21 September 2024, UNHQ, New York – At the eve of the Summit of the Future, at the UN Headquarters in New York, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), with the support of its Centre for Global Studies (CGS), organized a High-Level Parliamentary Side Event. The event, entitled “Parliamentary Support in Re-Establishing Trust and Reputation in Multilateral Governance,” in partnership with the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Permanent Missions of the Kingdom of Morocco and Italy to the UN.
H.E. Hon. Enaam Mayara, President of PAM and President of the House of Councilors of Morocco, opened the event, emphasizing the critical role of parliaments in supporting UN efforts. He announced two key initiatives that PAM is supporting to implement the goals of the Summit of the Future: the establishment of a Permanent Parliamentary Observatory of the Global South for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in Morocco, and of a Permanent Parliamentary Observatory on the Malicious Use of AI, served by PAM-CGS, in San Marino, to promote effective legislation, principles and criteria to prevent and face these challenges.
A key supporter of PAM’s mission, H.E. Amb. Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations in New York, commended PAM for its significant contribution to multilateral diplomacy. He further highlighted the importance of parliamentary oversight in enhancing global governance, particularly in addressing AI risks and towards the path of sustainability issues.
The two opening interventions were followed by the welcome remarks of H.E Amb. Omar Hilale Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations in New York and H.E. Amb. Gianluca Greco, Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations in New York.
The event also featured a keynote address by Ms. Natalia Gherman, Assistant Secretary- General and Executive Director of CTED, who underscored the rising threat posed by the malicious use of artificial intelligence by terrorist groups. She emphasized the importance of international cooperation and praised PAM’s partnership with CTED and its member states, applauding PAM’s initiatives and recognizing the research that the PAM-CGS is producing.
From the political perspective, Hon. Deborah Bergamini (Italy), PAM Rapporteur on Political Affairs, reiterated the pivotal role of parliamentarians in fostering peace; while H.E. Hon. Mohamed Abou El Enein, Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament and PAM President Emeritus, called for immediate international action on Gaza, emphasizing the necessity for a permanent ceasefire and the implementation of the Two-State Solution.
The PAM Women Parliamentary Forum (WPF) was also represented during the event. Hon. Joana Lima (Portugal), President of the WPF, highlighted the indispensable role of women in societal advancement, and Hon. Tuba Durgut (Türkiye), Vice-President in pectore of the WPF, urged the international community to prioritize the protection of women and children in conflict, focusing on the dire conditions in Gaza.
Prof. Rym Ayadi, President of the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA) further enriched the discussions emphasizing the critical role of parliaments in bridging the gap between citizens and institutions.
In his closing remarks, H.E. Amb. Dr. Abdulsalam AlMadani, Chairman of CGS and PAM Roving Ambassador for the GCC, reaffirmed PAM-CGS’s commitment to advancing trust and reputation standards globally. He introduced the concept of the Trust Path & Reputation Summit, an concrete initiative designed promote the UN Pact for the Future by fostering discussions on transparency and accountability in governance.
As the outcomes of the Summit of the Future begin to unfold, PAM remains steadfast in its commitment to international cooperation, working closely with the UN and its global partners. PAM will continue to enhance its efforts across the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions, promoting dialogue, advancing transparency, and ensuring robust legislative oversight. //