The Speaker of the Federation Council sent a video address to participants of the 2nd Global Forum of Interparliamentary Cooperation on Sustainable Development Goals.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko greeted participants in the 2nd Global Forum of Interparliamentary Cooperation on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in a video address. The forum took place in Tashkent.
The Speaker said that adopting the Sustainable Development Agenda until 2030 and implementing the Global Monitoring System for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and state regulation mechanisms had become essential to improving the quality of life and serve as guidelines for many countries.
Many government bodies are engaged in targeted work on sustainable development, but according to the Speaker, parliamentarians are to play a special role in integrating global goals into national legislative resolutions and ensuring they receive public support. “Every parliament has its own projects and proposals that may be helpful to the world community.”
Valentina Matvienko praised Uzbekistan’s efforts on developing interparliamentary cooperation channels, including the 1st Global Forum in Bukhara and Uzbekistani President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s initiative to strengthen the role of parliaments in expediting the SDGs. “This idea received support from the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and other interparliamentary organisations. Last year, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a respective resolution.”
The Speaker said that in the Russian Federation, the SDGs are fully integrated into strategic and programme documents. “They are priorities of our international cooperation.”
Among the major events that promote the subject of sustainable development goals, Valentina Matvienko named the Neva Environmental Congress. The 10th congress held in 2023 enjoyed a record-high attendance by representatives from over 50 countries, including Uzbekistan. “Green technology innovation was displayed during the event. Businesses, researchers and government bodies discussed the environmental agenda. All proposals and ideas will be used to update conservation laws and to launch new green programmes and projects.”
Gender equality and women’s agenda goals also receive close attention. “The Russian parliament works towards implementing the National Action Strategy in the Interests of Women in 2023–2026, develops cooperation with international organisations and associations,” Valentina Matvienko said, noting that the Eurasian Women’s Forum had become one of the key formats dedicated to women’s issues.
The Speaker invited women parliamentarians to attend the 4th Eurasian Women’s Forum in St Petersburg in September next year. “Forum participants will continue discussing a broad range of issues concerning women’s involvement in economic, political and social processes.”
According to the Speaker, by jointly developing the common 2030 Agenda and following the system of sustainable development goals and indicators, the global community is building a trusted and open dialogue. “Cooperation within the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, the development of model laws and coordinated decisions in the interests of common development at this platform can be an example of such dialogue,” Valentina Matvienko stressed.