Region: Global Issues

Visit of IPU Committee Secretaries to the UK Parliament

23/01/2014 to 24/01/2014

The BGIPU was very pleased to host a study visit by three of the Secretaries of the IPU’s Standing Committees from the IPU Headquarters in Geneva to the Palace of Westminister from 23-24 January 2014. The key objective of the study visit was to learn about the role and functioning of parliamentary committees in the UK including to better understand the role played by our Clerks in supporting the work of UK parliamentary committee. The purpose was to gain insights into operatin so the UK parliament which may be useful in strengthening the role and functioning of IPU’s Standing Committees and it followed a similar visit to the Belgian Parliament.

Global Issues Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Inward Delegations

The WTO Delivers: Parliamentary Conference on the WTO

02/12/2013 to 05/12/2013

Jonathan Djanogly MP attended the joint European Parliament/IPU Parliamentary Conference on the WTO in Bali, Indonesia on 2 and 5 December 2013 convened in connection with the Ninth WTO Ministerial Conference. As the UK’s representative among some 270 MPs participating, he joined counterparts in urging governments to place development at the heart of the multilateral trading system, taking into full account the special needs and interests of developing counties, particularly the least developed. The meeting helped ensure parliamentary views were registered as WTO members successfully negotiated a new multilateral trade deal which is anticipated to add around $100 billion a year to global trade, potentially creating an additional 21 million jobs.

Global Issues Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation IPU Activities & Conferences

Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations: Re-thinking Sustainable Development

14/11/2013 to 15/11/2013

This Annual Parliamentary Hearing aimed to provide a parliamentary contribution to the on-going debate at the United Nations and in capitals on the development agenda after 2015, when leading development commitments are set to expire. Entitled Re-thinking sustainable development: the quest for a “transformational” global agenda in 2015, the Parliamentary Hearing was able to channel the views of parliamentarians directly into the UN’s deliberative process and build on the outcome of the 128th Assembly in Quito by considering the role of parliaments in the implementation of the new commitments for sustainable development as a universal agenda for both developed and developing countries.

Global Issues Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation IPU Activities & Conferences

The BGIPU, in partnership with the APPG on Trade out of Poverty, convened a briefing on 6 November by the Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, on the preparations for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial to be chaired by Indonesia in Bali from 3 to 6 December.

WTO Ministerial in Bali: Prospects for a substantive outcome on Trade Facilitation

06/11/2013 to 06/11/2013

The BGIPU, in partnership with the APPG on Trade out of Poverty, convened a briefing on 6 November by the Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, on the preparations for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial to be chaired by Indonesia in Bali from 3 to 6 December. The briefing was chaired by the BGIPU Chairman, Robert Walter MP and participants from both Houses had the opportunity to discuss key challenges and expected outcomes with Lord Green who will also be one of the Vice-Chairs (along with counterparts from Peru and Rwanda) of the Bali Ministerial.

Global Issues Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation IPU Activities & Conferences

Parliamentary Seminar on Drug Policy Reform

28/10/2013 to 30/10/2013

The BGIPU hosted a seminar in Westminster on Drug Policy Reform from 28 to 30 October. Around 50 members from 30 parliaments from Latin American, West African and Europe attended along with a range of expert speakers and observers.

Global Issues Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation BGIPU Seminars & Events

IPU Round-table discussion: Parliamentarians, a critical force in promoting the abolition of the death penalty

10/10/2013 to 10/10/2013

The IPU convened its first meeting to specifically address abolition of the death penalty in Geneva on 10 October 2013 marking the World Day Against the Death Penalty. The meeting was convened in cooperation with the International Commission Against the Death Penalty (ICDP), a body founded in Spain in 2010, which brings together a number of distinguished abolitionists who have held high office in governments around the world.

Global Issues Human Rights IPU Activities & Conferences

UK Delegation makes strong contribution to outcomes of the 129th IPU Assembly

07/10/2013 to 09/10/2013

The 129th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly took place in Geneva, from 7 to 9 October 2013 and was attended by nearly 1200 participants, including 580 parliamentarians from 131 countries. Members of the UK delegation played very prominent roles in the proceedings through chairing key committees, presentations to Standing Committees and bilateral exchanges. The UK’s active role was recognised by BGIPU Chair Robert Walter being elected to the IPU Executive Committee.

Europe Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation IPU Activities & Conferences

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 commencing 9 September. The events will embrace the theme of this year’s International Day of Democracy of “Strengthening Voices for Democracy”.

BGIPU Week of Events to mark The International Day of Democracy 2013

09/09/2013 to 12/09/2013

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 commencing 9 September. The events will embrace the theme of this year’s International Day of Democracy of “Strengthening Voices for Democracy”.

Global Issues Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation BGIPU Seminars & Events

Participants hear from Panel on VAW in Politics

Tackling Violence against Women in Politics

06/06/2013

On the 6th of June a panel including Mary Macleod MP, Roberta Blackman Woods MP and Dina Medland, a freelance journalist for the Financial Times, discussed, under the auspices of the BGIPU, whether stereotyping, misogyny and harassment through the media constitutes a form of violence against women in politics, and what measures may be taken to address such issues.

Global Issues Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation IPU Activities & Conferences

Baroness Meacher as Chair of the APPG for Drug Policy Reform was invited by President Otto Perez Molina of Guatemala to attend the 43rd General Assembly of the OAS from 4-6 June and she reported her reflections back to counterparts in UK Parliament.

Report on the OAS General Assembly in Antigua, Guatemala

04/06/2013 to 06/06/2013

The BGIPU supported the APPG for Drug Policy Reform to take up an invitation by President Otto Perez Molina of Guatemala to attend the 43^rd General Assembly of the OAS from 4-6 June, as Observers. This report represents Baroness Meacher’s reflections on the meeting.

Global Issues Human Rights BGIPU Seminars & Events

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Themes

Regions

Region: Global Issues

Visit of IPU Committee Secretaries to the UK Parliament

The WTO Delivers: Parliamentary Conference on the WTO

Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations: Re-thinking Sustainable Development

WTO Ministerial in Bali: Prospects for a substantive outcome on Trade Facilitation

Parliamentary Seminar on Drug Policy Reform

IPU Round-table discussion: Parliamentarians, a critical force in promoting the abolition of the death penalty

UK Delegation makes strong contribution to outcomes of the 129th IPU Assembly

BGIPU Week of Events to mark The International Day of Democracy 2013

Tackling Violence against Women in Politics

Report on the OAS General Assembly in Antigua, Guatemala

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THEME

THEME

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Launch of the Parliamentarians’ Global Guide to Climate Change and Climate Solutions at COP30

Global lawmakers commit to accelerating climate action at COP30 parliamentary meeting in Belem

Parliamentarians champion humanitarian action in the birthplace of the Geneva Conventions

Armenia and Azerbaijan Speakers pursue parliamentary dialogue as pathway to lasting peace