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OF SPEAKERS OF PARLIAMENT  
19-21 JULY 2010, UNITED NATIONS OFFICE, GENEVA  
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President Gurirab The Conference of Speakers of Parliament is in many ways a unique event. It is an exclusive forum where leaders of legislative assemblies can network with colleagues from all over the world and discuss issues of primary concern to the global parliamentary community. It offers them an unrivalled opportunity to share experiences in legislative development and promote guidelines for democratic parliaments. The Speakers will also address the role of parliaments in international affairs and make proposals for providing a greater parliamentary dimension to the work of the United Nations and other multilateral institutions.

I take pride in the fact that our Organization is the driving force behind this process. Initially convened by the IPU on the occasion of the United Nations Millennium Assembly back in the year 2000, the Conference of Speakers has become an important factor helping parliaments assume a more proactive role on the global arena and thus bridge the democracy gap in international relations.

Theo-Ben Gurirab, IPU President
Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia

GLOBAL PARLIAMENTARY SUMMIT

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is convening the 3rd World Conference of Speakers of Parliament - a global summit focusing on democracy, the role of legislative institutions and their relationship with the United Nations. The broad theme for the 2010 Conference is Parliaments in a world of crisis: securing global democratic accountability for the common good.

The Conference will take place from 19 to 21 July. Unlike the two previous Conferences, held in New York in 2000 and 2005 respectively, the 2010 Conference will take place in the IPU's home town, Geneva, on the premises of the United Nations Office known as the Palais des Nations.

Preparation of the 3rd World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is coordinated by the Preparatory Committee, composed of some twenty speakers of parliament under the chairmanship of the IPU President, Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab. The Preparatory Committee held its first session from 16 to 17 July 2009, in Geneva, and its second session in New York, from 16 to 17 November 2009. The third session is scheduled to take place in early May 2010, once again in Geneva.

Practical aspects of the Conference are outlined in the explanatory note that accompanied invitation letters sent to each Speaker individually.

Invitations have been extended to the Speakers of all IPU member parliaments and of non-member parliaments (in the case of bicameral parliaments, speakers of both Chambers have been invited). Observers include Presidents of international parliamentary assemblies that are either Associate Members of the IPU or enjoy observer status at IPU meetings; Heads of Programmes and Agencies of the United Nations system and the WTO; as well as Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in Geneva.

Participating delegations should not exceed six persons (ten persons in the case of bicameral parliaments). Observer delegations should be composed of no more than two persons. Participants and observers are requested to use the registration form to inform the IPU Secretariat of the composition of their delegation. The form should be returned to the IPU Secretariat by 7 June 2010 at the latest.

Only Speakers of Parliament, Presidents of parliamentary assemblies that are Associate Members of the IPU, and guest speakers will be invited to address the Conference. Each delegation is requested to send to the IPU Secretariat a special form to indicate the speaking preferences for the timing of the speech by the delegation's leader. A complete list of speakers will be published on this website in advance of the Conference.

At the close of the proceedings, the Speakers of parliament will adopt a draft declaration on Securing global democratic accountability for the common good. This text has been revised by the Preparatory Committee in the light of amendments received from many parliaments. The revised draft declaration was circulated to all Speakers of Parliament on 20 May.

AGENDA
  1. Adoption of the agenda and rules of the Conference

  2. Presentation of report on How parliaments organize their work with the United Nations

    3. Group photo
    Click to enlarge

  3. Presentation of reports on progress since the 2005 Speakers Conference:
    (a) Meeting the Millennium Development Goals;
    (b) Building global standards for democratic parliaments;
    (c) Strengthening the IPU and its relationship with the United Nations.

  4. General Debate: Parliaments in a world of crisis: securing global democratic accountability for the common good

  5. Presentation of report on the Sixth Meeting of Women Speakers of Parliament

  6. Presentation of reports from the panel discussions
    (a) Countdown to 2015: Keeping our collective promise on the Millennium Development Goals
    (b) Strengthening trust between parliament and the people

