Page 175 - BUKU STRENGTHENING THE INDONESIAN PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY FADLI ZON

programs. As of now, it is currently focusing on 5 areas of Global Task Forces (GTF), which are:
1) Anti-Money Laundering; 2) UN Convention against Corruption; 3) Participation of Society;
4) Parliamentary Ethics and Conduct; and 5) Parliamentary Oversight.

The latest project being conducted is “Strengthening the Role of Parliamentarians in Monitoring
the Implementation of SDGs,” in cooperation with the UN Development Program (UNDP) and
Islamic Development Bank (ISDB). This project was initiated with the awareness that corruption
is a major barrier to sound and equitable development. Therefore, it is important to strengthen
Parliament’s role in eliminating corruption of development programs, in order to maximize its
benefit for all people.

Through this project, GOPAC and its partners are developing a Parliamentary Handbook
on SDGs as guidance for Parliamentarians to successfully implement the SDGs, especially
by monitoring the effectiveness of any development assistance. The handbook emphasizes
GOPAC’s work of countering the possible corruption in SDGs implementation, by exploring
any parliamentary initiatives that can be performed. GOPAC is now actively promoting and
encouraging all Parliamentarians to make use of this Handbook as a valuable resource in
achieving SDGs targets.

You may recall that I explained about the inclusiveness of SDGs, and how every stakeholder
should take part on turning those targets into reality. I want to emphasize that besides
Parliament, the other important stakeholder is the young people — whom I believe are now
being the largest part of our world population, and the majority of them lives in Asia. We must
see this demographic advantage as an asset, where youth must take an active part to contribute
fully into the effective implementation of SDGs.

Moreover, the youth who are already involved in a structured mechanism for participation and
decision-making such as political party, must seize the opportunity in mainstreaming SDGs
into their party’s platform. They should be able to convince political party that the SDGs values
can serve as a useful pillar in party’s agenda, focusing the attention of their voters regarding
the importance of making progress on these goals. Reassuring their commitment on SDGs will
also make a worthwhile capital for political parties, especially in retaining citizen’s support and
favor.

In addition, young people can also support the implementation of SDGs through catalyzing
change at the ground level. As an active driver of change in local communities, young people
have a role in engaging people at the grassroots level and in communicating the development
goals to a wider society. This could be done by boosting more real-time movement; such as
using technology and social media to distribute the messages, and other innovative channels
possible.

162 I Selected Speeches of the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia