Paris, France, 4-5 April 2023 – The Global Parliamentary Network of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) held its annual meeting at the OECD Headquarters.
Since its establishment in 2011, the Network served as a hub for lawmakers and parliamentary officials to foster a constructive dialogue among legislators.
This year, OECD organized the event together with the NATO PA, and in partnership with the Women Political Leaders (WPL). More than 125 parliamentarians and 30 officials from 36 countries and organizations attended the event.
Hon. Lima and Hon. Roque (Portugal) represented PAM on this occasion.
As President of the PAM Women Parliamentary Forum (WPF), Hon. Lima intervened in the Panel on “Joining Forces for Gender Equality”, while Hon Roque addressed the “Reinforcing democracy” session.
Hon. Lima recalled that, at the current rate, it will take 115 years to achieve gender equality in the MENA region. Moreover, Hon. Lima stressed that gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world in line with the 5th Sustainable Development Goal.
PAM remains firmly committed towards the promotion of women’s right, freedom, leadership and political participation at all levels. Through its WPF, PAM has recently attended the 67th Commission on the Status of Women, organized by UN Women, with a focus on the condition of women in the rural areas of the PAM regions.
Hon. Pedro Roque (Portugal), PAM President Emeritus and President of PAM’s 3rd Standing Committee, addressed the session on “Reinforcing Democracy”. He emphasized that, by fostering citizens’ participation in decision-making processes, transparency can significantly contribute to preventing corruption.
Successively, Hon. Roque addressed the key session on “Strengthening resilience to foreign undue influence and interference”. Hon. Roque warned against foreign powers’ hostile activities in the PAM regions, such as disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks and economic coercion, such as those conducted by Iran and the Russian Federation.
PAM remains committed to fostering a constant political and security dialogue, to monitor and contain foreign undue influence from hostile actors in its regions.//