Eala takes message of peace to parliamentary meeting in Geneva

Arusha. The East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) has called for dialogue on conflict resolution in the region.

It says the power of diplomacy should be continuously explored to end armed conflicts and promote international security. 

“We should explore the power of parliamentary diplomacy in building bridges for peace,” said Speaker Joseph Ntakirutimana.

He made the appeal in Geneva this week during the 148th meeting of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, which ended on Wednesday.

Conflict resolution efforts in the East African Community (EAC) bloc, he said, should begin with understanding the challenges facing the region. 

“As part of a broader effort to address conflicts, Eala aims to leverage its position as a regional parliament to prevent polarisation and promote dialogue among member states in the region,” he said.

This year’s IPU Assembly theme is ‘Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding’. 

Hundreds of parliamentarians from around the world were in attendance at IPU’s biannual assembly held in Geneva for the first time in almost six years. 

This year’s IPU meeting, according to a dispatch from Eala, comes at a time when 56 countries are experiencing armed conflicts.

These, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, include some EAC member states already embroiled in turmoil. 

The parliamentarians from across the world debated tangible steps that have to be taken to prevent conflicts and foster peace.

Channels of communication will have to be established and innovative solutions found to attain peace in the wake of severed or limited diplomatic ties.

“By harnessing the power of parliamentary diplomacy, Eala hopes to build bridges for peace and understanding, creating a secure and prosperous East Africa,”  Mr Ntakirutimana said.

Resolutions made include mechanisms needed to address the social and humanitarian impact of autonomous weapon systems and artificial intelligence.

Others are the promotion of partnerships for climate action, access to affordable energy and ensuring innovation, responsibility and equity.

IPU was founded in 1889 by the 19th-century parliamentarians William Randall Cremer and Frederic Passy as part of the peace movement. It was founded as the first multilateral political organisation that would encourage cooperation and dialogue among nations. 

Today, the Geneva-based IPU comprises 180 national member parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies across the world.