DOCSLIB.ORG

Parliament and the Budgetary Process, Including from a Gender Perspective

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Parliament and the Budgetary Process, Including from a Gender Perspective Parliament and the Budgetary Process, Including from a Gender Perspective Regional Seminar for ASEAN+3 Parliaments 23 to 25 July 2002, Manila (Philippines) Foreword Government budgets provide a comprehensive statement of the priorities of a nation. Within the budget, a government expresses its policy intentions, and the means and resources with which it intends to implement them. The budget debate is one of the key moments in the parliamentary year and it offers a crucial opportunity for parliament to promote the interests of those it represents. Increasingly, budgets have also begun to incorporate a vision of gender equality, by acknowledging that expenditures have differing effects on men and women, boys and girls. For a budget to become law, it has to be scrutinised and approved by parliament. As the foremost representative institution, parliament monitors the work of governments by seeking to ensure that the budget matches the needs of the electorate with the nation's available resources. Through its oversight function, it also has responsibility for ensuring that the resources allocated within the budget are utilised in a manner that yields maximum benefit for the people. It is no accident that strengthening the capacity and role of parliament within the budget process is now commonly linked to increasing democratisation and development. In line with its dual interest in promoting the role of women in parliament and fostering good governance, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has held a series of regional seminars on "Parliament and the budgetary process, including from a gender perspective". The Manila seminar was the third in this series and as in previous seminars in Nairobi (2000) and Bamako (2001), the aim has been to strengthen the capacity of parliaments in ensuring transparency and accountability in this key process of government activity. Each of these regional seminars identified particular regional themes, and the Manila seminar was no different. Participants came from the ASEAN + 3 region which had fallen prey to the Asian economic crisis of the late 1990s. Not surprisingly, participants were interested in discussing ways to strengthen institutions so as to minimise the effects of potential economic destabilisation in the future. To this end, they considered the role of expenditure committees, budget offices and audit offices in maintaining budget accountability and transparency. Also of interest was the question of loan conditionalities and the extent to which parliaments can approve and oversee the utilisation of the loans contracted by government. The rich gender budgeting experience of the Government of the Philippines also set the tone for a very lively debate on how and why gender budgeting should be implemented. Gender budgeting was promoted as an effective means of ensuring economic efficiency, rather than merely delivering gender-equitable outcomes. Variations also surfaced amongst countries within the region, with some parliaments, for example, playing a role in the budget process at the formulation stage as well as the approval and evaluation stages. This publication documents the speeches and presentations made during the seminar, and uses a series of quotations from the ensuing debates to provide a snapshot of the issues covered. After a general introduction to the budgetary process, including from a gender perspective, participants considered the question of what is meant by a gender perspective to the budget; the respective roles of government and parliament in the budgetary process; issues of transparency and accountability and how to conduct a gender impact analysis of the budget. As in Kenya and Mali, parliamentary staff were invited to participate in parallel sessions, in which they discussed strategies to provide impartial advice to parliamentarians on the budgetary process. The seed for these seminars was first planted in Nairobi and the success of the latest one will undoubtedly generate further events in other parts of the world. I am sure that these seminars provide a valuable opportunity for exchanging views and sharing country-specific practices, and that these reports offer a practical resource tool for all interested parties. It is worth mentioning that a Handbook for Parliamentarians on national budgets and gender issues, which builds on the material and experience gleaned from these seminars, will be published shortly. The Manila seminar was the product of a fruitful collaboration between the IPU, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank Institute. I commend the efforts of each party and thank them for the constructive spirit in which the seminar was organised. This seminar would not have been so successful without the efficiency and generous hospitality displayed by the Parliament of the Republic of the Philippines, to which I owe a debt of gratitude. Finally, the resource persons, who contributed a wealth of practical knowledge of budgetary processes and the implementation of gender sensitive budgets, deserve our sincere thanks. Anders B. Johnsson Secretary General Table of contents h Inaugural Ceremony Mr. Martin Chungong, Representative of the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union . Mr. Rick Stapenhurst, Representative of the World Bank Institute ............................................. Mr. Mark Malloch Brown, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme ........ Mr. Jose De Venecia, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines .................. .. Mr. Franklin Drilon, President of the Senate of the Philippines ................................................... .. h Work Programme ........................................................................................................................ .. h Officials of the Seminar .............................................................................................................. .. h Summary and Key Findings ....................................................................................................... .. General Report .............................................................................................................................. .. Report of the Parliamentary Staff Session ................................................................................... .. h General introduction to the budgetary process, including from a gender perspective Ms. Emilia Boncodin, Secretary, Department of Budget and Management, Philippines ........... .. Ms. Winnie Byanyima, MP, Uganda ............................................................................................. .. h The budget: purpose, composition and terminology Mr. Paul East, former MP, New Zealand ...................................................................................... .. h Accountability and transparency in the budgetary process: Parliamentary tools and mechanisms Mr. Rick Stapenhurst, Senior Public Management Specialist, Governance Regulation and Finance Division, World Bank Institute.......................................................................................... .. Mr. Paul East, former MP, New Zealand....................................................................................... .. h Accountability and transparency in the budgetary process: The national audit Mr. Rick Stapenhurst, Senior Public Management Specialist, Governance Regulation and Finance Division, World Bank Institute.......................................................................................... .. Mr. Paul East, former MP, New Zealand....................................................................................... .. h Gender impact analysis of the budget Ms. Remedios I. Rikken, Operations Director, CAPWIP.............................................................. .. Mr. Paul Sinnapan, Trainer/Consultant, Credit Union Centre, Malaysia .................................... .. h Mechanisms and methods for developing a gender-sensitive budget Ms. Aurora Javate de Dios, Chair, National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women ........ .. Ms. Amelou Benitez-Reyes, Commission, National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women .. Ms. Winnie Byanyima, MP, Uganda.............................................................................................. .. h Closing Ceremony ...................................................................................................................... .. Mrs. Yolanda Doblon, Executive Director, Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office, Senate of the Philippines .............................................................................................................. .. Mr. Terence Jones, Resident Representative, UNDP, Philippines ............................................. .. Mr. Martin Chungong, Representative of the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union . Mr. Ramon Magsaysay, Jr., Senator, Vice Chair of the Committee on Finance, Senate of the Philippines .............................................................................................................. .. h List of Participants ...................................................................................................................... .. Inaugural Ceremony Mr. Mark Malloch Brown, United Nations Development Programme Administrator, Mr. Jose De Venecia, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Philippines, Senator Franklin Drilon, President of the Senate, Philippines, Mr. Martin Chungong, Representative of the Inter-Parliamentary
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Provincial Government of Albay and the Center for Initiatives And
    Strengthening Climate Resilience Provincial Government of Albay and the SCR Center for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation Case Study Summary PHILIPPINES Which of the three pillars does this project or policy intervention best illustrate? Tackling Exposure to Changing Hazards and Disaster Impacts Enhancing Adaptive Capacity Addressing Poverty, Vulnerabil- ity and their Causes In 2008, the Province of Albay in the Philippines was declared a "Global Local Government Unit (LGU) model for Climate Change Adapta- tion" by the UN-ISDR and the World Bank. The province has boldly initiated many innovative approaches to tackling disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in Albay and continues to integrate CCA into its current DRM structure. Albay maintains its position as the first mover in terms of climate smart DRR by imple- menting good practices to ensure zero casualty during calamities, which is why the province is now being recognized throughout the world as a local govern- ment exemplar in Climate Change Adap- tation. It has pioneered in mainstreaming “Think Global Warming. Act Local Adaptation.” CCA in the education sector by devel- oping a curriculum to teach CCA from -- Provincial Government of Albay the primary level up which will be imple- Through the leadership of Gov. Joey S. Salceda, Albay province has become the first province to mented in schools beginning the 2010 proclaim climate change adaptation as a governing policy, and the Provincial Government of Albay schoolyear. Countless information, edu- cation and communication activities have (PGA) was unanimously proclaimed as the first and pioneering prototype for local Climate Change been organized to create climate change Adaptation.
