Nordic Parliamentarians Learn about UN Cooperation, AIDS and the MDGs in Mozambique
|
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the devastating AIDS epidemic were on top of the agenda for the Nordic Parliamentarians when they toured Mozambique from 21-26 January. Organized by the four founding agencies of United Nations Development Group, (UNFPA, UNDP, WFP and UNICEF), the tour gave the parliamentarians a first-hand experience of UN cooperation at the country level. It focused on the implementation of the MDGs and the UN reform process (One UN).
The eight parliamentarians came from five countries and represented both government and opposition parties: From Sweden, Kent Härstedt, Social Democrat, and Christian Holm, Conservative Party. Representing Iceland were Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir, Social Democratic Alliance, and Drífa Hjartardóttir, Independence Party. From Norway, Marit Nybakk, Labour Party and. Ågot Valle, Socialist Left Party. Also, Illkka Taipale, Social Democrat, Finland and Joan Erlandsen of the Liberal Party, Denmark.
For several of the politicians it was their first time in Africa, and in many ways it was an eye-opening experience to see the tremendous challenges and difficulties Mozambique is facing. The parliamentarians learned to appreciate the magnitude and multiplicity of critical problems that must be immediately addressed such as the limited food insecurity due to national disasters and the AIDS epidemic.
During their stay in Mozambique, the parliamentarians visited several UNFPA-funded programmes. Among these was Geracao Biz (‘Busy Generation’ in Portuguese) – an internationally recognized organization of young community peer activists focusing especially on youth and adolescent’s sexual and reproductive health and rights. Furthermore the UNFPA Country Office in Maputo organized a briefing session for the parliamentarians on HIV and AIDS in Mozambique, with visits to several health clinics. All of the parliamentarians acknowledged that gender equality, women’s empowerment and prevention of HIV must be placed very high on the development agenda in order to achieve the MDGs.
From field trips in the Gaza province the parliamentarians learned that if the coordination between the UN organizations, donors, NGOs and local governments is well organized, difficult issues can be overcome. The visit to the Millennium Village in Chibuto municipality was a perfect demonstration of this.
Despite the problems Mozambique is facing, the parliamentarians left the country with a sense of genuine optimism. In particular, they were overwhelmed by the warmth with which they were received by the Mozambicans. Though the parliamentarians came from both sides of the political spectrum, they were unanimous in stating that support from the Nordic countries to the UN would continue.
| Related Links: | |
 |
Web Journal from Mozambique: Dispatch from Norwegian Parliamentarian Marit Nybakk |
|
|
|
|
|
More news on the Millennium Village in Mozambique |
