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Month: February 2019

The visiting delegation led by the President of the Dutch Senate enjoyed a tour of the Palace of Westminster by Lord Craigavon.JPG

Netherlands visit boosts relations in advance of Brexit

24/02/2019 to 27/02/2019

A Parliamentary delegation from the Netherlands led by the President of the Senate made a timely visit to the UK from 25 to 27 February to discuss bilateral relations against the background of the UK’s imminent departure from the European Union. The programme ensured the delegation met with as many relevant Select Committees as possible and that they heard from many UK Parliamentarians across the full scope of views regarding Brexit. Exchanges showed that bilateral relations remained very close and strong.

Europe Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Inward Delegations

Annual Parliamentary Hearing: Emerging Challenges to Multilateralism

21/02/2019 to 22/02/2019

On 21 and 22 February, the IPU and the United Nations, represented by the President of the General Assembly, brought together some 240 parliamentarians from nearly 40 countries, as well as ambassadors, representatives from UN organizations, and experts for their annual parliamentary hearing in New York. The hearing focused on the key emerging challenges posed to the future of multilateralism.

Global Issues Human Rights IPU Activities & Conferences

UK delegation sees impressive transformation in Ethiopia

18/02/2019 to 21/02/2019

From 18 to 21 February, a BGIPU delegation visited Ethiopia as part of a scoping mission with the aim of boosting interparliamentary relations, including through inviting a parliamentary delegation from Ethiopia to visit London. The delegation, comprised Rt Hon Baroness Anelay DBE, Baroness Barker and Pauline Latham OBE MP, who saw that the UK continues to be a trusted partner for the country as Ethiopia undergoes profound political transition alongside economic and social transformation under the reform policies of Prime Minister Abiy.

Africa Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Outward Delegations

Preparing for Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in 2020

08/02/2019 to 09/02/2019

The first Preparatory Committee for the Fifth Conference of Speakers was held in Geneva from 8 to 9 February 2019. The BGIPU Chair, Rt Hon John Whittingdale MP, is representing the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, on this Preparatory Committee. The Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments is scheduled to take place in 2020 and is expected to build on the outcomes from the previous sessions and further reinforce the parliamentary dimension of global governance.

Global Issues Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation IPU Activities & Conferences

Members of the IPU Committee on Human Rights of Parliamentarians meet in Geneva at IPU HQ.JPG

IPU considers abuse of the human rights of MPs worldwide

08/02/2019 to 08/02/2019

The IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians has released its latest decisions after considering the cases of 417 MPs from 37 countries at a meeting in Geneva last week. The Committee, the only international body with a special remit to defend persecuted MPs, took decisions on 126 MPs, most of which concern opposition MPs in Venezuela.

Americas Human Rights IPU Activities & Conferences