The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum is a regional inter-parliamentary body composed of Members of Parliament from SADC Member State national parliaments, representing over 3,500 parliamentarians in the SADC Region. Established by the SADC Summit on September 8, 1997, the Forum consists of Presiding Officers, and a maximum of five representatives elected by the National Parliament of each Member State.
The aim of this Forum is to provide a platform to support and improve regional integration through parliamentary involvement and promote best practices in the role of parliaments in regional integration and cooperation.
The specific objectives of the Parliamentary Forum address a wide range of issues, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Promotion of human rights, gender equality, good governance, democracy and transparency;
- Promotion of peace, security and stability;
- Hastening the pace of economic cooperation, development and integration on the basis of equity and mutual benefits.
- Facilitating networking with other inter-parliamentary organisations;
- Promoting the participation of non-governmental organisations, business and intellectual communities in SADC activities;
- Familiarising the peoples of SADC with the aims and objectives of SADC; and
- Informing SADC of the popular views on development and issues affecting the region.
The SADC Parliamentary Forum does not have a reporting relationship to Summit and other SADC Institutions but works together with them on matters of common interest.
