Inter-Parliamentary Union - British Group - 124th IPU ASSEMBLY, PANAMA CITY, PANAMA, 15 to 20 April 2011


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Delegation Reports

124th IPU Assembly, Panama City, Panama

15 to 20 April 2011

LEADER
Robert Walter MP

STANDING COMMITTEES

First Standing Committee (Peace and International Security):
Mark Pritchard MP
Lord Judd

Second Standing Committee (Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade):
Wayne David MP
Lord Rennard MBE

Third Standing Committee (Democracy and Human Rights):
Nigel Evans MP
Andrew Rosindell MP

INTER-PARLIAMENTARY COUNCIL
Robert Walter MP
Mike Gapes MP

Some 119 countries were represented at the 124th Assembly in Panama City, and 615 Members of Parliament - including 35 Speakers – participated.

The UK delegation was supported by Mr Kenneth Courtenay, Miss Charlie Holloway and Miss Gabriella Liberotti of the British Group IPU Secretariat.

Mr David Natzler, Clerk of Legislations, House of Commons and Mr Rhodri Walters, Reading Clerk and Clerk of the Overseas Office, House of Lords represented the UK at the parallel conference of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP). Stephen Mark and Emma Sawyer, Joint Secretary of the ASGP were also present.

During the five-day conference, delegates debated and adopted the standing committee resolutions which had already been debated in Geneva in the autumn. The resolutions adopted were:

First Standing Committee (Peace and International Security): Providing a sound legislative framework aimed at preventing electoral violence, improving election monitoring and ensuring the smooth transition of power
Second Standing Committee (Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade): The role of parliaments in ensuring sustainable development through the management of natural resources, agricultural production and demographic change
Third Standing Committee (Democracy and Human Rights): Transparency and accountability in the funding of political parties and election campaigns.

The Assembly also unanimously adopted an emergency item resolution entitled: Strengthening democratic reform in emerging democracies, including in North Africa and the Middle East. This item was jointly proposed by Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran and New Zealand.

In the fringes of the Assembly, the delegation had interesting discussions with the delegations from Afghanistan, Argentina, Indonesia, Iran, Jordon, Mexico, Morocco, Russia, Syria and Turkey.