PAP Acting President stresses the role of parliamentarians in actualizing the new Urban Agenda

The Acting President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), Honourable Lucia Dos Passos has stressed the role of African parliamentarians in the development of model laws that would guide national parliaments in developing legislations on promoting smart city approach to achieve the SDGs and the new urban agenda.

Honourable Lucia Dos Passos Is currently taking part at the Africa Smart Cities investment Summit taking place in Kigali, Rwanda from 6 to 8 September 2023.

The Summit which brought together ministers, mayors, governors, diplomats and experts, is aimed at promoting smart city approach that is consistent with UN Charter on Human Rights and ensures that digital technologies are used to achieve the SDGs and the new urban Agenda.

The Acting PAP President, in her contribution, emphasized that the establishment of the Pan-African Parliament, as the third Organ of the African Union, is informed by a vision to provide a common platform for African peoples and their grassroots organizations through their elected representatives, to be more involved in discussions and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent.

In that regard, she noted, PAP has the mandate to express the concerns  African citizens to the highest authorities in African Union and so, have an important role to play through raising awareness of citizens in their respective countries and through developing model laws which can give guidelines to national Parliaments to harmonize their legislations.

Hon Lucia used the opportunity to invite the organizers of the Summit to PAP where they can interact with MPs in Committees and Plenary and get the support they need to achieve their objectives