The Gambia and the United Nations are charting a new course to strengthen parliamentary engagement, with particular emphasis on accountability, transparency, and citizen-centred multilateralism.
A delegation led by the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Seedy S.K. Njie, is participating in the 2026 IPU-United Nations Parliamentary Hearings, convened under the theme, “Parliaments and the United Nations: Better Together, Delivering for the People.”
During the proceedings, Njie raised concerns about the structural, political, and operational challenges that continue to limit the effectiveness of the United Nations, particularly in delivering meaningful outcomes for African countries and for women and girls across the continent.
He called for stronger parliamentary engagement in oversight, inclusive policymaking, and advancing global action on gender equality, peace, and sustainable development.
“For multilateralism to be truly effective, it must reflect the voices and priorities of those it serves – especially women, youth, and communities at the margins,” Hon. Njie stated. “Parliaments have a central role to play in holding international institutions accountable and ensuring that commitments translate into tangible impact on the ground.”
The 2026 hearings are guided by the Pact for the Future, the principal roadmap for a renewed multilateral system with the United Nations at its centre, as well as this year’s United Nations General Assembly resolution on “Interaction between the United Nations, National Parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.”
The high-level hearings bring together legislators, United Nations officials, civil society representatives, and global partners to examine how parliaments and the United Nations can strengthen cooperation in delivering a more prosperous, sustainable, just, and peaceful world, particularly within the framework of the UN80 reform initiative.
No Comments
Join the DiscussionBe the first to join the discussion!