Dansk Interparlamentarisk Gruppes bestyrelse 2024-25
IPU Alm.del Bilag 12
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150th IPU Assembly
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (5–9 April 2025)
Standing Committee on
Sustainable Development
C-II/150/M
13 January 2025
Parliamentary strategies to mitigate the long-lasting
impact of conflicts, including armed conflicts,
on sustainable development
Explanatory memorandum submitted by the co-Rapporteurs,
Ms. H. Fayez (Bahrain), Ms. E.T. Muteka (Namibia) and Mr. M.R. Fogiel (Poland)
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Field experience and United Nations studies have demonstrated that conflicts, particularly armed
conflicts, have profound humanitarian, social and economic consequences. In addition to the tragic
loss of civilian lives, these conflicts result in widespread poverty, the displacement of millions, and the
destruction of critical infrastructure including roads, schools, hospitals and places of worship. Such
conflicts also severely diminish quality of life in affected communities, undermining their capacity for
long-term recovery and reconstruction. This observation underscores the need to develop long-term
strategies to address the impact of conflicts on sustainable development and to ensure the continuity
of efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in these regions.
In October 2024, the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development organized a discussion
session on the sidelines of the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, held in Geneva,
Switzerland. Contributions to this debate reflected a wide range of viewpoints and highlighted the
many and varied effects of conflicts on sustainable development in countries across the globe. In
preparing the draft resolution, the co-Rapporteurs considered the valuable views, proposals and
contributions shared by colleagues from around the world at this discussion session, aiming to ensure
that the resolution would be in line with the common interests of IPU Member Parliaments and with the
most pressing issues they faced.
The main objective of the draft resolution is to strengthen the role of parliaments in mitigating the
negative impact of conflicts on sustainable development. It recognizes the disruptive impact of
conflicts on human and economic progress in numerous countries, and seeks to marshal global
parliamentary efforts to counter these adverse effects and promote sustainable development in
conflict-affected regions. In particular, it highlights the critical role of parliamentarians in fostering
peace and stability and in shaping policies that advance reconstruction and development in
conflict-affected areas. It also underscores their shared responsibility to safeguard the well-being of
future generations and aims to bridge gaps between various stakeholders in order to achieve inclusive
and sustainable development in post-conflict settings.
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 IPU, Alm.del - 2024-25 - Bilag 12: 150th IPU Assembly
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C-II/150/M
The draft resolution is based on a set of basic principles. First, it emphasizes that cooperation
between national parliaments and regional and international organizations, including the United
Nations, needs to be strengthened in order to exchange knowledge and experience and to
coordinate efforts. Second, it stresses the importance of enhancing awareness, among
parliamentarians, of the importance of their role in peacebuilding and in social and economic
stabilization in conflict-affected areas. Third, it underscores the importance of protecting women,
ethnic and religious minorities, and other marginalized or vulnerable groups, who are often those
most affected by armed conflict.
The draft resolution emphasizes the importance of providing humanitarian and development
support in conflict-affected areas and of developing mechanisms to monitor the implementation of
policies and programmes related to security, peace and development. It calls on parliaments to
exercise their budgetary, legislative and oversight functions to ensure that funding and
humanitarian assistance are channelled in transparent and effective ways, in order to achieve the
SDGs in conflict-affected environments. It also urges parliaments to use these powers to contribute
significantly to the creation of more stable environments, as well as to push governments towards
the adoption of comprehensive development policies aimed at reconstruction and at strengthening
social peace in conflict-affected areas.
The draft resolution attaches particular importance to the role of parliaments in mitigating the
effects of climate change – including population displacement, food insecurity and water scarcity –
in conflict-affected areas. It calls on parliaments to take measures to address these climate
challenges and to work on developing environmental strategies that ensure the sustainability of
societies in the aftermath of conflicts.
The draft resolution considers that the challenges associated with armed conflict and sustainable
development require the adoption of a comprehensive strategic approach, including the
strengthening of democracy and the rule of law, the application of the principle of accountability in
parliamentary work, and the development of policies that include all humanitarian, social, economic
and environmental aspects. To this end, it calls for the development of integrated strategies,
including emergency humanitarian response.
Overall, the draft resolution aims to support parliaments in taking the necessary measures to
promote sustainable development in post-conflict settings, and to work to restore social and
economic balance in such areas.
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