| >>> VERSION FRANÇAISE | ||
| Inter-Parliamentary Union | ||
| Chemin du Pommier 5, C.P. 330, CH-1218 Le Grand-Saconnex/Geneva, Switzerland |
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(Manila, 3-8 April 2005)
Contents: 1. Opening of the proceedings The proceedings of the 112th IPU Assembly opened at the Philippines International Conference Center in Manila on the morning of Monday, 4 April 2005, with the election by acclamation of Mr. Franklin M. Drilon, President of the Senate of the Philippines, as President of the Assembly. On the morning of the first day, during the General Debate on the political, economic and social situation in the world, the Assembly heard an address by Ms. C. Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF, who highlighted the importance of cooperation with the IPU and the role of parliamentarians in the protection of children. She presented the latest product of that fruitful cooperation, the handbook for parliamentarians, Combating child trafficking, recalling their duties in the fields of legislative oversight and advocacy to prevent the abuse and exploitation of children. At the end of her speech, the Presidents of the IPU and of the 112th Assembly paid tribute to her work at the head of UNICEF for the past I0 years. In the afternoon, the Assembly was addressed by Mr. R. Orr, Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Strategic Planning, who asked parliaments to support the reform of the United Nations proposed by the United Nations Secretary-General. He underlined that the United Nations and the IPU needed to work together on the provision of assistance in building democratic institutions. The reform package included a proposal for a democracy fund that would be made available to governments, parliaments and NGOs. He added that the United Nations would appreciate the IPU's assistance and expertise in revitalising and reforming the General Assembly. At the morning session of Tuesday, 5 April, the Assembly was addressed by Mr. A.G. Romulo, Foreign Affairs Secretary of the Philippines, who recognised, as a former parliamentarian, the important role played by members of parliament in the formulation and conduct of foreign policy. Parliamentarians brought a distinct perspective that was vital for building consensus and for shaping future development. He stressed that it was important to strengthen multilateralism, and that the IPU provided positive proof that multilateralism could work. The Government of the Philippines supported the proposal put forward by the United Nations Secretary-General to replace the United Nations Commission on Human Rights with a Council. Lastly, he called on the IPU to reaffirm its commitment to trade liberalisation and support for an equitable multilateral trade system in the framework of the WTO. He stressed that developing countries could only realise the benefits of globalisation in the WTO framework if all members fulfilled the commitments made in Doha. 2. Inaugural ceremony The 112th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union was inaugurated on 3 April 2005 at a ceremony in the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in the presence of Her Excellency the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Inaugural addresses were delivered by Mr. F.M. Drilon, President of the Senate of the Philippines, Mr. J. de Venecia Jr., Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, Mr. R. Orr, Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Strategic Planning, and Mr. S. Páez, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The ceremony concluded with an address by the President of the Republic, who declared the 112th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union officially open. 3. Participation Delegations of the parliaments of the following 116 countries took part in the work of the Assembly: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen and Zambia. The following Associate Members also took part in the Assembly: the Andean Parliament, the East African Legislative Assembly, the Latin American Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Observers included representatives of: (i) Palestine; (ii) the United Nations system: United Nations, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), International Labour Organization (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Heath Organization (WHO), World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); (iii) International Organization for Migration (IOM), League of Arab States; (iv) African Parliamentary Union (APU), Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, Assembly of the Western European Union (WEU), Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa (AWEPA), Indigenous Parliament of the Americas, Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Eurasian Economic Community, Nordic Council, Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC), Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and the Russian Federation, Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Conference Members (PUOICM), South African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum; (v) International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); and (vi) the Coalition for the International Criminal Court. Of the total of 1,127 delegates who attended the Assembly, 614 were members of national parliaments. The parliamentarians included 32 presiding officers, 31 deputy presiding officers and 165 women parliamentarians (27%). 4. Choice of an emergency item (Item 8) At the beginning of the consideration of the item, the Assembly had before it a single consolidated request for the inclusion of an emergency item presented by the delegation of Japan on behalf of Algeria, Chile, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Sri Lanka and Turkey, with the support of the Asia-Pacific geopolitical group, under the title Natural disasters: The role of parliaments in prevention, rehabilitation, reconstruction and the protection of vulnerable groups. The proposal was adopted by unanimity and was added to the agenda as item 8. 