By JAMES KUNDA – THE Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has urged parliamentarians globally to formulate laws that will enable their respective countries to implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). IPU 134th Assembly president Patrick Matibini said the successful implementation of the SDGs was largely dependent on how parliamentarians responded to the issue. Dr Matibini, who is Speaker of the Zambian Parliament, said this at a Press briefing at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka yesterday ahead of the 134th IPU Assembly which commences in Lusaka today. “Parliamentarians are ultimately responsible for the enactment of sound laws and supervision of the process of Government. “How well the world will implement the new development agenda will largely depend on how the people’s representatives around the globe reform laws of their respective countries in line with the paradigm shift,” Dr Matibini said. He said the 134th IPU, which has attracted about 2,000 delegates and will officially be opened by President Edgar Lungu, will provide a concrete platform for parliamentarians to firmly entrench SDGs in the global development agenda. Dr Matibini, who was flanked by IPU president Saber Chowdhury and secretary general Martin Chungong, said the institution was tirelessly campaigning for the active participation of women and youths in politics. Mr Chowdhury said the 134th Assembly, which would be held under the theme ‘Rejuvenating democracy; giving a voice to the youth’, would look at how parliamentarians could collectively address the global challenge of falling public confidence in politics. “Our assembly will explore what specific challenges that our member parliaments face and what is being done to find solutions. “We need to breathe new life into politics and into parliament,” Mr Chowdhury said.