MP asks world govts to invest in education for peace and security

Apr 09, 2019

Speaking during the 140th IPU assembly in Doha Qatar, Osoru told legislators that it is only education that can guarantee the world peace and security, as opposed to the military might that relies heavily on the barrel of the gun.

DOHA - The Outgoing President of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), also Arua district Woman MP Moureen Osoru has asked world governments to consider investing in education, as a way of ensuring peace and security in the world.

Speaking during the 140th IPU assembly in Doha Qatar, Osoru told legislators that it is only education that can guarantee the world peace and security, as opposed to the military might that relies heavily on the barrel of the gun. 

"I want to assure all legislators all over the world that peace and security are not won at the barrel of a gun and many military responses have been embraced by many leaders because they have failed to address root causes and instead they rush to address the symptoms and not the disease," she said.

The IPU summit is running under the theme, Parliaments as a platform to enhance education for peace, security and the rule of law.

With the growth in violent extremism, terrorism and hate, Osoru reiterated the late Kofi Annan's call to use education as a mechanism for peacebuilding.

"No one is born a hater. No one is born a violent extremist. Hate is learned. To nip hate in the bud, we need to solve the problem at its root: in the minds and aspirations of young people. Education is the most powerful way to achieve this," she argued.

The legislator added that in as much as military interventions across the world are needed; the most sustainable approach to peace and reconciliation in the long term is education especially of the youth.

She faulted Parliaments for failure to deliver on the laws that guarantee a sustainable future for children through education yet they pass billions of dollars in military finance with no tangible results to show for it.

"In 2018, the world spent $1.7 trillion dollars on the military. What if just a fraction of this money was redirected to education? When it comes to our own children and grandchildren where we need to translate this into laws and policies, we are failing to deliver," she explained.

Osoru proposed an inclusive education with curricula that is routinely updated to meet the technological and market demands and pushed for new legislation that will facilitate a free education all the way to the university.

Education today, she said, must be adapted to tomorrow's jobs.  Adding: "We update our smartphones every few years; we should do the same with our schools. Young people today will work in several jobs before they retire".

Osoru, among other Ugandan MPs, are currently in Qatar, attending the week-long IPU summit aimed at promoting education.

Other MPs include Latif Ssebagala (Kawempe), Francis Mwijukye (Buhweju), Paul  Akamba (Busiki county),Esther Anyakun  and Rose Kabagenyi .

The Inter-Parliamentary Union Ugandan chapter travelled to Doha Qatar to attend the 140th IPU Assembly and related meetings which are running from 6th - 10th April 2019.

All IPU statutory bodies, including the governing council, standing committees, committees on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians and on Middle East Questions, as well as the Forum of Women Parliamentarians and the Forum of Young MPs, are meeting on this occasion.

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