    [Show full text]
  • Reps Front Template
    The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia 122nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (Bangkok, Thailand) and bilateral visit to the People’s Republic of China Report of the Australian Parliamentary Delegation 25 March to 11 April 2010 © Commonwealth of Australia 2010 ISBN 978-0-642-79390-4 printed version For more information about the Australian Parliament visit www.aph.gov.au or contact the International and Community Relations Office: Email: [email protected] Phone: +61 2 6277 4340 Fax: +61 2 6277 2000 Contents Membership of the delegation ............................................................................................................. vi Preface ............................................................................................................................................... vii 1 122nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly ........................................................ 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 General debate ........................................................................................................................... 2 Standing committees ................................................................................................................... 3 Emergency item .......................................................................................................................... 4 Special presentations .................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Philippines and Elsewhere May 20, 2011
    INVESTMENT CLIMATE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NEWSCLIPS Economic Reform News from the Philippines and Elsewhere May 20, 2011 Philippines Competitiveness goal set Business World, May 16, 2011 Emerging markets soon to outstrip rich ones, Eliza J. Diaz says WB Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 18, 2011 COMPETITIVENESS planners have set an Michelle V. Remo ambitious goal of boosting the Philippines’ global ranking in the next five years, highlighting Emerging economies like the Philippines will the need for sustained government interventions play an increasingly important role in the global if the country is to rise up from its perennial economy over the medium to long term, bottom half showings. continually exceeding growth rates of industrialized nations and accounting for bigger shares of the world’s output. Train line to connect Naia 3, Fort, Makati Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 18, 2011 Paolo G. Montecillo Gov’t to ask flight schools to move out of Naia Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 18, 2011 A new commuter train line may soon connect the Paolo G. Montecillo Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) terminal 3 to the Fort Bonifacio and Makati The government has given flight schools six central business districts, according to the Bases months to submit detailed plans to move out of Conversion and Development Authority Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BCDA). (Naia) to reduce delays caused by congestion at the country’s premier gateway. Mitsubishi seeks extension of railway bid Business Mirror, May 17, 2011 LTFRB gets tough on bus firms resisting gov’t Lenie Lectura inventory Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 18, 2011 MITSUBISHI Corp., one of the 15 companies Paolo G.
    [Show full text]
  • Activities of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 2008
    Activities of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 2008 Inter-Parliamentary Union – 2009 Table of contents Foreword 04-05 Working for better democracies 06-09 Parliaments and reconciliation Oversight of the security sector Engaging with the United Nations 10-13 UN Member States endorse closer parliamentary involvement Development cooperation Annual parliamentary hearing Human trafficking Trade and development Children Development and the Millennium Development Goals 14-17 Poverty reduction Maternal and Newborn Health: Parliamentary action and MDGs 4 and 5 HIV and AIDS Development financing Climate change Defending Human Rights 18-23 Cases making decisive progress Situations of particular concern to the Committee Other activities 2 ACTIVITIES REPORT Women in politics 24-27 Supporting parliaments in countries with poor female representation Support to women in post-conflict countries Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) CEDAW Annual seminar Research Violence against women Technical cooperation projects 28-31 Description of projects Global mapping of legislative strengthening programmes Disseminating information 32-34 Internet Publications Library and research services Annex 36-55 3 INTER -P ARLIAMENTARY UNION Foreword For the IPU, the year 2008 began and ended with all eyes on the Middle East. In January, the President paid an official visit to Jerusalem and Ramallah for talks with the leaders of the Israeli and Palestinian Parliaments and Governments. The Committee on Middle East Questions visited the region a few months later to make plans to re-start direct dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian lawmakers. During the 118 th Assembly, the IPU governing bodies decided to make the statutory changes that would permit the Parliament of Palestine to become a full member of the Organization.
