DUBAI – 14 March 2022. PAM President, Hon. Gennaro Migliore, addressed the Opening Session of the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD), which gathers every year governmental authorities, international and non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, private sector companies, and international media outlets.
This year’s DIHAD edition focused on the Sustainable Development Goal 17 (SDG 17), “partnerships for the goals”, established by the United Nations in 2015 with the purpose: “to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.”
In this regard, in his speech, President Migliore recalled the strong partnership between PAM and DIHAD since 2009, saying that “over the years, DIHAD has truly established itself as one of the main platforms for global humanitarian leadership to tackle the most pressing issues of our time, and PAM is honored to be one of its partners”.
He also recognized the unique role that DIHAD and his Chairman, H.E. Dr. Al Madani, have played in the process of establishing effective cooperation and constructive dialogue between PAM and the countries of the Gulf, leading to the accession as PAM full members of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates and the Shura Council of Qatar, on the occasion of the 16th PAM Plenary Session, held in Dubai last week.
Among all SDGs, this year’s Conference opted to devote individual sessions to “Zero Hunger” (SDG 2) and “Climate Action” (SDG 13), in addition to Special Sessions on “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” (SDG 16 “Good Health & Wellbeing” (SDG 3) and “Clean Water & Sanitation” (SDG 6); “Economic Growth and Decent Work for All” (SDG 8) and “Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure” (SDG 9); “Gender Equality” (SDG 5) and “Reduced Inequalities” (SDG 10); and “Life below Water” (SDG 14) and “Life on Land” (SDG 15).
These are all topics of strategic interest for the prosperity and wellbeing of the PAM region, and PAM President, Hon. Gennaro Migliore, elaborated further on them stating that “the challenges that we are facing require an adaptation of our way of living. We need to strengthen the resilience and guarantee the welfare of our people in this World that has changed forever.”
To this extent, PAM is taking concrete actions to support its member parliaments by sharing the latest information and best practices to guarantee a better future for the PAM regions, for instance, through the proposed establishment of the Community of the Euro-Mediterranean and the Gulf countries for Renewable Energy, or a regional Authority for Water, as well as, the organization of a conference on the legislative revision of the implementation of the Palermo Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, next spring in Naples.
To conclude, President Migliore highlighted current situation resulting from the Russian aggression against Ukraine, affirming that “ in this very precise moment, we see the unique value of partnerships among countries, between the public and private sector, with financial and technological institutions, the academic world, and with civil society organizations, to find common solutions to assist the innocent victims if this invasion, and minimize the consequences of this dramatic war on our citizens.”
PAM and DIHAD will continue their fruitful cooperation on common objectives to achieve prosperity in the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions, and beyond, and to tackle the most difficult challenges ahead of us in recent history.