5. Debates and decisions of the Assembly and its Standing Committees (a) General Debate on the political, economic and social situation in the world (Item 3) The General Debate on the political, economic and social situation in the world, under the overall theme of The impact of domestic and international policies on the situation of women, took place in the mornings and afternoons of 4, 5 and 7 April. A total of 120 speakers from 111 delegations took part in the debate, which was chaired by the President of the Assembly. During the various sittings, the President invited the Vice-Presidents from the delegations of Fiji, India, Ireland, Jordan, South Africa and Uruguay to replace him in the chair. (b) First Standing Committee: Peace and International Security (i) The role of parliaments in the establishment and functioning of mechanisms to provide for the judgement and sentencing of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and terrorism, with a view to avoiding impunity (Item 4) The Committee held three sittings on 4 and 6 April, with its President, Senator E. Menem (Argentina), in the chair. In addition to a report and draft resolution prepared by the co-Rapporteurs, Ms. H. Bouhired (Algeria) and Mr. J. Argüello (Argentina), the Committee had before it amendments and sub-amendments to the draft resolution submitted by the delegations of Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, Cuba, Egypt, Gabon, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, Romania, Russian Federation, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. As Ms. Bouhired was unable to attend the Manila Assembly, Mr. Argüello presented the report and draft resolution on behalf of both co-Rapporteurs. Mr. E. Kourula, Judge with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, participated as a special guest in the work of the Committee, making an introductory presentation and responding to questions from the floor. A total of 63 speakers from 53 countries took the floor during the debate. Following the debate, the Standing Committee appointed a drafting committee composed of representatives from Benin, Chile, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Morocco, Russian Federation, Sudan, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Venezuela. Mr. Argüello and Judge Kourula were also invited to participate in the work of the drafting committee, as advisers. The drafting committee met in the afternoon of 4 April. At the beginning of its work, it appointed Lord Morris of Aberavon (United Kingdom) as its president and Mr. J. Garcia Jarpa (Venezuela) as rapporteur. The committee examined 128 amendments and sub-amendments to the draft resolution, and adopted some 35 of them, fully or in part. A number of other amendments were accepted, if not in letter, then in spirit, as many were similar in content to those that were adopted. In the afternoon of 6 April, the Committee considered the consolidated draft. Several delegations took the floor to express support for the text or to further clarify one of its provisions. One delegation requested further amendments to the draft resolution, but they were not accepted by the broader membership. The draft resolution as a whole was subsequently adopted by consensus by the First Standing Committee. In the afternoon of 8 April, the draft was submitted to the plenary sitting of the Assembly, which adopted it unanimously. As an explanation of vote, the representative from the Syrian Arab Republic took the floor to emphasise the need to convene an international conference with a mandate to define and look at the root causes of terrorism. Mr. E. Menem, President of the First Standing Committee at the 112th IPU Assembly, also took the floor, commending the joint effort that had led to a strong resolution, and calling once again upon Member Parliaments to reject bilateral agreements that would provide for immunity from investigation and prosecution, by the ICC or otherwise, for the nationals of any State.
(ii) Selection of subject item and co-Rapporteurs for the First Standing Committee at the 114th AssemblyThe Bureau of the First Standing Committee met on 6 April to examine nine proposals submitted by IPU Members for the subject item to be debated by the First Standing Committee at the 114th Assembly. The Bureau selected a subject item entitled The role of parliaments in strengthening the control of trafficking in small arms and light weapons and their ammunition, which was subsequently endorsed by the Committee and the Assembly. Upon its recommendation, the Assembly also approved the nomination of Ms. R. Oniang'o (Kenya) and Mr. F. X. de Donnea (Belgium) as co-Rapporteurs. (c) Second Standing Committee: Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade
(i) The role of parliaments in establishing innovative international financing and trading mechanisms to address the problem of debt and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (Item 5) The Committee held two sittings on 5 and 7 April, with its President, Mr. E. Gudfinnsson (Iceland), in the chair. In addition to a report and preliminary draft resolution prepared by the co-Rapporteurs, Mr. O. Martínez (Cuba) and Mr. R. del Picchia (France), the Committee had before it amendments and sub-amendments to the draft resolution submitted by the delegations of Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Egypt, Finland, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, Romania, Slovenia, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Mr. J. Crombet Hernandez-Baquero (Cuba) presented the report and preliminary draft resolution on behalf of Mr. Martínez, who was unable to attend. A total of 48 speakers from 47 countries and the World Bank took the floor during the debate. Following the debate, the Standing Committee appointed a drafting committee composed of representatives from Belgium, Egypt, France, Guatemala, Japan, Kenya, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sweden and Uruguay. The drafting committee met in the morning and afternoon of 6 April. At the beginning of its work, it appointed Ms. L. Rosales (Philippines) as its president and Mr. J. Lowenthal Foncea (Guatemala) as rapporteur. The committee examined 124 amendments and sub-amendments to the preliminary draft resolution and adopted some 40 of them, fully or in part. In the morning of 7 April, the Committee considered the consolidated draft, having adopted two further amendments to it and having rejected one through a vote. The draft resolution as a whole was subsequently adopted by the Second Standing Committee by consensus. In the afternoon of 8 April, the draft was submitted to the plenary sitting of the Assembly, which adopted it unanimously.