    [Show full text]
  • From Aceh to Tacloban: Lessons from A
    MAY 2014 P.18 THE AQUINOINTERVIEW The things that are happening to my country and to other parts of the world are not in the norm. We now have to consider revising our idea of the norm. PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO III A publication of the ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK PLUS ADB’s TAKEHIKO NAKAO ON DISASTER PROOFING ASIA P.34 FROM ACEH TO TACLOBAN LESSONS FROM A DECADE OF DISASTER Work for Asia and the Pacifi c. Work for ADB. The only development bank dedicated to Asia and the Pacifi c is hiring people dedicated to development. ADB seeks highly qualifi ed individuals for the following vacancies: ƷɆ*!.#5ɆƷɆ%**%(Ɇ*#!)!*0ɆƷɆ%**%(Ɇ!0+.ɆƷɆ.%20!Ɇ!0+.Ɇ%**!Ɇ ƷɆ"!#1. /ɆƷɆ.*/,+.0ɆƷɆ0!.Ɇ1,,(5Ɇ* Ɇ*%00%+* +)!*Ɇ.!Ɇ!*+1.#! Ɇ0+Ɇ,,(5Ɓ +.Ɇ)+.!Ɇ !0%(/ƂɆ2%/%0Ɇ333Ɓ Ɓ+.#Ɲ.!!./ ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK Inside MAY 2014 P.18 SPECIAL REPORT THE AQUINOINTERVIEW The things that are happening to my country and to other parts of the world are not in the norm. We now have to consider revising our idea of the norm. PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO III PLUS ADB’s TAKEHIKO NAKAO ON DISASTER PROOFING ASIA P.32 A publication of the ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK From Aceh to Tacloban 31 Aid Watch A rising tide of disasters has 8 What have we learned from a spurred a sharper focus on FROM decade of disaster? how aid is used ACEH TO TACLOBAN 17 Taking Cover 34 Opinion: Asia needs more protection against Takehiko Nakao the financial cost of disaster ADB President LESSONS says disaster FROM A DECADE OF DISASTER Cover Photos : Gerhard Joren (Tacloban; color); Veejay Villafranca risk will check (Tacloban; black and white); Getty Images (Aquino) Asia’s growth 32 We cannot allow the cycle of destruction and reconstruction to continue by rebuilding communities in the exact same manner.
    [Show full text]
  • Philippine Political Circus
    3/18/2010 THE SILLY SEASON IS UPON US 53 DAYS TO GO AND THE SUPREME COURT IS ALREADY IN THE GAME WITH US TODAY G1BO TEODORO HE’S NOT SO SILLY QRT POL / CHART 1 MARCH 2010 Philippine Political Circus The Greatest Show on Earth 53 DAYS TO GO QRT POL / CHART 2 MARCH 2010 1 3/18/2010 ELECTION QUICKFACTS POSITIONS AT STAKE 1 PRES, 1 VP, 12 SENATORS, 250 REPS, 17,600+ LOCAL GOV’T POSTS NUMBER OF CANDIDATES 90,000+ NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS 50.7 MILLION (SAME NUMBER OF BALLOTS TO BE PRINTED) WINNING BIDDER FOR THE 2010 SMARTMATIC-TIM AUTOMATION ELECTION PROJECT FORWARDERS TASKED TO DEPLOY GERMALIN ENTERPRISES (NCR), ARGO FORWARDERS ELECTION MATERIALS (VISAYAS & MINDANAO), ACE LOGISTICS (SOUTHERN & NORTHERN LUZON) NUMBER OF UNIQUE BALLOTS 1,631 (CORRESPONDS TO PRECINCT -SPECIFIC BALLOTS PER CITY/MUNICIPALITY) BALLOT SIZE 26 INCHES LONG AND 8.5 INCHES WIDE TOTAL NUMBER OF CLUSTERED 75,471 PRECINCTS (COMBINED 5-7 PRECINCTS) NUMBER OF VOTERS PER PRECINCT 1, 000 MAXIMUM OFFICIAL CITIZEN’S ARM ÆPARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE VOTING (PPCRV) ÆNAMFREL NOT ACCREDITED BUT FIGHTING FOR IT SYSTEM OF VALIDATION RANDOM MANUAL PRECINCT AUDIT TO ENSURE THAT THERE WILL BE NO DISCREPANCY IN THE PCOS COUNT (1 PRECINCT PER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT) ELECTION-RELATED KILLINGS 69 AS OF MARCH 2010, 141 IN ‘07, 189 IN ’04, 132 IN ‘01, 82 IN ’98, 89 IN ‘92 QRT POL / CHART 3 MARCH 2010 PHILIPPINE ELECTION HISTORY IN BRIEF ELECTION YEAR MAJOR FEATURES 1986 h SNAP ELECTION, IRREGULAR ELECTION h CORY WON IN THE VOTING – BUT LOST IN THE OFFICIAL COUNTING h REVOLUTION FOLLOWED 2 WEEKS LATER h GOOD VS.
