More than 170 women legislators from 117 countries attended the Meeting of Women Parliamentarians in Nairobi, part of the 114th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The President of the Meeting of Women Parliamentarians, Kenyan Assistant Minister of Education and member of parliament, Beth Mugo, today denounced "the prevalence of rape and sexual violence during armed conflict". She pointed out that "the untold suffering of women in Western Sudan, Darfur, in the hands of militants is a worrying trend that must be stopped. Of greatest concern are the reported cases of rape and murder".

Referring to the situation in Kenya Assistant Minister Mugo explained that the "Kenyan Parliament was until this week debating a bill for enactment of the Sexual Offences Bill. It prescribes stiffer and enhanced penalties for sexual offences as way of combating sexual violence against women". She added that "the state of a society is determined by the consciousness of its women. As leaders, mothers and policy makers of the world, we have the opportunity to make a difference by lifting these words off the pages, into concrete, lasting and progressive solutions to the many problems affecting society".

Welcoming the participants, the Speaker of the host Parliament, Francis Ole Kaparo, said that "women all over the world form the backbone of every home, every society and every nation. True, the positions held by the majority of women do not reflect this reality". He urged women not to relent in their efforts to have their voices heard and their efforts recognized.

Speaker Kaparo highlighted the fact that women legislators in Nairobi will discuss positive action mechanisms to promote women in politics. "Women in positions of power need to be assertive. They need to develop mechanisms that will enable them to function well so they can achieve results. Women in authority need to be good role models for the young girls. I strongly believe that in today's rapidly changing globalized world, the role of women parliamentarians is truly essential", he declared.

The Vice-President of the IPU Executive Committee, Namibian deputy Margareth Mensah-Williams, addressed the Women Parliamentarians Meeting on behalf of the IPU President, Mr. Pier Ferdinando Casini, who had to fly to Italy for the election of the President of the Republic of Italy. She welcomed the men parliamentarians attending the meeting by reminding that "men of quality don't feel threatened by women's equality". She went on to say that "women hold half the world but not half of the power and the reason why we have the special place to discuss these issues at the IPU is because the IPU Secretariat together with the Executive Committee and the President saw that it is very important to give women a specific time where they can continue discussing pertinent issues around the world and how to build a network with each other and how to be role models for each other".

Mrs. Mensah Williams paid tribute to the President of the IPU Women's Coordination Committee, Canadian Senator Joan Fraser - who ends her mandate tonight - for her dedication to the cause of partnership between men and women in politics.

Speaking on behalf of the IPU Gender Partnership Group, British Member of Parliament John Austin expressed support for efforts carried out in Kenya to put an end to violence against women through the development of strong legislation on the question.

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Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU, the oldest multilateral political organisation, currently brings together 143 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:

Mrs. Luisa Ballin, IPU Information Officer Phone: +254 20 216 469 Mobile: +254 0727 704 981 E-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org or cbl@mail.ipu.org Kenyan Information Officer of the 114th Assembly: Mrs. Susan Mumbi Njuguna, Press Officer. Phone +254 20 250 702 E-mail: susannjuguna@yahoo.com