(ii) Selection of subject item and co-Rapporteurs for the Second Standing Committee at the 114th AssemblyThe Bureau of the Second Standing Committee met on 6 April to examine 12 proposals submitted by IPU Members for the subject item to be debated by the Second Standing Committee at the 114th Assembly. The Bureau selected a subject item entitled The role of parliaments in environmental management and in combating global degradation of the environment, which was subsequently endorsed by the Committee and the Assembly. Upon its recommendation, the Assembly also approved the nomination of Mr. S. Katoh (Japan) and Mr. J. Nonô (Brazil) as co-Rapporteurs. (d) Third Standing Committee: Democracy and Human Rights
(i) The role of parliaments in advocating and enforcing observance of human rights in the strategies for the prevention, management and treatment of the HIV/AIDS pandemic (Item 6)The Committee held three sittings on 5, 6 and 7 April, with its President, Ms. R. Kadaga (Uganda), in the chair. The Committee had before it a report and a draft resolution drawn up by the co-Rapporteurs, Ms. C. Martinez (Philippines) and Mr. E. Tumwesigye (Uganda), along with amendments to the draft resolution proposed by the delegations of the following countries' parliaments: Algeria, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and Thailand. The Committee also had before it amendments proposed by the Meeting of Women Parliamentarians. In all, 55 speakers took part in the debate. After the debate, the Committee designated a drafting committee composed of representatives of the parliaments of the following countries: Belgium, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Russian Federation and Switzerland. The drafting committee met on 6 April. It began its work by naming Mr. P. Günter (Switzerland) as its president and Ms. D.M. Sauri Riancho (Mexico) as its rapporteur. It considered in detail the draft resolution drawn up by the co-Rapporteurs and improved the text, incorporating some of the proposed amendments. On 7 April, the Committee considered the consolidated text of the draft resolution, and adopted it unanimously. The delegation of Saudi Arabia, once the resolution had been adopted, made a comment concerning the protection of health professionals against HIV/AIDS. In the afternoon of 8 April, the Assembly, meeting in plenary, adopted the resolution unanimously.
(ii) Selection of subject item and co-Rapporteurs for the Third Standing Committee at the 114th AssemblyThe Bureau of the Third Standing Committee met on 6 April to examine a number of proposals submitted by IPU Members for the subject item to be debated by the Third Standing Committee at the 114th Assembly. The Bureau selected a subject item entitled How parliaments can and must promote effective ways of combating violence in all fields, which was endorsed by the Committee and the Assembly. Upon its recommendation, the Assembly also approved the nomination of Ms. M.A. Martínez García (Spain) and Ms. H. Lee (Republic of Korea) as co-Rapporteurs. (e) Emergency item
Natural disasters: The role of parliaments in prevention, rehabilitation, reconstruction and the protection of vulnerable groups (Item 8)On Monday, 4 April, the Assembly decided to include the above topic on its agenda. It then decided to refer it to a drafting committee composed of representatives of the delegations of Algeria, Australia, Belarus, Chile, Denmark, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The drafting committee appointed Mr. D. Djoudi (Algeria) as its president and Mr. J. Jayawardena (Sri Lanka) as rapporteur. The drafting committee met on Tuesday and Wednesday, 5 and 6 April. It adopted a draft resolution by consensus. On Friday, 8 April, the draft resolution was adopted unanimously by the Assembly.
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