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents
    TABLE OF CONTENTS Page(s) MEETINGS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES 123rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union 1. Opening of the Assembly ....................................................................................................... 4 2. Participation .......................................................................................................................... 4 3. Choice of an emergency item ................................................................................................ 5 4. Debates and decisions of the Assembly and of the IPU Committee on United Nations Affairs .. 5 187th Session of the Governing Council 1. Membership of the IPU ......................................................................................................... 9 2. Reports on activities of IPU Members .................................................................................... 9 3. Financial situation of the IPU ................................................................................................. 10 4. Programme and budget for 2011 ........................................................................................... 10 5. Cooperation with the United Nations system ......................................................................... 11 6. Consolidation of the reform of the IPU ................................................... …………………….. 11 7. Recent specialized conferences and meetings ........................................................................ 11 8. Reports of plenary bodies and specialized
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of the Effectiveness of Legislation Protecting Women from Violence Across the Commonwealth ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABOUT CPA UK and WOMEN in PARLIAMENT
    A review of the effectiveness of legislation protecting women from violence across the Commonwealth ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABOUT CPA UK AND WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is the professional This report would not have been possible without the insights of Commonwealth association of all Commonwealth parliamentarians, an active network of over 17,000 parliamentarians from 185 national, state, provincial parliamentarians and legislative drafters who volunteered their time and and territorial Parliaments and Legislatures. CPA UK is located in and expertise to contribute to this work. We would like to thank the representatives funded by the UK Parliament. We support and strengthen parliamentary from: democracy throughout the Commonwealth by bringing together UK The National Assembly of the Gambia The Parliament of the Cayman Islands and Commonwealth parliamentarians and officials to share knowledge The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago through peer to peer learning. The Parliament of Ghana The Parliament of Kenya The Parliament of Cyprus A key focus of CPA UK’s work is achieving representative democracies The National Assembly of Mauritius The The Parliament of the United Kingdom by helping women promote themselves in parliaments across the National Assembly of Seychelles The The Gibraltar Parliament Commonwealth and developing the skills they need to succeed in their The States Assembly of Jersey work. Our objective for this theme is to support parliamentarians to Parliament of Sierra Leone be active in implementing measures to increase gender representation The Parliament of Tanzania The Legislative Council of Saint Helena and gender sensitive practices within procedure and scrutiny, and The National Assembly of Zambia The The Parliament of Australia strengthen legislation to support ending violence against women and The Parliament of New South Wales girls within their regions.
    [Show full text]
  • Fourth South Asian Speakers' Summit on Achieving the Sdgs
    Home Media Fourth South Asian Speakers’ Summit on Achieving the SDGs 1-2 Sep 2019, Male’ Maldives The 4th South Asian Speakers’ Summit on Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), jointly organized by the InterPar- liamentary Union and the People’s Majlis, will take place in Male’ (Maldives), on 1 and 2 September 2019. It will be followed by a half-day field visit on 2 September. This is the fourth event in a series of Speakers’ Summits for the region on SDGs, the previous three having been hosted by the Jatiya Sangsad of Bangladesh (in 2016), the Sansad of India (in 2017) and the Parliament of Sri Lanka (2018). This high-level Sum- mit will build on the conclusions of the previous summits and will allow Speakers of Parliament to continue to develop dialogue and parliamentary cooperation on achieving the SDGs. Given their legislative, oversight, representative and budgetary func- tions, parliaments play a key role in ensuring a sustainable future for current and future generations. The Summit is intended for Speakers of the Parliaments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives. Media 8:00 - 18:00 Registration 10:00 - 11:00 Opening Ceremony / Group photo Sunday, 01 September 2019 11:00 - 11:30 Tea break 11:30 - 13:00 Plenary session: Follow up to the Colombo Declaration Speakers will be invited to present and discuss what their parliaments have done to advance the work on the Sunday, 02 September 2019 SDGs and the issues identified in the Colombo Declaration adopted by the South Asian SPeakers in 2019 13:00 - 14:00 Lunch 14:00 - 15:00 Bileterals 15:00 - 16:15 Session I Promong equality at work including equal remuneraon and creang jobs for young people 16:15 - 17:30 Session II Achieving SDGs 2 and 3 – Nutrion and food security as drivers of maternal, child and adolescent health in the South Asian region 19:00 Dinner hosted by Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • Pnoy Inaugurates BUCM Building, Calls BU a World Class University
