In the first of the series of events, Mr Speaker and the Lord Speaker, along with Members of the Executive Committee of the BGIPU met to commemorate the work of the co-founder of the IPU, and first British citizen to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Sir William Randal Cremer.
The BGIPU will be marking the International Day of Democracy (15 September) and promoting the work of our membership with a series of thematic events across Parliament during the week of 10 September. Events will include a lunch time lecture on the threat to the Human Rights of Parliamentarians globally, a panel debate on the challenges facing democracy in an inter-dependant world, an information stand on the work of the IPU and other associated events.
The Parliamentary meeting organised by the IPU on the occasion of the XIX International AIDS Conference “AIDS in 2012: What will it take to stop the epidemic?” provided an opportunity for Parliamentarians from over 20 countries to discuss the role that they can play in tackling the HIV and AIDS epidemic.
On 22 May the BGIPU hosted a meeting with Foreign Office Minister, Jeremy Browne MP, to discuss the Foreign Office Emerging Powers Initiative (EPI). The Initiative was established in May 2010 to co-ordinate a cross-government strategy aimed at creating much deeper relationships with the emerging powers, in pursuit of UK security and prosperity objectives.
At an event to mark the State Opneing of Parliament FCO Minister, Alistair Burt MP, noted that the work of the BGIPU involved close and continuing support from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He said it was vital that we support each other’s work and the FCO fully recognised the valuable role played by parliamentarians in enhancing dialogue and cooperation between nations.
The 126th Assembly took place in Kampala, Uganda 31 March – 5 April 2012. The British Delegation comprised 8 Members and was led by Robert Walter MP, Chairman of the Biritsh Group.
The most important words uttered at the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness came from Lee Myung-bak, the President of the Republic of Korea. Fifty years ago when he was a child and Korea was a war ravaged country, it needed aid. Today it’s the 13th largest economy in the world, the second fastest growing economy in the OECD and an aid donor. That single statement confirms that despite the complexity of aid, despite the myriad cultures, despite the challenges that are presented from clean water to conflict to corruption, aid works.
The 125th IPU Assembly took place in Bern, Switzerland 16 – 19 October 2011. The British Delegation was led by Robert Walter MP, Chairman of the Biritsh Group.
The 183 member countries of the WTO were largely represented. The conference agenda was full with many working sessions competing in parallel and dealing with current trade challenges: ‘Made in the World’ labelling, the Arab Spring, the Doha Round and many other issues such as sustainable energy, food security and intellectual property rights
The turmoil in the Arab world dominated debates at the IPU Assembly in Panama in April which was attended by a delegation from Britain led by Robert Walter MP. Mr Walter – Chair of the British Group of the IPU – told delegates from over 100 countries in the IPU that recent events in North Africa could spread to other countries in the region.
