19 October 2012

New Zealand MPs Participate in Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly

Three New Zealand members of Parliament will participate in the 127th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, to be held in Quebec City, Canada from 21-26 October, Speaker Dr The Rt Hon Lockwood Smith announced today.

The IPU is the world organisation of parliaments of sovereign states, and provides a focal point for dialogue among democratic parliaments. Over 1,300 delegates and observers from more than 120 member parliaments and international organisations will be attending the Assembly to address the theme of challenges of citizenship, identity, and linguistic and cultural diversity in a globalised world. The New Zealand delegation will be led by Hon Tau Henare and includes Hon Damien O’Connor MP and Julie Anne Genter MP.

During the Assembly, Hon Tau Henare will open and give the keynote address at a special session focussing on the question of enhancing political participation and representation of minorities and indigenous groups in parliaments. He will also be participating in a session on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, alongside Grand Chief Edward John from Canada, chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

The Assembly agenda also includes panel discussions on issues relating to the use of social media to enhance citizen engagement and democracy; the role of Parliaments in safeguarding civilian lives; building peace after conflict; fair trade and innovative financing mechanisms for sustainable development, and a debate on the United Nations promoting democracy.

The IPU Gender Partnership Group will also be holding sessions addressing the many challenges women parliamentarians face in their predominantly male working environment, with an aim to adopt an action plan on ways to make parliaments more gender sensitive.

“New Zealand parliamentarians will have a highly visible and important role in this IPU Assembly” says Dr The Rt Hon Lockwood Smith. “We can proudly share our history of participation of Māori, women and minorities in Parliament, as well as contributing to ways to continuously develop our democratic systems.”

ENDS

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