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IPU at 125 and beyond

EVENT TO COMMEMORATE THE 125th ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION

Passy and Cremer To mark the anniversary year that began on 30 June 2014, the IPU organized a half-day event at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Bringing together the diplomatic, parliamentary, civil society and media communities, the event charted some of the many achievements made since 1889 in shaping a radically different world where peace, human rights, equality and human development underpin a desire for greater democracy. It was also an opportunity to discuss some of the many challenges that democracy is facing. The exceptionally rich and diversified programme of the event can be downloaded in the form of a colour handout.

In preparation for the 30 June event at the Palais des Nations, the IPU published an illustrated booklet highliting some of the most important dates and events in its long history. An electronic copy of this publication can be downloaded from this website in electronic format.

The IPU Executive Committee held an extraordinary session at the Organization's Headquartres in Geneva on 30 June and 1 July 2014. On this occasion, it adopted a Statement to commemorate the IPU's 125th anniversary.

30 June 2014 was also the date of the official handover from the outgoing IPU Secretary General, Mr. Anders B. Johnsson, to the incoming one, Mr. Martin Chungong.

 

DOCUMENTS AND LINKS
Statement of the IPU Executive Committee to commemorate the IPU's 125th anniversary PDF [English] [French]
Illustrated bookletPDF [English] [French]
Highlights of the event at the Palais des NationsPDF [English] [French]
Programme of the event at the Palais des NationsPDF [English] [French]
Opening address by Mr. Abdelwahad Radi, IPU President PDF [English] [French]
Opening address by Mr. Michael Møller, Acting Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva PDF [English] [French]
IPU press briefing note on the occasion of the official handover of powers to the new IPU Secretary General HTML [English] [French]
IPU press release note on the occasion of the Organization's 125th anniversary HTML [English] [French]
Streaming video of the commemorative event at the Palais des Nations Video [UN Web TV]
 
Note: Documents in PDF format require Adobe Acrobat Reader Get Acrobat Reader

PROGRAMME OF THE EVENT AT THE PALAIS DES NATIONS
Event moderator
 
  • Mr. Owen Bennett Jones, BBC World Service
15:00Welcome addresses
 
  • Mr. Abdelwahad Radi, President, Inter-Parliamentary Union
  • Mr. Michael Møller, Acting Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva
15:15 Debate
Democracy: Changing lives, making a difference
 
  • Mr. Pier Ferdinando Casini (Italy)
  • Mr. Kenneth Marende (Kenya)
  • Ms. Dionysia Avgerinopoulou (Greece)
16:00 Personal testimonials
 
  • Mr. Mohamed Nasheed (Maldives)
  • Mr. Ivan Cepeda (Colombia)
16:10 Interactive debate
Breaking the gender inequalities – women’s political emancipation
 
  • Ms. Margaret Mensah-Williams (Namibia)
  • Ms. Fawzia Koofi (Afghanistan)
  • Ms. Elissa Golberg (Canada)
16:55 Personal testimonial
 
  • Mr. Kassoum Tapo (Mali)
17:00 Panel discussion
Will democracy survive the media?
 
  • Mr. Ulrik Haagerup (Danish Broadcasting Cooperation)
  • Mr. Jimi Matthews (SABC TV, South Africa)
17:45 Personal testimonial
 
  • Ms. Tsedal Yohannes (Eritrea)
17:50 Closing remarks
 
  • Mr. Anders B. Johnsson, IPU Secretary General
  • Mr. Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General-elect
 
* * *
 
18:30 Reception at the House of Parliaments, IPU Headquarters

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