Gathered at the United Nations in New York for the Summit of the Future, world leaders adopted on 22 September 2024 the Pact for the Future, which includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. Leaders set out a clear vision for an international system that is more representative of today's world and draws on the energy and expertise of governments, civil society and other key partners.
The Pact aims to ensure that international institutions can deliver in a world that has changed dramatically since they were created. It is a powerful statement of countries' commitment to the United Nations, the international system and international law. The Pact covers a wide range of issues, including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital co-operation, human rights, gender equality, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance.
In the face of increasing destabilisation of the world order, organisations based on universal values, such as the Council of Europe and the United Nations, must intensify their co-operation and support each other in order to strengthen the multilateral system. Parliamentarians, who are in direct contact with citizens, have a crucial role to play in this effort.
Action 55 of the Pact recognises the importance of UN engagement with national parliaments and calls for ensuring their meaningful participation in relevant UN bodies and processes. It also calls for the engagement of parliamentarians in maintaining support for the implementation of relevant UN agreements and resolutions.
The Parliamentary Assembly needs to consider how it can contribute to the implementation of the outcomes of the 2024 Summit of the Future. National parliaments also have an important role to play in mobilising support for this process.