CPA lawmakers for introducing uniform visa, trade systems

Commonwealth parliamentarians today unanimously agreed to work for introducing uniform visa and trade systems and easing tariff restrictions among the commonwealth countries like the European Union (EU).

They also agreed on some other recommendations including one for introduction of youth quota in parliaments of commonwealth countries.

The recommendations were passed in different workshops at the 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) being held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

The eight-day annual flagship conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association with participation of some 500 MPs began on November 1.

The general assembly of the 63rd CPC will be held tomorrow to finalise Dhaka Declaration following placement of a number of resolutions on different issues.

Commonwealth lawmakers at a workshop titled ‘The Role of Parliamentarians in Building Stronger Ties within the Commonwealth: Including New Trade Issues, Travel Restrictions, non-tariff restrictions’ unanimously agreed to work for introduction of uniform visa and trade systems and easing tariff restrictions among the commonwealth countries.

At another workshop titled ‘Giving Voice to the Youth: Mechanism for Ensuring Effective Participation of Youth in the Governance Process,’ the Commonwealth MPs agreed introduction of youth quotas in parliaments, and youth quotas at the party levels in case of choosing candidates.

The MPs also agreed that parliaments must ensure that youth participations are given voice in the parliamentary national, regional and international representative bodies. Parliament needs to give voice to the youth by making sure the policies close to their hearts are actively considered.

Parliaments and parliamentarians should ceaselessly endeavor to ensure mainstreaming of the youths in governance and nation building so as to equip and empower them to shape the destinies of democracies worldwide.

Youth delegates from different countries also attended the workshop.

At a separate workshop titled ‘The Climate Change Debate: A Challenge for the Commonwealth’, the commonwealth lawmakers unanimously agreed on two recommendations, including ensuring a framework combating climate change.

The Commonwealth MPs committed to find means to give legal protections to people displaced by climate change and support a UN general assembly resolution to this effect.

Five other workshops were also held on Monday on different issues focusing democracy, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and what factors fuel the rise of different kinds of nationalism. 

The Bangladesh delegation led by Deputy Speaker, however, voted against the proposal.  

Lawmakers from fifteen countries including Australia, Canada, Malaysia and Tasmania participated in the workshop.