The Deputy Speaker of Maldives’ Parliament, Ahmed Nazim has stated that parliaments play a key role in enabling dialogue, arbitrating peace process and brokering agreements.
Speaking at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s (CPA) general meeting, the Deputy Speaker made an important distinction by saying that sustained peace in its entirety, does mean the absence of war, but can be viewed as a transparent effort to govern with public trust and inclusive participation built on accountability
The Deputy Speaker’s speech was based on the theme “Peace and Democratic Trust: Parliaments as Engines of Reconciliation,”
Looking at the South Asia region, Deputy Speaker Nazim warned that declining trust could lead to polarisation, unrest, and authoritarianism, emphasising the central role of parliaments as forums for dialogue, reconciliation, and consensus-building.
Reflecting on the Maldives’ experience, Nazim noted the island nation’s peaceful transition to a multi-party democracy in 2008, which established the Parliament as the cornerstone of governance and oversight. He highlighted laws such as the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act, the Anti-Torture Act, and the Gender Equality Act by the Parliament have reinforced the rule of law and civic space, showing how parliaments can turn democratic values into enforceable rights, building citizens’ confidence in institutions.
He further underscored the importance of decentralisation and local governance in enhancing public participation and social cohesion and stressed that peace agreements must be embedded in legal and constitutional frameworks to ensure lasting stability.
Concluding his remarks, the Deputy Speaker stated that peace cannot be imposed by force and that democratic trust is built through consistent action. He affirmed that strong, inclusive, and accountable parliaments form the foundation of reconciliation and sustainable democracy.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association International Conference is being held in Karachi, Pakistan from February 3-7.
Of note, The Maldives Parliament officially assumed the Chairmanship of the CPA Asia Region (68th to 71st Commonwealth Parliamentary Conferences) at the Regional Executive Committee meeting held today.