Participants in African Parliamentary Conference Express Appreciation for Qatar's Role in Strengthening Parliamentary Diplomacy

Doha, March 30 (QNA) - Participants in the high-level African Parliamentary Conference organized by the UNOCT Programme Office on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering Terrorism, which is based in Doha, and the African Parliamentary Union, in partnership with the Shura Council, expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the State of Qatar, the Shura Council, and the UN Office for their efforts in strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and communication between parliaments to confront terrorism and extremism, providing programs to support the capacities of parliamentarians, enhancing cooperation among them, and working to create a world free of terrorism for present and future generations. During the opening session of the two-day conference, which is held under the title "Understanding the terrorist threat in Africa: new challenges and necessary measures" in Doha, they stressed the need to support African countries in their war against terrorism, and that this support should be a priority of the international agenda, especially since extremist groups have penetrated and threats and attacks have increased in intensity and pace in different regions of the continent. They pointed out that parliaments play a fundamental and important role in implementing the rule of law, providing basic freedoms, and combating terrorism and extremism through their great role in legislating laws that confront this scourge, allocating resources to security issues, holding governments accountable and monitoring their performance and procedures. They made it clear that the fight against terrorism is a main concern for all parliaments and a threat to international peace and security because of the cases it causes of refugees, displacement, increased poverty, unemployment, school closures, and the escalation of violence against women and children, noting that terrorist groups represent a real danger due to the kidnappings, executions, armed operations and suicide attacks against civilians. The speakers attributed the spread of violent extremism and the penetration of terrorist groups in many parts of Africa to the weakness of governments, the ease of movement of these groups in separate regions of the continent, their free movement from one country to another, political and economic instability, the spread of smuggling networks, human trafficking and other cross-border crimes. In the opening session, the participants stressed the need to unite efforts, develop a clear action plan to mobilize resources, create strong means of communication between countries, conduct community dialogues, launch development initiatives, involve young people in leadership, and provide quality education for young people. They also stressed drying up the sources of terrorism by addressing the causes of poverty, marginalization and discrimination on the basis of race, religion and affiliation, eliminating black markets, equitable management of resources, extending state influence, establishing measures that facilitate people's lives, and transparent and equitable distribution of wealth. (QNA)