Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon Justice Dr Patrick Matibini, SC, MP has called on world Parliamentarians to have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and well-being. Speaking on Sunday 1st April 2017 when he addressed the 136th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Speaker Matibini reminded the Parliamentarians that they had a duty of ensuring that all the people, especially the most vulnerable are protected and given opportunities to attain their aspirations and live a dignified life.

Hon Matibini informed the gathering of more than 1200 world Parliamentarians that, in line with the Assembly theme “Redressing Inequalities: delivering on dignity and well-being for all,” and in accordance with the adopted MDGs in 2000 and the SDGs in 2015, it has been realised that development could not be achieved without   promoting equality. He reiterated the urgent need to implement the Post-2015 Development Agenda, especially SDG number 10 on reducing inequality.

Speaker Matibini expressed concern that the subject of inequality has emerged as a central issue in the Post-2015 Development Agenda despite decades of substantial progress in boosting prosperity and reducing poverty.

“After fifteen years of implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) it has been argued that though aggregate progress had been made in many areas under the MDGs, many inequalities “beneath the averages” had worsened considerably,’’ he said.

Hon Matibini informed the meeting that both Oxfam and the UN had also argued that gender-based discrimination, including the denial of the rights of women and girls, and their disempowerment to take control of their lives and bodies, still remains the single most widespread driver of inequalities in today’s world. He added that, persons with disabilities and many minority and ethnic groups were still among those who suffered widespread discrimination and exclusion and that these should be addressed if global opportunities for progress were to be shared by those in need of its benefits.
 
Speaker Matibini made an appeal to the Parliamentarians to embrace a holistic, rights-based approach to development that focuses on equality, equity and inclusive participation in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. He further added that this approach would ensure that the most marginalised benefit from development and growth.

Hon Matibini appealed to governments to ensure that economic growth is accompanied by measures to reduce deprivations among the poorest, improve their living standards, and level playing field in correspondence to notions of fairness and justice.

He also called on the Parliamentarians to urge their governments to come up with policy frameworks that would systematically and comprehensively address inequalities which would focus on moderating income inequality, on closing gaps in education, health and nutrition, and on tackling prejudice, stereotypes and other cultural norms that reinforce discrimination.

He said that, as the supreme law-making body, Parliament had an obligation to ensure equal treatment of all citizens through its legislative and oversight function, and also had a mandate to demand equal treatment of citizens irrespective of sex. He further added that, Parliaments can play a significant role in ensuring that no one is left behind in the implementation of the Post-2015 development agenda.