National Assembly Deputy Speaker Snezana Paunovic spoke at the General Debate of the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Tashkent today, stressing that the National Assembly, as the supreme legislative body in the Republic of Serbia plays a key role in social development because it influences the shaping of the legislative framework that regulates many of the aspects of social life.
The theme of this year’s spring assembly is “Parliamentary action for social development and justice”. Paunovic stressed that parliamentary action plays an important role in promoting social inclusion, which means the active involvement of all members of society, regardless of their social, economic, ethnic, racial or any other status. "By adopting laws that protect human rights, enable access to education, employment, healthcare, housing and social services, parliaments contribute to building a more inclusive, just and equal society", said the National Assembly Deputy Speaker. As she stated, responsibility and one's own economic and social development are part of the national policy agenda of every country.
Paunovic said that the new "social contract for humanity" requires a profound transformation of the existing political, economic and social systems in order to focus on long-term sustainability, equality and global cooperation. "The world we want to see involves continuous, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and a life of dignity for all, a world of sustainable development, a world where democratic values and principles are the pillars of humanity, and the synergy of national and international institutions is the guarantee of their preservation," believes Snezana Paunovic. She added that the new "social contract for humanity" represents a vision of global cooperation based on equality, sustainability, respect for law and shared responsibility. Only through global cooperation, by respecting human rights, preserving territorial integrity as a fundamental principle of international law and respecting it without bias or double standards, and preserving the environment, it is possible to build a just and sustainable world for future generations.
At the end of her address, Paunovic stressed that the Serbian delegation was honoured to have the opportunity to participate in the 150th, jubilee Assembly of the IPU, the oldest international parliamentary organisation, the largest platform for dialogue among parliamentarians.
"Parliamentary cooperation is a bridge that connects nations, cultures, and ideas. We are convinced that from this position we have the capacity, knowledge, and skills to, through dialogue, exchange of experiences, international respect, and examples of good practice, jointly contribute to building a better, more inclusive, and more just society in which every individual will have equal opportunities and equal rights, above all the right to freedom and a dignified life," concluded Paunovic.