    ISSN 2094-3991 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 5 SUMMER 2014 Pres. Benigno S Aquino III leads the inauguration of the BU Heath Sciences Building and the launching of the MD-MPA Program of the BU College of Medicine held on May 19, 2014 Earl Recamunda THE PRESIDENT’S OUTBOX Even the PNoy inaugurates BUCM building, exceptional heat we have all endured this summer calls BU a world class university President Benigno education that Bicol University Governor Salceda. of 2014 has not withered S. Aquino III inaugurated on is now known for. BUCM will offer a Bicol University’s garden, May 19 the newly completed “Talaga naman pong double-course program, to which has remained BU Health Sciences Building world-class ang kahusayan ng produce graduates of Doctor to be abundant with which will house the first Bicol University,” he stated. of Medicine and Master in state-run medical school Her dream since Public Administration major in achievements, topped in the Bicol region, the the start of her term, BUCM Health Emergency and Disaster by the inauguration Bicol University College of has become one of BU Management (MD-MPA). Its and launch of the Bicol Medicine (BUCM). President Lauraya’s greatest In his speech during achievements in her 8-year, start this June, to hold classes University College of the event, he expressed his 2-term administration which firstat the batch newly ofinaugurated students andwill Medicine! admiration for the progress ends in March 2015. The blessed BU Health Sciences Having His he has seen in the Province realization of this dream, she of Albay under the leadership said, was made possible because applicants is on-going, with a Excellency Benigno S.
    [Show full text]
  • Report of the Official Parliamentary Delegation to Sri Lanka and Malaysia
    THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Report of the Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Malaysia and to Sri Lanka 5 December to 14 December 2011 October 2012 The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia Report of the Australian Parliamentary Delegation Malaysia and Sri Lanka 5 December to 14 December 2011 October 2012 Canberra © Commonwealth of Australia 2012 ISBN 978-0-642-79614-1 (Printed version) This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License. The details of this licence are available on the Creative Commons website: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/au/. Contents Membership of the Delegation ................................................................................. vi REPORT 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 Aims and objectives of the visits ................................................................................................. 2 Appreciation ................................................................................................................................ 2 2 Malaysia ............................................................................................................... 5 Malaysia at a glance ................................................................................................................... 5 Background ..............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Independent and International Institutions – Sri Lanka As a Case Study
    Beyond representation: independent and international institutions – Sri Lanka as a case study Dinesha Samararatne Sri Lanka’s experience thus far with the pandemic of 2020 lends itself to the study of three aspects in constitutional law that go ‘beyond representation.’ They are innovations in the exercise of executive power, namely (i) the use of ‘Task Forces’ that are appointed by the Executive, (ii) the role of fourth branch institutions and (iii) the role of experts and professional organizations. What were the main mechanisms used to handle the COVID 19 challenges, both health and economic, in your country? How well did they work for the purpose? Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Sri Lanka since March. By 20 March, the Government imposed an island-wide curfew which meant that no one could leave their place of residence at any time, except with a curfew pass. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Eighth Parliament was dissolved on 2 March under Article 70 of the Constitution and general elections were scheduled for 25 April. The Constitution provides that the Parliament can be dissolved six months ahead of its full term. After nominations were handed in, the Elections Commission postponed the general elections indefinitely due to COVID-19. From May, the curfew was relaxed except in the most populated districts - Colombo and Gampaha. By 28 June, the curfew was lifted. By the end of July, the Head of the COVID- 19 Task Force declared that the community spread of COVID-19 has been curbed. In June, the Elections Commission announced the rescheduling of the general elections to August.
    [Show full text]