IPU, Alm.del - 2024-25 - Bilag 17: 150th IPU Assembly

Dansk Interparlamentarisk Gruppes bestyrelse 2024-25
IPU Alm.del Bilag 17
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150th IPU Assembly

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (5–9 April 2025)

Parliamentary strategies to mitigate the long-lasting

impact of conflicts, including armed conflicts,

on sustainable development

Resolution adopted by consensus

by the 150

IPU Assembly

(Tashkent, 9 April 2025)

The 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Recalling

the IPU’s long-held position, expressed through many previous resolutions, that

there cannot be peace without sustainable development and that there cannot be sustainable

development without peace, and

underlining

the IPU’s prominent role in condemning acts of aggression

and human rights violations in recent years,

Concerned

that conflicts, particularly armed conflicts, hinder progress towards the

achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs), profoundly disrupt the environment, economic growth and the lives of millions globally, and have

devastating effects on communities, and especially on women, children, and marginalized or vulnerable

groups,

Concerned also

about the complex interactions between, and the potential mutual

reinforcement of, conflict, poverty, environmental degradation and injustice, and about the long-term

effects of conflicts on civilian populations, communities, livelihoods, the environment and economies,

which can extend across decades and even generations,

Noting

that such long-term effects include poverty, hunger, forced displacement,

environmental damage, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure – such as hospitals, schools, energy

facilities, ports and dams – that enables the delivery of healthcare, education, energy, security and other

essential services,

Recognizing

that the destruction of ecosystems during armed conflicts has severe and

long-term consequences for human security, biodiversity, climate stability and sustainable development,

and that there is currently no international legal framework to hold aggressors accountable for such

destruction, including for indirect environmental degradation resulting from the use of military force,

Recalling

the urgent need for comprehensive and robust strategies to address conflicts and

to protect sustainable development during such conflicts,

Emphasizing

the important role played by parliaments in: addressing conflicts; mitigating

their negative effects on sustainable development; promoting peace and stability through inclusive

governance; strengthening the rule of law and good governance; fostering economic development;

ensuring gender equality and human rights protections, particularly for women, children, and

marginalized and vulnerable groups; and promoting inclusive decision-making processes,

#IPU150

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Emphasizing also

that IPU Assemblies – as places for parliamentarians, policymakers

and strategists from around the world to come together to discuss the most pressing topics in the

political sphere, and to engage in strategic capacity-building and regional cooperation on matters

including peace and international security, risk management, and sustainable development – serve

as vital platforms for international rapprochement and inclusivity, and as effective forums for

mitigating and reducing conflicts through multilateralism and respect for the international rules-

based order,

Highlighting

the importance of multilateral partnerships, and of strong and impactful

alliances, between parliaments globally in light of the conflicts and challenges the world is

witnessing, all of which require more effective actions in order to provide a safe and prosperous

environment for the benefit of countries, peoples and the future of the world as a whole,

Stressing

that the achievement of the collective interests of all nations, and of

progress on our shared commitment to sustainable development, peace and security, is dependent

upon comprehensive support for the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and upon the

mitigation of tensions through: stronger compliance with international humanitarian law, including

the right of prisoners of war to humane treatment; adherence to the principles of State sovereignty

while upholding human rights and other international legal obligations; efforts to promote a culture

of peace, tolerance and coexistence; renewed multilateral cooperation frameworks; and the

development of new sustainable and resilient energy security policies,

Recognizing

that the disappearance of persons has a profound impact on their

families and societies, and that it hinders development, community cohesion and peacebuilding,

and

recalling

the IPU resolution

Missing persons,

adopted at the 115th IPU Assembly,

Reaffirming

the critical role of parliamentary diplomacy in supporting all efforts aimed

at addressing conflicts, including by urging parties to such conflicts to engage in dialogue and seek

peaceful solutions,

Underlining

the importance of parliamentary collaboration with international and

regional organizations, especially the United Nations, in order to strengthen global efforts aimed at

