The second Regional Seminar for the Asia-Pacific Region Parliaments on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals started today on May 27 at the State Palace.

The seminar co-organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the State Great Hural of Mongolia is being held under the theme ‘Advancing the SDGs for people and the planet’. Over 100 delegates from 19 countries and international organizations gathered to define the opportunities and challenges facing parliaments in the Asia-Pacific region in exercising their role in SDGs implementation.

Vice Chairman of the State Great Khural and Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Group of Mongolia L.Enkh-Amgalan opened the conference. Parliament Speaker G.Zandanshatar, IPU President Gabriela Cuevas and Advisor to the Prime Minister L.Altangerel delivered keynote speeches as well, highlighting the significance of decent works in achieving the SDGs.

At the opening session, Mr. Riccardo Mesiano, Sustainable Development Officer of the Environment and Development Division at the UNESCAP, delivered presentation on the progress of achieving the SDGs in the region. In his presentation Mr. Riccardo Mesiano emphasized that at the current rate of progress, no goals will be met by 2030 and gave detailed information on areas of progress and the ones that require more attention.

Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Policy, Education, Culture and Science, MP. D.Oyunkhorol gave briefing on the measures taken by the State Great Hural following the first meeting in Ho Chi Minh in 2017 and further steps. Following her briefing, Parliamentary representatives presented their experience regarding the introduction of parliamentary oversight mechanisms and the IPU self-assessment toolkit to assess their state of preparedness for engagement with the SDGs.

A total of four main sessions regarding the pressing issues followed by debates and roundtable discussions will be held at the two-day seminar.