The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean participated and actively contributed to the 25th Lisbon Forum, which took place on 25 and 26 November 2019, in Lisbon, organized by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe.
The event focused on the relation between development and human rights, the rule of law and democracy, and their implications for the global achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To facilitate debates and interaction, the meeting built on two panels on the overall subject of the Forum, four workshops and one thematic panel.
The two-day event brought together 230 politicians, practitioners and administrators from a wide range of institutional backgrounds and world regions. Over forty speakers shared their views and experiences on the “Agenda 2030” adopted in 2015 by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
The Forum was opened by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, by the former President of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio, by Miguel Angel Moratinos, on behalf of the Secretary General of the United Nations, and by the Chair of the Executive Committee of the North South Centre.
PAM was represented by Hon. Pedro Roque, PAM Vice-President and President of the PAM 1st Standing Committee.
In his statement, Hon. Roque highlighted the link between the SDGs and human rights, as well as the role of regional Parliaments in achieving these common goals, at both the national and international level, through a harmonized legislative action. In this regard, he presented the action being carried out by PAM through its partnerships with several key international organizations, such as OHCHR, UNCTAD, WTO, EBRD, and OECD.
He stressed the link between economic obstacles and dignified life, and referred to the new “Start Up Market Project”, launched by PAM in November 2019, aimed at facilitating investments and eliminating financial barriers for those enterprises owned by women, young people and migrants.
He also referred to environmental sustainability, as well as food and water security, and the strong commitment of PAM in addressing climate change and managing massive migration flows.
The meeting sent a strong message that the implementation and promotion of the 2030 Agenda was, and must remain, a responsibility for all stakeholders and the whole of society, and PAM is committed to contribute to achieve this goal. A report and related resolution on the role of parliamentarians in promoting human rights will be presented and hopefully adopted by the Assembly on the occasion of its 14th Plenary Session, to be held in Athens on 20-21 February 2020.