The Shura Council State of Qatar

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in collaboration  with the Shura Council, organized a parliamentary forum today entitled "Investing in People and Institutions: The Role of Parliamentarians in Social Development," as part of the Second World Summit for Social Development, currently being hosted by Doha.
The forum opened with a speech by His Excellency Mr. Hassan bin Abdullah Al-Ghanim, Speaker of the Shura Council, who affirmed that Qatar's hosting of this summit embodies the directives of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, and is an extension of the country's firm commitment to investing in people and strengthening the social dimension of sustainable development.
His Excellency noted that the forum constitutes an important parliamentary platform for discussing ways to utilize legislative and oversight tools to support social development and empower individuals and institutions in a manner that achieves social justice.

In his address at the Parliamentary Forum held as part of the proceedings of the Second Global Summit on Social Development, His Excellency highlighted that challenges related to poverty and inequality require a rethinking of priorities, placing investment in human capital and institutions at the forefront of parliamentary work, in partnership with governments and civil society.
For his part, HE Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Martin Chungong stated that international parliamentary cooperation is a key pillar for promoting sustainable development, sharing expertise, and building solidarity among nations.
In his speech at the forum, the IPU Secretary-General noted that parliamentary partnerships can achieve progress despite the challenges the world faces today.
He explained that parliaments serve as bridges linking international commitments with national implementation, helping translate goals into concrete policies and budgets that directly impact people's lives.
He stressed the necessity for parliamentarians to be active partners in global governance, given their role in bridging the gap between vision and implementation, enhancing legitimacy, accountability, and public trust.
He also pointed out that today's world faces interlinked challenges related to inequity and declining social solidarity, making the current summit a pivotal opportunity to renew commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Parliamentary Forum included a discussion session titled "Building Bridges for Inclusive Development," moderated by HE Member of the Shura Council Youssef bin Ali Al Khater.
The session featured contributions from Lee Anderson, Member of the European Parliament; Pauline Denofbourg, Youth Empowerment Policy Specialist at the UN Development Programme; and Barbara Adams, Chairperson of the Global Policy Forum.
The session addressed key topics on strengthening the role of parliaments in implementing the SDGs, increasing youth and women's participation in decision-making, reducing unemployment, investing in human capital, enhancing institutional capacity, and exploring cooperation and partnerships between parliaments and international entities to accelerate comprehensive social development.
HE Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council and Vice-Chair of the IPU Executive Committee Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti highlighted in her closing remarks the fruitful partnership between the IPU and the Shura Council in organizing this significant parliamentary event.
She emphasized that the forum underscored the importance of investing in human capital and institutions as the core of social development, and that the role of parliaments extends beyond legislation to include oversight and evaluation to ensure optimal resource utilization and promote transparency.
Her Excellency also noted the consensus on the importance of multilateral partnerships between parliaments, governments, international organizations, and civil society, as a key lever for achieving the SDGs.
She called on the IPU to continue its efforts in supporting the exchange of parliamentary experiences and expertise in social development, expressing hope that the forum's outcomes will contribute to entrenching values of justice and equality, and shaping a fairer future for people and communities.
The Parliamentary Forum aims to bring together parliamentarians and social development stakeholders to discuss issues related to investing in human capital, expanding economic participation, enhancing institutional roles, and examining ways to strengthen collaboration across sectors and partners to reach more effective solutions, showcasing practical experiences that support parliamentary work in this field.
This forum is part of the accompanying events of the Second Global Summit on Social Development, hosted in Doha with the participation of parliaments and international organizations from around the world.
The Tashkent Declaration, adopted during the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in April, reaffirmed parliaments' commitment worldwide to place social development at the forefront of their legislative priorities.