Global convocation to address strategies for a nuclear free world, resilient development and migrant children

EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, October 7, 2013: The 129th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) commenced today at the Centre International de Conferences de Geneve (CICG). The three day Assembly brings together nearly 600 MPs from 129 countries in discussing socio-economic matters relevant to Member States.

In the opening remarks, the President of the IPU, Hon. Abdelwahed Radi said his organisation would revise the statutes and rules to enhance its efficiencies in a bid to render better services to the Member States. The President maintained that IPU was committed to implementing the new Strategic Plan (2012-17) which inter alia envisages three thematic themes; Better Parliaments and stronger democracies, enhanced international involvement of Parliaments and the IPU as a more effective instrument of Parliamentary Co-operation.

The IPU boss said that more work was necessary to refine democracy and the reforms in various matters taking place in the Member States. The IPU, he noted, would adopt a gender mainstreaming policy and also invite a new forum of young Parliamentarians to its fold.

Over the three day Assembly, Members’ panel discussions shall delve into three key subject areas. Ridding the world of all nuclear-weaponry as well as weapons of mass destruction shall be among the many pressing global issues that MPs will tackle. The participants shall examine what they can do on disarmament at a time of increasing concern on the proliferation of nuclear and chemical weapon prowess and in the aftermath of the recent chemical weapon use in Syria. Their deliberations are to inform an IPU Resolution on a nuclear-free world in 2014.

Also on the agenda are deliberations on the role of Parliaments in protecting the rights of children, particularly, unaccompanied migrant children and in preventing their exploitation in situations of war and conflict. Risk resilient development taking into consideration the demographic trends and natural constraints is another topic that shall be deliberated on.

In addition to the main topics, two other panel discussions on Internally Displaced Persons and on political party control over MPs shall take place.

The IPU is also expected to fill vacancies arising in the Governing Council. The Governing Council will elect four members to replace Mr. K. Chshmaritian (Armenia), Mr. Nhem Thavy (Cambodia), Mr. K. Ornfjader (Sweden) and Mr. P.F. Veillon (Switzerland) whose terms end in October 2013; and one member to replace Mr. F. Kundi (Pakistan) who is no longer a Member of Parliament and whose term ends on October 2015.

Hon Abdelwahed Radi (Morroco) is the current President of the IPU. The IPU has four Vice Presidents including Rt. Hon Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda.EALA is represented at the 129th IPU Assembly by the Speaker, Rt. Hon Margaret Nantongo Zziwa and Members, Hon Hafsa Mossi, Hon Sarah T. Bonaya and Hon Susan Nakawuki.

Also in attendance are Speakers from the Kenya National Assembly, Rt. Hon Justin Muturi and his counterpart, the Speaker of the Senate, Rt.Hon Ekwe Ethuro, Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Rt. Hon Rebecca Kadaga and the Speaker of the Parliament of Tanzania, Rt. Hon Anna Makinda among others. A number of Parliamentarians from the Partner States are also participating.

Meanwhile, the General Council is expected to approve the re-admission of the Parliament of Somalia as a Member of the IPU. If approved, the Assembly shall also consider a proposal to waver the arrears accumulated by the Parliament towards the IPU before its suspension from the Union in 2009. Parliament of Bhutan has also made a request for admission while on the other side; Egypt shall know its fate once the Assembly pronounces itself under Article 4.2 of the Statutes of IPU. This follows the dissolution of the Parliament of Egypt on July 3, 2013.