Why a Forum of Parliamentarians in Peacebuilding?
Political will and leadership are key issues in consolidating peace and stability. In intra-state and cross border conflicts, legislative bodies have a unique role in mediating between various interests to promote peace. As elected people’s representatives, Parliamentarians are well placed to understand and provide solutions to the many intricate issues that often contribute to conflict. Based on their solidarity, regional Parliamentarians can play a more pro-active role in setting the political agenda for peace and stability. They can carry out their representative, oversight and legislative roles to ensure equitable allocation of resources and greater representation of the people in the political system. The involvement of MPs in peacebuilding and conflict mitigation is also part of the process of incorporating the legislative arm of governments in regional diplomacy efforts. 3. The Regional Nature of AMANI Forum The Great Lakes people are interlinked ethnically, culturally and lingu
