Annual Parliamentary Hearings bring members of parliament to the United Nations Headquarters in New York for an interactive discussion with high-ranking UN officials, representatives of Member States and experts drawn from think tanks and civil society organizations. The meeting brings together legislators who are part of their national delegations to the UN General Assembly, as well as other interested parliamentarians.
In accordance with the provisions of the General Assembly Resolution on cooperation between the UN and the IPU (A/61/6), the Hearing is a joint event of the two organizations, heralding a greater political commitment on the part of the United Nations to hear the views of parliaments on some of the most urgent issues of our times. Among other things, the Hearing provides an opportunity for members of parliament to meet and hear from the United Nations management team. The conclusions of the Hearing are circulated to the wider UN community as well as to all national parliaments.
The main theme of the 2012 Hearing is A road less travelled: parliamentary approaches to conflict prevention, reconciliation and peace building. Key questions to be explored:
- What are the optimal conditions and institutional requirements for parliaments to effectively play a role in conflict prevention and reconciliation? How can the UN and the IPU support such conditions, where needed?
- How can parliaments (and the IPU) support the UN, its missions in the field and its Peace-Building Commission and Human Rights Council?
- How can parliamentarians help mediate conflicts alone or in cooperation with the United Nations?
- How are parliaments to relate to transitional justice mechanisms and truth and reconciliation mechanisms?
- What do parliamentarians think of key reforms needed to ensure more democratic decision-making for conflict resolution at the UN?
The Hearing will take place in the Conference Room 2 in the North Lawn Building (ground level). The proceedings will start at 10 a.m.
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