Activities: BGIPU Seminars & Events

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Protecting every child everywhere: Tackling sexual exploitation of children in tourism

Gavin Shuker MP highlighted the importance of strong political leadership in ensuring adequate protection of children from sexual exploitation abroad by British tourists when he chaired a lunchtime lecture hosted by the British Group of the IPU and ECPAT UK on the 9th of May.  A key focus of the discussion was on raising awareness among parliamentarians, including the practical steps they could take in tackling the sexual abuse of children overseas by British sex offenders. 

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BGIPU Charitable Events and Fundraising: Update on Funds raised by the BGIPU Quiz

In October last year the BGIPU held a Pub Quiz, as part of the BGIPU Week of events, hosted by Nigel Evans MP in the House of Commons. The event was well attended by Members and staff of both Houses and the BGIPU team were able to raise funds for the Good Samaritan School in Kampala, Uganda, whom BGIPU Staff and Nigel had visited in March 2012 during the 126th IPU Assembly.

BGIPU Executive Committee Member, Mr John Robertson MP, also a member of the Energy and Climate Change Committee, provided a report on his perspectives on COP18 saying that while ambitions had been admittedly low, progress made was sufficient in setting up a way forward which maintained momentum for global action and encouraged governments to continue to focus on how best to find agreement on areas to be progressed

Good COP / Bad COP: Parliamentary Perspectives from COP18

The two week long climate talks in Doha came to a close on 8 December with 194 countries agreeing to implement a second phase of the Kyoto Protocol, from 2013 through 2020. The Doha round of talks mark the beginning of a transition to a new global climate change regime that will come into effect from 2020 and include within its ambit all countries. The BGIPU held a lecture to discuss: Good COP / Bad COP: Parliamentary Perspectives from COP18.

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President of Tunisia discusses democratic transition with UK Parliamentarians

The President of Tunisia, HE Dr Moncef Marzouki, visited Parliament on Monday 26 November to meet with UK Parliamentarians for a BGIPU-hosted discussion entitled “Perspectives on Tunisia’s Democratic transition”. With the President providing a brief opening statement but preferring to respond directly to questions from the floor, the event was highly interactive and provided a unique opportunity to engage with a pivotal figure in the evolution of political transition following the events of the Arab Spring in Tunisia and the wider region.

The annual 2012 session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO was held in Geneva on 15-16 November 2012.

Back to basics: Connecting Politics and Trade, 2012 session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO

The annual 2012 session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO was held in Geneva on 15-16 November 2012. An interactive debate with exceptional speakers took place on the following issues: Trade as a tool of economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation; Analysing 21st century trade challenges; Trade in services: time for political decisions.

The Chair of the BGIPU, Robert Walter MP, gave a statement to mark the Day at a reception for Diplomatic staff and parliamentarians on 11 September.

Marking the International Day of Democracy 2012

The international Day of Democracy 2012 was marked by statements and events from world leaders and politicians across the world and the BGIPU also held a series of events in Westminster to mark the occasion as part of BGIPU week in Parliament. The Chair of the BGIPU, Robert Walter MP, gave a statement to mark the Day at a reception for Diplomatic staff and parliamentarians on 11 September.