Riyaz Patel
South Africa’s first consideration is always to promote the principle of international social justice, National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise underlined at the first plenary session of the Inter Parliamentary Union’s (IPU’s) 141st Assembly in Belgrade, Serbia.
Modise told delegates from 179 national parliaments that South Africa’s commitment to world peace and progress remains unwavering, as the country strives to implement international conventions and treaties aimed at achieving a better Africa and a better world.
“For this reason, it always supports the peoples of occupied territories, such as those living in Palestine and Western Sahara.”
The international forum is discussing parliamentary roles, mechanisms and the contribution of regional cooperation in strengthening international law.
Modise said countries have a collective responsibility to uphold agreed-to standards and values, as spelt out in the United Nations Charter, which establishes “conditions under which justice and respect for obligations arising from the treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained.”
She also called for support for structures, such as the Pan African Parliament (PAP) and the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) to enhance the “inter-connectedness and inter-dependence among all the peoples of the world.”
She cited the model laws that various SADC member states and parliaments should adopt to better align legislation and policies aimed at ensuring a better life for the people of the region.
“South Africa’s constitutionally mandated public participation framework for law-making is one example of this important role in action.”
She urged greater efforts to realise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 16, which calls for peace, justice and effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels of governance.
Modise is leading the South African delegation which includes seven MP’s from various political parties represented in Parliament.