achieving peace and mutual understanding, and

emphasizing

that reform of the global governance

system, including of the United Nations, is essential to ensure that international organizations are

effective and representative, and that the right to veto is not abused by States acting in violation of

international law,

Stressing

the need to: protect civilian infrastructure in conflicts, allowing humanitarian

efforts to be delivered in line with humanitarian and environmental principles, and in accordance

with the provisions of international humanitarian law; ensure respect for, and the protection of, all

civilians and humanitarian personnel in armed conflicts, again in accordance with the provisions of

international humanitarian law and as notably reiterated by UN Security Council resolution

2730

(2024); and ensure that services such as healthcare, education, food, water and energy remain

accessible and uninterrupted during conflict,

Affirming

the need for cooperation with development partners in order to ensure the

continuity of humanitarian services in areas affected by conflicts, and for rapid response to the

needs of populations in conflict situations, including consideration of strategies for reconstruction

and emergency preparedness, and

emphasizing

the importance of removing any obstacles,

including those of a political, bureaucratic or logistical nature, that hinder the timely provision of aid,

Affirming also

that the achievement of security is not limited to conflict prevention but

also requires the building of sustainable, equitable, inclusive and safe societies, which in turn

contributes to the long-term stability and sustainable development of countries, in line with the

objectives of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

Recognizing

the essential role of parliaments, where they exist, in promoting peaceful

and inclusive societies for sustainable development and in providing access to justice for all,

Recognizing also

that parliaments play a crucial role in developing and strengthening

accountable, transparent and inclusive institutions at all levels, including in the security and justice

sector, and in fostering the equitable representation of underrepresented groups in decision-making

processes,

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Recalling

UN Security Council resolution

2553

(2020), which stresses the importance

of reforming the security sector in post-conflict environments in order to prevent countries from

relapsing into conflict, and which further stresses that a professional, effective and accountable

security sector, and accessible and impartial law-enforcement and justice sectors, are equally

necessary in laying the foundations for peace and sustainable development, and

emphasizing

the

need for parliaments to support the implementation of international arms control treaties such as

the Arms Trade Treaty, which aims to prevent and eradicate the illicit trade in conventional arms

and to prevent their diversion to the illicit market, or for unauthorized end use and end users,

including in the commission of terrorist acts,

Recalling also

the Pact for the Future (UN General Assembly resolution

79/1,

2024),

which called on States to redouble efforts to significantly reduce all forms of violence and related

death rates everywhere,

Reaffirming

the importance of promoting the full integration of a gender perspective in

peace and security initiatives, including through the implementation of UN Security Council

resolution

1325

(2000) on Women, Peace and Security, as well as subsequent resolutions on the

matter, by strengthening the full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership of women and

girls in conflict prevention and resolution,

Conscious

that, through their security sector oversight role, parliaments can play a

crucial role in preventing the onset or recurrence of conflicts, thus mitigating their impact on

sustainable development,

Stressing

the need to reform the United Nations Security Council to ensure wider

representation and fairness in international decision-making, and

believing

that a balance in the

membership of, and powers within, the United Nations Security Council is necessary to strengthen

its role in achieving peace and international security,

Affirms

that the implementation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations

and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as a basis for peace and

sustainable development, contributes to reducing conflicts, to mitigating the

humanitarian impact of such conflicts, and to improving the political environment;

Encourages

parliaments to promote democracy, the rule of law, human rights and

environmental rights as fundamental principles and as a basis for strengthening peace

and stability, and

emphasizes

the importance of climate and environmental justice and

sustainability, ensuring the participation of all segments of society, including women,

youth and marginalized or vulnerable groups, in political, social and environmental

decision-making processes;

Calls upon

parliaments to intensify their efforts to promote dialogue, reconciliation,

understanding and peaceful dispute resolution between conflicting parties, and to work

towards comprehensive and sustainable solutions to ongoing conflicts, with the

meaningful participation of all affected stakeholders;

