العربية
- 14 مايو، 2024
In partnership with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Parliamentary Development Institute, Ufuq for Human Development organized a forum to launch its guidebooks for parliamentary committees. This initiative aligns with its strategic plan related to Goal 16 of institutional reform. The third guidebook on climate change and the environment and the fourth on labor and civil society were unveiled. Within the project “Developing Parliamentary Performance”.
The forum was held under the auspices of the Acting Speaker of Parliament and attended by representatives from the legislative and executive branches, as well as relevant local and international civil society organizations.
At the opening session, held in the hall of the Parliamentary Development Institute, Mr Saad Fayad, Director General of the Institute, expressed his gratitude to Ufuq for its collaboration in implementing a program to prepare a series of guidebooks for the Parliament. These guidebooks are designed to outline the duties and responsibilities of MPs, thereby improving and developing their parliamentary performance within the scope of their work, ultimately enhancing their role in national development.
Mr Fayad emphasized that the Parliamentary Development Institute seeks to empower all parliamentary committees by providing them with the latest information and expertise in the legislative field. This is achieved through the support of international organizations and national civil society organizations, aiming to equip committees with high-quality knowledge and capabilities in both legislative and oversight functions.
The Director General commended the partnership between the Health and Environment Committee, the Labor and Civil Society Committee, and the Institute in supporting continuous development efforts, including the publication of the Labour and Civil Society guidebook and the Environment and Climate guidebook, hoping they will benefit parliamentary work.
In his speech, MP Majid Shingali, Chairman of the Health and Environment Committee, highlighted the importance of issuing the guidebook, expressing his support for the Parliamentary Development Institute and collaboration with all committees in this endeavor. He noted the 2.4% population growth rate, stressing the need for discussions between civil society organizations and the Parliament.
Meanwhile, MP Hussein Arab, Deputy Chairman of the Labor and Civil Society Committee, expressed his commitment to working with civil society organizations to issue the guidebook. He stated that the guidebook serves as binding instructions for all parties involved.
MP Arab also acknowledged the Institute’s Director General and staff’s exceptional role in the Institute’s progress.
Dr. Ali Bakht, The Board Director of Ufuq for Human Development, emphasized the importance of the guidebook as a link between civil society organizations and the legislative authority. He mentioned issuing additional guidebooks to complete parliamentary committees’ intellectual and procedural references.
The forum featured a documentary on the roles of the Health and Environment Committee and the Labor and Civil Society Committee. Mr. Ali Omar Fattah, Advisor at the Parliamentary Development Institute, presented the guidebooks specific to these committees.
The forum concluded with an exchange of views and discussions on the content of the guidebooks and ways to sustain this institutional approach.