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Outcome document of UN conference on financial crisis welcomes contribution from IPU
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30 June 2009. The United Nations Conference on the World Financial Crisis and its Impact on Development that began on 24 June came to a close officially today after hearing from some 150 representatives of member states. An outcome document was adopted at the eleventh hour which provides a shared understanding of the causes of the crisis and of the critical measures required going forward. In what amounts to a clear indication of the role that parliaments too are expected to play, the document ends with the following exhortation: "We [Heads of State and Government] encourage the Inter-Parliamentary Union to continue to contribute to the development of global responses to the crisis." The IPU Secretary General, Mr. Anders Johnsson, thanked member states for this expression of partnership between the two organizations in his address to the conference. [ Speech of the IPU Secretary General ... ]
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IPU President calls for immediate return to constitutional order in Honduras
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29 June 2009. The IPU called today for the immediate return to constitutional order in Honduras. IPU President Theo-Ben Gurirab condemned in the strongest possible terms the ousting from office of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya. The IPU President called on the military to exercise restraint and allow the people of Honduras to freely express their will. "Any act to overturn a government by unconstitutional means is totally unacceptable", he declared. The IPU supports all efforts of the Organization of American States to help restore stability and the rule of law in Honduras as soon as possible.
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Two years project in support to women MPs in Burundi completed
26 June 2009. Launched in 2007, the project, which was spearheaded by the IPU in collaboration with the Parliament of Burundi and funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund, ended its work after two years. Its purpose was to support parliamentary action on questions related to women's rights and gender equality. A series of activities bringing together both men and women MPs was organized to inform the parliamentarians about regional and international conventions, identify discriminatory laws and devise necessary parliamentary action. The women parliamentarians spearheaded the recent review of the Criminal Code with the support of several partners. The aim of that exercise was to propose major amendments with a view to punishing different forms of violence against women. This was made possible through partnership with male MPs and close collaboration with women’s associations and civil society organizations. Capacity-building activities were conducted to enable women MPs to act in a visible manner and send a series of messages in parliament and through the media to promote the development and equality objectives pursued at the national level.
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IPU President at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
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22 June 2009. IPU President Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab today addressed the opening of the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In Strasbourg, the IPU President explained that in celebrating the achievements of the 120 years since it was founded, the imperative of the IPU for renewal and rejuvenation should never be forgotten. "Just as our parliaments need constant critical appraisal, so too do their organisations", he said. In a world where the institutions that embody democracy are judged more harshly than ever, "we must work ambitiously - even adventurously - if we are to remain useful to the people we serve". The ambitions of the IPU include bringing more genuine democracy to international affairs and to the principal organisation that manages them, the United Nations. [ Full text of the speech ... ]
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IPU President paid an official visit to Italy
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19 June 2009. IPU President Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab paid an official visit to Italy. He was accompanied by the IPU Secretary General, Mr. Anders B. Johnsson. In Rome, they held talks with Mr. Gianfranco Fini, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Ms. Angela Napoli, member of the Italian IPU Group, and with the former IPU President, Mr. Pier Ferdinando Casini. President Gurirab was also received by the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Mr. Jacques Diouf.
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UN panel on renewable energies features strong MP voice
18 June 2009. A thematic debate on energy efficiency, energy conservation and new and renewable sources of energy took place at the United Nations in New York. The meeting is one of two high level events to be held at the United Nations this year to help mobilize more political support for crucial negotiations on a new climate change agreement at the end of December in Copenhagen. Speaking on behalf of the IPU, a member of parliament from Denmark, Mr. Steen Gade, made it clear that a switch to renewable energies is not only desirable but entirely possible. His own country, which went from near total dependency on fossil fuels 30 years ago to an energy supply with some 30 per cent of renewables in the mix provides a clear illustration. All it takes, Mr. Gade said, is political will and a legislative package of strong incentives and regulations. Mr. Gade also called for the new post-Kyoto deal to include targets on renewable energies, and not just on greenhouse emissions cuts. [ Text of UN press brief ... ]
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IPU addresses UN General Assembly on HIV/AIDS
17 June 2009. The need for parliaments to help remove many of the obstacles that still stand in the way of key international commitments on HIV/AIDS was highlighted today at the annual plenary meeting of the General Assembly. In a statement delivered by the Hon. Sapana Pradhan Malla, a member of parliament from Nepal and an advocate for the rights of people living with HIV, the IPU called again for the end of laws that discriminate based on HIV status, including travel bans, and for a fairer drug production, distribution and pricing regime. The IPU will organize a parliamentary meeting on the occasion of next year’s high-level conference of the United Nations in Vienna, when a global assessment of progress in achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care will be made. [ Full text of the speech ... ]
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Senator Sheila Finestone: in memoriam
9 June 2009. The IPU was greatly saddened to learn of the passing of former Canadian Senator Sheila Finestone. Members of our organization will long remember Senator Finestone for her commitment and dedication to the causes of gender equality and respect for human rights and humanitarian law. Sheila was a true firebrand. She spoke up fearlessly in defence of women everywhere. She did an enormous amount to support women's participation in politics and public life, as well as helping the IPU develop its own program for partnership between men and women in politics. She was also at the forefront of many humanitarian causes, playing a leading role in championing the international land mine convention. The IPU salutes Sheila Finestone with admiration, respect and affection.
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IPU Secretary General addresses OSCE PA Economic Conference
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28 May 2009. Addressing the Sixth Economic Conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA), the Secretary General of the IPU, Mr. Anders B. Johnsson, stressed that a global economic crisis required a global response. The Conference took place in Dublin (Ireland) and was attended by a large spectrum of parliamentarians from across North America, Europe and Central Asia. Its conclusions were in many ways consonant with those of a global parliamentary meeting on the same subject convened by the IPU in Geneva on 7 and 8 May 2009. Recalling what had been said during that meeting, the IPU Secretary General referred to the fundamental notion that people controlled the functioning of government and public institutions through an elected parliament. In the face of an unprecedented crisis, parliaments had some soul searching to do to determine why they were unable to put this responsibility to better use. He identified four broad areas where the involvement of members of parliament was particularly essential from the point of view of good governance. [ Full text of the speech by the IPU Secretary General ... ]
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Policy brief on the IPU response to the financial and economic crisis
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26 May 2009. As part of the follow-up to the Parliamentary Conference on the Global Economic Crisis, convened by the IPU on 7 and 8 May 2009 in Geneva, the IPU has published on its website transcripts of keynote speeches, PowerPoint presentations and substantive documents of the session. The most recent addition to this collection is an IPU policy brief on the mobilization of parliaments as part of the global response to the financial and economic crisis. It has been prepared with a view to providing an overall picture of the IPU work in this field. Conclusions of the Parliamentary Conference were also presented by the IPU Secretary General at UNCTAD's Public Symposium, held in Geneva on 18 and 19 May. [ See Policy brief ... ]
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Parliamentarians must contribute to the design of a new economic system
11 May 2009. At the end of the Parliamentary Conference on the Global Economic Crisis, which gathered nearly 400 legislators from 80 parliaments in Geneva, IPU President Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab said that the immediate solution to the crisis will involve the disbursement of very significant amounts of remedial funding. The financial and economic crisis has its origins in the most developed economies. However, it is affecting all countries and particularly the developing and least developed nations, which bear no responsibility for today's crisis. Parliamentarians must contribute to the design of a new system which is better attuned to the deeper aspirations of our citizens. "We should ensure much closer parliamentary interaction with the international financial institutions in a bid to exercise greater parliamentary oversight", added the IPU President. [ Full text of President's concluding remarks ... ]
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