Italy stresses parliaments' strategic function in fight against inequality

President of the Senate of Italy Pietro Grasso said here Wednesday that arliaments should perform a strategic function in the fight against inequality and in actions to foster growth.

Grasso made the remarks as he spoke at the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament which ran here from Monday to Wednesday, reiterating parliaments are the interpreters of the rights and principles upon which civilizations have been built.

"Democratic assemblies must oversee the work of the international community and national governments in the concrete implementation of common agendas, by promoting the values which we recognize," he said.

Grasso also pointed out that "new and diversified action is required of us" in the efforts to cope with the damage caused by climate change, as well as an increasingly uncertain international situation.

"Our top priority is to pursue economic development, social inclusion and environmental sustainability, at one and the same time," he emphasized.

The World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is organized and held by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) every five years, under the auspice of the Untied Nations.

The IPU, established in 1889, is the focal point for world-wide parliamentary dialogue and works for peace and co-operation among peoples and for the firm establishment of representative democracy, according to the IPU website. Endit