Also calls upon

parliaments to support humanitarian and development efforts to meet

the needs of populations affected by conflicts and humanitarian crises, and to promote

economic, environmental and social stability in affected areas, including the provision

of basic services such as education, healthcare, food, water, electricity and sanitation;

Insists on

the importance of parliamentarians’ oversight, budgetary and legislative

roles in pursuing sustainable development, in monitoring government policies and

programmes related to security, peace and development, and in ensuring the fair

representation of citizens, with particular attention paid to marginalized groups, while

promoting transparency and accountability in decision-making;

Urges

parliaments to exercise their oversight role in order to ensure the effectiveness

of humanitarian and development assistance aimed at stemming reversals in the

achievement of the SDGs in areas affected by conflicts and humanitarian crises;

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Calls for

enhanced cooperation between national parliaments, regional and

international organizations, and civil society organizations in promoting joint efforts to

strengthen support strategies for communities affected by conflicts;

Also calls for

the strengthening of partnerships between the public and private sectors,

civil society organizations and civil society in order to ensure the achievement of the

SDGs in areas affected by conflicts;

Calls upon

parliaments to consider the intersection of political, economic, social and

environmental dimensions, including climate resilience measures and sustainable

resource management, when developing strategies to mitigate the impact of conflicts

on sustainable development;

Insists on

the importance of encouraging and promoting dialogue and coexistence

between parties to conflicts based on the principles of international law, including

respect for internationally recognized borders, as a means of working towards

peaceful and constructive dispute resolution;

Also insists on

the importance of restoring sustainable development in post-conflict

environments based on scientific data and evidence;

Further insists on

the importance of strengthening education systems in order to

spread awareness of the values of peace, tolerance and peaceful conflict resolution,

and to promote a culture of peace and non-violence in society;

Stresses

the need to foster a culture and awareness of human rights, sustainable

development and environmental considerations in societies affected by conflicts, and

on the need to ensure that such rights and considerations are part of any

peacebuilding or sustainable development process;

Calls upon

parliaments to support the development of legal frameworks addressing

environmental harm in armed conflicts, including the establishment of ecocide as an

international crime to ensure individual accountability, and

encourages

continued

efforts to refine legal definitions and accountability mechanisms, both nationally and

internationally, covering both individual liability and State responsibility;

Also calls upon

parliaments to promote legal measures that ensure accountability for

environmental harm directly resulting from the crime of aggression, recognizing that

such damage would not have occurred but for the initiation of hostilities, and

addressing both immediate and long-term environmental destruction, including forms

of slow violence, within post-conflict justice frameworks;

Welcomes

advanced parliamentary practices that play an important role in promoting

dialogue and understanding, and in achieving peace, in communities affected by

conflicts;

Calls upon

parliaments to strengthen coordination with humanitarian and development

organizations, to ensure that States grant international humanitarian organizations

unhindered access to occupied territories, and to agree on clear safeguards to protect

water, energy and crops, which are essential for human development and for the

welfare and food security of nations of the world, as well as other humanitarian and

civilian infrastructure in areas affected by conflicts, in line with international

humanitarian law;

Insists

that climate change and security are inseparable elements in achieving

sustainable development and ensuring lasting peace, and

calls for

the development of

integrated strategies to reduce the effects of climate change on areas affected by

conflicts;

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

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19.

