The evolving role of parliaments

Transcription of an address, made at the plenary session of the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC), 6th October 2014, by Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union; it pays tribute to the late Secretary-General Dr William F Shija and expresses Chungong's vision for modern parliaments as outward-looking, open, accessible and transparent institutions which are attuned and effectively respond to evolution at national and international levels. Chungong touches upon how democracy has evolved since ancient times and calls for more to be done to bridge the gap in relations between parliaments and the people they represent. In conclusion, he appeals to the parliamentary community to turn, what he terms "our common vision of the modern parliament" into reality and transform parliaments into institutions that serve as shining examples, inspire confidence and put "service before self".