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IPU Secretary-General encourages Speakers of Parliaments to take an active role in ending all forms of malnutrition
On February 2020, Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and member of the SUN Movement Lead Group, sent a letter to the Speakers of Parliament of all 179 IPU member countries encouraging them to take an active role in ending all forms of…
March 9, 2020 - Last update: February 13, 2023
On February 2020, Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and member of the SUN Movement Lead Group, sent a letter to the Speakers of Parliament of all 179 IPU member countries encouraging them to take an active role in ending all forms of malnutrition. The letter was accompanied by a briefing from the SUN Movement Secretariat with concrete guidance on how parliaments can contribute to the fight against malnutrition through their legislative, budgetary and oversight mandates.
“Accelerating action to improve nutrition and transform food systems to be healthy and sustainable is possible. For this to happen, political understanding and will, increased resources and a coordinated approach are essential. For this to happen, political understanding and will, increased resources and a coordinated approach are essential”
Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
In his letter, Mr. Chungong urges Speakers of Parliament to host a parliamentary debate on nutrition, to focus on increased investment in nutrition, and to make people’s nutrition a cross-cutting parliamentary priority. He highlights that parliamentarians can play an important role in advocating for ambitious national commitments at the 2020 Nutrition for Growth Summit and for holding governments to account for delivering on these after the Summit.
Martin Chungong made double history in 2014 by becoming the first African and first non-European to be elected as Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. After 14 years working in the Cameroonian Parliament, he spent over 20 years within the IPU before being elected IPU Secretary General. Appointed by the UN Secretary General, he has been a member of the SUN Movement Lead Group and a champion in the fight against malnutrition since 2016.
- Read the letter to Speakers of Parliaments from the IPU Secretary General English│Français
- Read the Guidance note: Parliamentary action for improved nutrition – English | Français | Español
More information
• Parliamentarians step up for nutrition at the SUN Movement Global Gathering
