He appealed to parliaments and world governments to apply regional and international decisions and recommendations towards reducing poverty that affects millions of people worldwide.
In his turn, South African parliament speaker, Baleka Mbete, spoke of the need quick solutions to poverty, global warming and global humanitarian crises.
Human rights violation in the world must stop immediately, said the parliamentarian, also appealing for democratic solutions, for peace and stability in Zimbabwe, following the elections deadlock, as the situation started to gain appalling twists.
The parliamentarian also appealed to women to make their voices heard in order to achieve a major gender representativity, both at UIP level and at national organisations they belong to, including in decision making organs in their respective countries, as a way of contributing to the solution to the world problems.
At the ongoing 118th UIP meeting, the National Assembly speaker, Roberto de Almeida, is heading a delegation composed of MPs, Bernarda da Silva, Samuel Daniel, Mário Sambwako and Campos Tomas.
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