Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Mongolia’s parliament, the State Great Hural, has become a model in the region and the foundation of democracy in the once communist state.  Over the past 20 years, the State Great Hural and the country have faced numerous challenges while striving to create a democratic society with a multi-party system, an open parliament, free media, civil society and a dynamic private sector.  Mongolia’s success has been due to people like Mr. Ts. Sharavdorj, who served as a member of parliament from 1992-2008.

Sharavdorj was educated at Irkutsk University in the former Soviet Union where he obtained a degree in law.  Prior to being elected to parliament in 1992, he served as a judge in the provincial court and then the Supreme Court.  During this time Mongolia was undergoing a political and economic transition and legislative reforms were the cornerstone of that change.  In 1992, having being elected to parliament, Sharavdorj contributed to the initiation and passage of the key laws that set the foundation of Mongolian democracy.  He headed the Ethics Sub-committee from 1997-2000 and chaired the Justice Standing Committee from 2001-2004.  For a brief period, he served as Minister of Defense.  As a member of parliament, Sharavdorj has worked with IRI to increase transparency, establish procedural rule for parliamentary committees and pass ethics legislation.

Since leaving the parliament, Sharavdorj has continued his commitment to strengthen democracy in Mongolia.  As General Secretary of the State Great Hural he has taken steps to open parliament to the general public, allowing citizens to watch their government in action.  He has established the Parliamentary Research Center, which helps members and their staff obtain vital information needed to draft laws.  He has overseen the launch of a website to promote openness of the legislative process, allowing citizens to read and follow legislation through the process.  Under Sharavdorj's leadership, the media hall for parliamentary reporters was opened in 2009, and efforts now are underway to digitalize the archives of the Mongolian parliament making even more public information accessible.
 
As an experienced lawyer, a seasoned former legislator and a true believer in democracy, Sharavdorj has committed himself to advocating for the right of people to have a say in how they are governed and has worked to open Mongolia’s parliament to all citizens.  

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