Calls for

the implementation of comprehensive strategies to promote peace and

stability on the basis of national reconciliation, and for the promotion of inclusive

governance approaches that prevent marginalization, and foster social and political

harmony, in the aftermath of conflicts;

Encourages

parliaments to play a key role in preventing disappearances, in clarifying

the fate of missing persons and in assisting their families, in particular by adopting

domestic legislation on missing persons, by establishing adequate mechanisms to

prevent, resolve and address disappearances, and by strengthening cooperation, both

nationally and internationally;

Insists on

the importance of incorporating humanitarian exemptions into sanctions

regimes, in line with the precedent set by UN Security Council resolution

2664

(2022),

as an important means of ensuring that humanitarian action is not impeded by the

unintended impact of sanctions, as well as on the importance of ensuring that

mechanisms are in place to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of such

exemptions, thus helping to ensure continuity of access to essential services for the

civilian population and to stem reversals in the achievement of the SDGs, and

emphasizes

the need for full compliance with sanctions regimes imposed on States for

violations of international law in order to bring conflicts to an end and to minimize their

impact on sustainable development;

Calls for

the strengthening of an existing global commission, such as the United

Nations Mediation Support Unit, which comprises relevant experts, with a mandate to

work towards a ceasefire, based on international law and leading to lasting and just

peace, in countries affected by conflicts, and to ensure the implementation of the

SDGs in conflict-affected areas, with a focus on addressing the root causes of such

conflicts and developing innovative mediation approaches;

Recommends

the establishment of an international compensation mechanism,

ensuring that aggressors bear financial responsibility for ecological restoration in

conflict-affected areas,

stresses

that this does not absolve the international community

of its responsibility to engage in reconstruction efforts, and

calls for

the integration of

environmental peacebuilding and transitional justice principles into all post-conflict

recovery frameworks to ensure sustainable and just rehabilitation processes;

Encourages

parliaments to periodically review national legislation to ensure its

compatibility with the urgent and other needs of communities affected by conflicts, and

to focus in particular on updating legislation that protects human rights and the

environment in such situations;

Calls for

the strengthening of partnerships between national parliaments and

international and regional organizations with a view to exploring innovative solutions to

restore sustainable development in countries affected by conflicts, while ensuring that

civilian infrastructure is rebuilt in such a manner that it is resilient and better suited to

both pre-existing and post-conflict challenges;

Also calls for

the funding of post-war reconstruction through,

inter alia,

compensation

provided by States whose unlawful actions have caused destruction, and

calls upon

the international community to consider alternative ways to ensure appropriate

compensation should such States refuse to fulfil their obligation to provide

compensation, including by redirecting the assets of such States for recovery

purposes;

Further calls for

parliaments to play a stronger role in the inclusive and equitable

distribution of resources in areas affected by conflicts, in supporting reconstruction

programmes in line with the principle of environmental and social sustainability, and in

ensuring that marginalized or vulnerable groups benefit from such programmes and

are not left behind;

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

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28.

Calls

for

the rapid restoration, in an inclusive and equitable manner, of essential

services during early recovery and reconstruction following conflicts, while building

back better and providing more resilient essential services to the civilian population, in

line with UN Security Council resolution

2573

(2021);

Encourages

parliaments to develop a sound legal framework for democratic oversight

of the security sector, and to ensure that such a framework is compatible with

international laws, norms and standards, including the Charter of the United Nations

and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development;

Calls upon

parliaments to exercise their budgetary function, with transparency and

accountability, to challenge, question, cancel or adjust the resources allocated to

security, and to demand that the security sector meet high standards of accountability

and effectiveness in accordance with domestic laws and regulations;

Also calls upon

parliaments to exercise their oversight function to verify whether

security-related laws and policies are being implemented effectively and are having

the intended effect, and whether resources allocated to the security sector are being

used efficiently;

Recommends

that parliaments exercise their representative function to facilitate

political consensus on security issues through dialogue and transparency, and to

ensure that all citizens, including marginalized and vulnerable groups, are always

represented in the best possible way in the decision-making process.

29.

30.

31.

32.

India

expressed a reservation on operative paragraph 18.

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

expressed reservations on preambular paragraphs 2, 10 and 21, and on

operative paragraph 21.

The

Russian Federation

expressed reservations on preambular paragraphs 13 and 20, and on

operative paragraphs 14, 21 and 26.