Year: 2015

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Outcome of 4th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament

Parliamentary leaders from nearly 140 countries have pledged to do their utmost to reconnect people with democracy in an ambitious and far-reaching declaration adopted at the end of a three-day global summit in New York.  More than 170 Speakers and Deputy Speakers acknowledged that extraordinary efforts would be needed to build a world that people want by turning the tide against the many challenges that undermine democracy, peace and development.

Ambassadors briefing Members

BGIPU/FCO Briefing on Middle East and North Africa

In conjunction with the FCO Leadership Week, BGIPU and the FCO held a joint briefing on the situation in North Africa and the Middle East on the 6th July. Chaired by FCO Minister Tobias Ellwood, who highlighted the UK’s strong involvement in region, Members had the opportunity to hear from a number of key Ambassadors to the region about the situation in their respective countries.

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UK Young MPs keen to advance youth empowerment through IPU networks

On 1 July, BGIPU hosted young MPs to discuss IPU initiatives to advance political engagement of youth and improve the representativeness of parliaments. Gavin Shuker MP and Chloe Smith MP, who represented the UK Parliament in consecutive IPU Global Conferences of Young Parliamentarians, reported back to parliamentary colleagues on the IPU’s work and international efforts to enhance networks and support for young parliamentarians worldwide. MPs agreed the UK Parliament should play an active role in support of the IPU’s work.

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Special General Meeting elects Nigel Evans MP as BGIPU Chair

A Special General Meeting (SGM) on 30 June elected Nigel Evans MP as the new BGIPU Chair in the wake of the recent 2015 General Election in the UK.  The SGM also elected new members to fill a number of other Executive Committee vacancies along with the nomination of Ian Liddell-Grainger MP to fill the UK vacancy on the IPU’s Executive Committee.

MPs and Peers discussing with Ambassadors situation in their countries

Roundtable on Eastern European Security

On 17 June 2015 BGIPU hosted a roundtable on Eastern European Security that brought together Members from both Houses, Ambassadors and Embassy representatives from relevant countries and academic experts. Chaired by Steve Pound MP, the event gave Members who had recently participated in BGIPU visits to the region (Armenia, Georgia, Poland and Ukraine) the opportunity to report back and highlight some of the outcomes and hear from Ambassadors about the current situation and priorities in their country.

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Young MPs meet in Tokyo to counter youth alienation and disengagement

A major international conference of the world’s young MPs in Tokyo in late May has called for policies to end the alienation and radicalization of young people, including new education policies and employment quotas. About 190 young MPs attended the IPU Global Conference of Young MPs making a series of recommendations on addressing some of the biggest challenges facing the world’s 3.5 billion youth populations including unemployment, discrimination and conflict.  Gavin Shuker MP represented the UK Parliament at the event.

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Outgoing BGIPU Chair expresses thanks for support

Following his appointment as UK Minister of State for Health, the Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP, has stood down from the position of BGIPU Chair. At a State Opening reception on 27 May, the outgoing Chair expressed thanks for the support of diplomatic missions and UK representatives abroad, noted his gratitude to BGIPU members and recognised the work of the BGIPU Secretariat in supporting his role as Chair since he was elected in December 2013.  The BGIPU Chair will be filled on an ad interim basis by Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger MP.

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BGIPU Information Stand for New and Returning Members

The BGIPU Secretariat had an information stand in the Portcullis House Atrium on 20 May to outlline its work in promoting the UK Parliament’s role in inter-parliamentary affairs, particularly through the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). This outreach activity provided an opportunity to promote the important role parliamentarians can play in international relations and the contribution made by IPU in promoting parliamentary perspectives on key global issues, including at major international meetings.

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132nd IPU Assembly to lead on sustainable development

More than 700 MPs from 127 countries, including almost 50 Speakers, are now registered to attend the 132nd IPU Assembly in Hanoi, Viet Nam. The Assembly will look at concrete ways parliaments can implement the new sustainable development goals (SDGs) when they are adopted later this year. The Assembly, which takes place on 28 March to 1st April, aims to adopt a declaration on the role of Parliaments in supporting the achievement of the post-2015 SDGs at its conclusion.