The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Article 19, the Global Campaign for Free Expression, will hold a Seminar on Freedom of Expression, Parliaments and the Promotion of Tolerant Societies, at the House of Parliaments in Geneva from 25 to 27 May 2005.

According to the IPU President, Chilean Senator Sergio Páez, "freedom of expression has been hailed as the touchstone of human rights and democracy. Its exercise, however, poses many problems, particularly as regards the necessary protection that members of parliament must enjoy when exercising this right, as well as the limits they must respect".

The seminar will aim to improve the understanding of the legal framework for what is after all parliamentarians' most important tool. The IPU Secretary General, Anders B. Johnsson, explained that &"it will address both the question of the adequate protection of freedom of speech of members of parliament and the restrictions placed thereupon, such as respect for the rights and reputation of others. It will also seek to identify parliamentary strategies to curb hate speech".

More than 100 parliamentarians from 40 countries in all the regions of the world have confirmed their participation, as well as experts and journalists.

Media correspondents are invited to meet the participants during a reception which will take place at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 25 May, at The House of Parliaments.

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Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU, the oldest multilateral political organisation, currently brings together 141 affiliated parliaments and seven regional assemblies as associate members. The world organisation of parliaments has an Office in New York, which acts as its Permanent Observer at the United Nations.
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Contact for additional information or interviews:

In Geneva: Mrs. Luisa Ballin, IPU Information Officer 5, ch. du Pommier, CH - 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex / Geneva Tel. +41 22 919 41 16/27 Fax: +41 22 919 41 60 E-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org or cbl@mail.ipu.org Mrs. Ingeborg Schwarz, IPU Programme Officer for Questions relating to Human Rights Tel. +41 (22) 919 41 42 e-mail: is@mail.ipu.org Mr. Rogier Huizenga Tel. +41 (22) 919 41 24 e-mail rh@mail.ipu.org Article 19 Web site: www.article19.org