The head of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, has called on the Inter-Parliamentary Union to adopt a resolution to protect women, children, and non-combatants who suffer the most from the violence linked to war and conflict.
Ekpenyong appealed for this during his address at the 148th Assembly of the IPU in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme, ‘Building bridges for peace and development.’
As per a statement available to PUNCH Online, the senator representing Cross River South in the National Assembly, emphasized the necessity of establishing enduring peace in a world grappling with various conflicts, despite their historical roots.
He highlighted the determination of young parliamentarians worldwide to contribute to global peace efforts.
Earlier today, in Geneva, Switzerland, I had the rare privilege of addressing the 148th Inter-parliamentary Union. I expressed the determination of young parliamentarians across the globe to play a role in bringing peace to a world that is beset with pockets of conflict, not being unmindful, however, of the historical factors that may have led to them.
“I stressed the opinion that for these obstacles to be overcome, dialogue, empathy, and respect for each other’s history and cultures was key to building bridges.
“I shared my experience as Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, where myself and the members continue to work tirelessly with the board and management to achieve a lasting peace and surmount the environmental and developmental challenges in the Niger Delta region.”
The senator also urged the Assembly to pass resolutions protecting women, children, and non-combatants who suffer the most from the needless violence associated with war and conflict, while encouraging them not to waver in their efforts to achieve lasting peace, quoting the late Kofi Annan's words that ‘Peace is never a perfect achievement.’
