Characterization of the Interparliamentary Forum of the Solidarity Economy of the Americas
The concept of the Interparliamentary Forum of the Americas corresponds to a form of meeting, virtual and face-to-face, of the parliamentarians of the Continent committed to the development of the cooperative sector and the Solidarity Economy as a whole.
The Forum is a permanent communication channel on doctrinal, legal, academic, parliamentary and governmental issues that occur in the solidarity economy sector of the Continent, to motivate the interest of legislators, parliamentary commissions and technical support bodies that lead issues related to the solidarity sector.
The heart of the Interparliamentary Forum consists of the parliamentary cooperative agendas present in the parliaments of the Continent. Understanding that these parliamentary agendas are made up of those bills that may affect the development of the solidarity sector, regardless of their origin and the state in which they are found.
General Purpose
The central objective of the Interparliamentary Forum of the Americas is to strengthen relations between the Parliaments of the Americas, the cooperative movement and the continental solidarity sector, through the exchange of information on the respective agendas, to promote their development.
Specific objectives
1) share documents, as well as experiences and initiatives that can be implemented and that benefit the cooperative sector and the solidarity economy in the different legislative instances;
2) influence the policies of national, regional and local governments for the development of the cooperative sector and the solidarity economy;
3) Disseminate the legislative reforms that make it possible to establish an adequate legal framework for the development of cooperatives and the solidarity economy in each of the countries.
Features
To meet its objectives, the Interparliamentary Forum is conceived with the following functions:
- exchange virtual information about parliamentary agendas related to the cooperative sector and the solidarity economy,
- publicize the cooperative and solidarity economy parliamentary agenda and the corresponding documentation,
- promote the attendance and participation of the members of the Forum in the meetings that are convened every two years, as well as in the events and activities organized by Cooperatives of the Americas or regional and national parliaments
- disseminate updated information on topics of interest to the Forum.
In accordance with its functions, the Interparliamentary Forum will strengthen relations: - internally: among parliamentarians interested in the development of the cooperative sector and the solidarity economy in the countries of the Americas, as well as among the corresponding technical bodies,
- between the Interparliamentary Forum with the advisory, administrative and judicial bodies of the countries, for example: "Ombudsman" and Constitutional Chamber,
- between the Interparliamentary Forum and national and international cooperative development and solidarity economy institutes and agencies,
- between the Interparliamentary Forum and Cooperatives of the Americas.
Background
Due to its nature, values, principles and characteristics, cooperatives are an effective alternative for the sustainable development of many communities in the Americas and contribute directly and participatively to improving the quality of life of their peoples. To this end, the Regional Office of the International Cooperative Alliance for the Americas (Cooperatives of the Americas) within the framework of the Regional Conferences, has convened since 2003 various Meetings of Parliamentarians, which has allowed the strengthening of ties of union and exchange between legislators and the cooperative movement and the continental solidarity economy.
In these Meetings the participants have discussed issues related to the solidarity economy and the role of cooperatives; International Accounting Standards; Political Advocacy and Public Policies and financing for cooperative development. As a result of these discussions, Parliamentarians have declared themselves in favor of stimulating the promotion, protection and exercise of the cooperative model in each of their countries. In addition, they have committed to influence national, regional and local governments so that cooperatives are incorporated into public policies as an alternative business model, promoting legislative reforms that allow the establishment of an adequate legal framework for the development of the movement in the region. Likewise, it was proposed that in the education offered to young people, the teaching of cooperative values and principles and their business practice should be encouraged. In each one of the Encounters, a Declaration has been elaborated, in which the affinity of the participants with the philosophy of the cooperative movement is manifested.
The realization of these Meetings of Latin American Parliamentarians have made it possible to evaluate the advances obtained from the Declarations signed in each one, to exchange opinions and experiences on the development of the cooperative sector in the different countries, to analyze the perspectives of the cooperative business model in the context of globalization, as well as to reflect on the limitations of the legal framework of cooperatives and public policies for the promotion, promotion and sectoral development in each one of the countries.