Workshop on the Role of Parliaments in Peacebuilding

December 18-20, 2006

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The workshop drew upon the experiences and practices of parliamentarians from conflict-affected countries in different regions of Africa to better understand the potential role African parliaments can play in preventing the escalation of conflict and contributing to poverty reduction in the Horn of Africa and specifically Ethiopia.

The program focused on understanding the role of parliaments in conflict-affected countries and the contribution parliaments can make, in the course of fulfilling their everyday functions, to conflict prevention and poverty reduction. Specifically:

• Understanding the nexus between parliament, conflict and poverty
• How to make parliament more representative so as to ensure groups in society are not marginalized
• Using parliaments’ legislative function to contribute to conflict-prevention and peace building
• Strengthening parliamentary oversight to prevent conflict and reduce poverty
• Enhancing social accountability – Citizens, civil society & the media working with parliament to keep the government and public officials accountable and to create an enabling environment conducive to peace
• Broader strategies for parliament to tackle conflict, such as strengthening the rule of law; and
• Regional parliamentary peace building and engagement with international organizations.