Commonwealth Parliamentary Association – Parliaments as Peacebuilders: the Role of Parliaments as Peacebuilders in Conflict-Affected Countries

This paper argues that one of the best tools a nation has at its disposal for managing conflict and poverty is parliament. Parliament is a prime institution through which to address the divergent interests of multiple groups because of the nature of the parliamentary process and parliaments’ ability to build relationships within parliament and within the broader community. The role of parliament in conflict-affected countries becomes even more pronounced when you consider the correlation between poverty and conflict; by addressing issues of poverty, equitable distribution of resources and economic development parliamentarians can attempt to guard against the creation of an enabling environment that is prone to the escalation of conflict.