13^th Plenary Assembly of ParlAmericas: Strengthening parliaments and building resilient societies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals Mexico City, Mexico, December 6–7, 2016

Parliamentarians from 25 countries, gathered in Mexico City, Mexico on December 6–7, 2016, for the 13^th Plenary Assembly of ParlAmericas: Strengthening parliaments and building resilient societies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), discussed progress made and challenges ahead in effectively achieving the SDGs in the Americas and the Caribbean.

During the meeting, each parliamentary delegation reported on its progress and preliminary efforts currently in place in their respective parliaments to implement the SDGs, in particular SDG 16.

Fruitful exchanges took place around the implementation of the SDGs and the context for monitoring and evaluating the SDGs on the global, regional, and national level. The distinctive political and socio-economic features of each country were taken into account in determining the corresponding actions and strategies that parliaments in the hemisphere should implement to promote and support their achievement and monitoring. Therefore and,

Recognizing:

That the agreements adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, expressed in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, are of the utmost importance for the economic, social, and environmental well-being of individuals and communities.

That the declaration on the Institutional Strengthening for Sustainable Development in the Americas, signed by the General Assembly of the Organization of Americas States on June 15, 2016, established a hemispheric frame of reference to direct institutional efforts in the implementation of the SDGs.

That the parliaments, as bodies representing the citizens and in consideration of the specific nature of their function, play a fundamental role in promoting, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating all of the SDGs through their work in legislative action, budgetary design, political control, and representative functions.

That it is necessary to strengthen the institutions responsible for collecting, processing, analyzing, and disseminating disaggregated statistical information, in accordance with principles of transparency and inclusion, to support the monitoring and evaluation of progress towards the SDGs and to allow for evidence-based legislative decision-making.

That the multidimensional character of sustainable development and the efficient achievement of the SDGs poses challenges that require institutional strengthening of parliaments so that they are more effective, responsible, and transparent and promote the highest standards of ethics and probity.

That the effective achievement of the SDGs involves the promotion of joint work between parliaments, citizens, civil society organizations, and other actors and social movements, creating cooperative spaces that favour the adoption of inclusive, participatory, and representative decisions, with special attention to women, minorities, and traditionally marginalized groups.

That parliamentary work involves continuing to advance in a determined way in the fight against corruption, ensuring that the resources destined for development are allocated and applied in accordance with principles of efficacy, transparency, probity, and accountability.

That achieving real equality between genders and the empowerment of all women and girls is sine qua non for ensuring development and, thus it is a central component of the 2030 Agenda. The priorities, lived experiences, and contributions of women and girls must be at the centre of discussions around the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs.

That the effects of climate change and its consequences on the well-being of individuals and communities requires coordinated actions to mitigate its impact, particularly those that threaten the most vulnerable communities and population groups.

That in order to adequately implement the SGDs, it is fundamental to engage in dialogue and work collaboratively with the different agencies and institutions in the international community and the inter-American system.

We are committed to:

1. Decisively taking up the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of its corresponding Sustainable Development Goals and Objectives, which we recognize as fundamental to ensuring the economic, social, and environmental well-being of individuals and communities.

2. Reviewing current legislation in order to adopt, where relevant, the legislative and regulatory frameworks required to progress in implementing the SDGs and facilitating the achievement of the established goals.

3. Taking into account priorities already established in national development plans when formulating and adopting budgets, reflecting what is needed in order to achieve the SDGs.

4. Making progress on corresponding actions to expand monitoring, follow-up, and evaluation initiatives in the implementation and fulfillment of the agreements and goals outlined in the SDGs, particularly Goal 16.

5. Establishing or strengthening parliamentary bodies, commissions, or groups required for ensuring adequate monitoring, follow-up, and evaluation in the implementation of the SDGs and their effective achievement.

6. Putting into place legislative practices, including the development and realization of national action plans on open parliament, to implement the agreements of ParlAmericas’ Roadmap towards legislative transparency, including adopting legislation and establishing enforcement bodies in order to ensure access to public information.

7. Promoting citizen participation in parliamentary decision-making so that these processes are participatory and representative, making use of online communication tools that facilitate the dissemination of public information.

8. Incorporating a gender perspective into parliamentary work, taking into account the potential results and impacts in the legislation that help to identify legal responses that promote equality, justice, and social change.

9. Prioritizing, in the public and legislative agendas of our countries, the adoption of strategies to mitigate the phenomena associated with climate change, as well as its social, economic, and environmental impacts, keeping in mind its cross-cutting and differential nature.

10. Encouraging our governments to prioritize, strengthen, and delve deeper into initiatives directed towards achieving the SDGs, by fostering collaborative spaces for work and dialogue with multilateral organizations, agencies, and other bodies in the inter-American system, like the OAS, the international community, local authorities, and civil society organizations, giving special attention to vulnerable and traditionally marginalized communities.

11. Progressing with democratic discussions on the adoption of inclusive, sustainable, and resilient development models, in accordance with what is set out in the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, with special consideration for gender equality and the inclusive nature of our societies.

12. Establishing institutional alliances between our parliaments and multilateral organizations involved in the implementation of the SDGs like the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament, and non-governmental organizations like the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

13. Actively participating in global spaces for collaborative work around the implementation and monitoring of progress in achieving the SDGs, particularly the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean’s Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development

The parliamentary delegations in attendance would like to offer their heartfelt recognition to ParlAmericas on the occasion of its fifteenth anniversary and express their gratitude for its notable efforts in promoting democracy and the strengthening of parliamentary diplomacy in the Americas and the Caribbean, facilitating dialogue and the exchange of best legislative practices on topics of hemispheric relevance.

The parliamentary delegations also present their warm appreciation to the Senate, Chamber of Deputies and the Mexican Foreign Ministry for their generous hospitality, and the kind welcome received from the people of Mexico.