The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), working jointly with the parliaments of Argentina and Uruguay and the Geneva-based Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF), will organize a regional seminar on parliamentary oversight of the security sector in Latin America on 1 and 2 July 2005 in Montevideo, Uruguay.

This event continues the work the IPU is carrying out to strengthen oversight of the security sector. The launch in Chile in April 2003 of a handbook for parliamentarians entitled Parliamentary oversight of the security sector: Principles, mechanisms and practices, published jointly with DCAF, was a key step in these efforts.

"Latin American parliaments in the past have had to deal with serious challenges in adapting relations between civilians and the military so that they are oriented toward the greater good, and they still must face such challenges. In this respect, it is for us as parliamentarians to carry out the important task of ensuring that the concept of human security, the main objective of which is to place individuals and their protection at the centre of all efforts, is given pride of place in the development, adoption and application of any national security policy" said the IPU President, Chilean Senator Sergio Páez.

The Montevideo seminar is aimed at giving Latin American parliamentarians an opportunity to exchange experiences on the practices and mechanisms that allow them to ensure more effective parliamentary oversight, and to discuss some of the topical security issues that require parliamentary input.

The event is intended for legislators from Latin America, in particular those working on security issues (members of defence, budget and foreign affairs committees), and for the parliamentary staff of such committees.

So far, parliamentarians and experts from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela have confirmed that they will take part.

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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 Mr. Rogier Huizenga, IPU focal point for the seminar Tel. +41 22 919 41 24 e-mail rh@mail.ipu.org In Uruguay: Mr. Oscar Pinquinela Uruguayan IPU Group, Montevideo. Tel. +59 82 924 86 86 or +59 82 924 81 19 e-mail: ipuuru@parlamento.gub.uy