  7. Presentation and adoption of the Final Declaration
Updated on 21 September 2010      
DOCUMENTS AND LINKS

Conference blog
Click to see the Conference blog

Note: Documents in PDF format require Adobe Acrobat Reader Get Acrobat Reader

Updated on 12 July 2010      
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
Conference blog
Click to see the trailer of the documentary
MONDAY, 19 JULY
10 a.m. Inaugural ceremony, in the presence of the United Nations Secretary-General (Assembly Hall)
10.30 a.m. Item 1 Adoption of the agenda and rules of the Conference
10.45 a.m. Item 2 Presentation of the report on How parliaments organize their work with the United Nations
Rapporteur: Mr. S.J. Sitta, Speaker of the National Assembly of the United Republic of Tanzania
11 a.m. Item 3 Presentation of reports on progress since the 2005 Speakers Conference:
(a) Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals
Rapporteur: Mr. M. Sisulu, Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa
(b) Building global standards for democratic parliaments
Rapporteur: Ms. Rose Mukantabana, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Rwanda
(c) Strengthening the IPU and its relationship with the United Nations
Rapporteur: Mr. Geert Versnick, Vice-President of the IPU
11.45 a.m. Item 4 General debate Parliaments in a world of crisis: securing global democratic accountability for the common good
12.30 p.m. Group photo of the Speakers of parliament
1 p.m. Luncheon hosted by the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union for the Speakers of Parliament (Delegates Restaurant, 8th floor, United Nations)
3 - 6 p.m. Item 4 Continuation of General Debate
7 p.m. Reception hosted by the Swiss Parliament for all delegates at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices, Geneva
 
TUESDAY, 20 JULY
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Item 4 Continuation of General Debate
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Panel discussion Countdown to 2015: Keeping our collective promise on the Millennium Development Goals (Room XVI)
1 p.m. Informal lunchtime buffet and private screening of the documentary film "Countdown to Zero" (Room XIX)
3 - 6 p.m. Item 4 Continuation of General Debate
3 - 6 p.m. Panel discussion Strengthening trust between parliament and the people (Room XVI)
 
WEDNESDAY, 21 JULY
10 a.m. Item 4 Continuation of General Debate
12 p.m. Item 5 Presentation of the report on the Sixth Meeting of Women Speakers of Parliament
12.15 p.m. Item 6 Presentation of the reports on the Panel discussions
(a) Countdown to 2015: Keeping our collective promise on the Millennium Development Goals
(b) Strengthening trust between parliament and the people
12.40 p.m. Item 7 Adoption of the Final Declaration
Rapporteur: Mr. H. Jenkins, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia
1 p.m. Closure of the Conference

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE
Group photo
President
  • Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

Presiding Officers of National Parliaments

  • Ms. Jozefina Topalli, Speaker of the Parliament of Albania
  • Mr. Harry Jenkins, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia
  • Ms. Barbara Prammer, President of the Nationalrat of Austria
  • Mr. Michel Temer, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil
  • Mr. Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the National People’s Congress of China
  • Dr. Ahmed Fathy Sorour, Speaker of the People’s Assembly of Egypt
  • Mr. Sauli Niinistö, Speaker of the Eduskunta of Finland
  • Mr. Bernard Accoyer, President of the National Assembly of France
  • Prof. Norbert Lammert, President of the Bundestag of the Germany
  • Ms. Joyce Bamford-Addo, Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana
  • Ms. Meira Kumar, Speaker of the Lok Sabha of India
  • Mr. Marzuki Alie, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Indonesia
  • Mr. Ural Mukhamejanov, Chairman of the Mazhilis of Kazakhstan
  • Mr. Carlos Navarrete Ruiz, President of the Senate of Mexico
  • Ms. Rose Mukantabana, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Rwanda
  • Mr. José Bono Martínez, President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain
  • Mr. Max Sisulu, Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa
  • Ms. Pascale Bruderer, Speaker of the National Council of Switzerland
  • Mr. Samuel John Sitta, Speaker of the National Assembly of the United Republic of Tanzania

Executive Committee

  • Mr. Geert Versnick, Member of the House of Representatives of Belgium
  • Mr. Mathurin Nago, President of the National Assembly of Benin
  • Ms. Elsa Papademetriou, member of the Hellenic Parliament, former Vice-President of the IPU
  • Senator Pia Cayetano (Philippines), President IPU Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians
  • Mr. Young Chin, member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
  • Mr. Ngo Quang Xuan, member of the National Assembly of Viet Nam

Senior representative of the United Nations Secretary-General

  • Mr. Kishore Mandhyan, Deputy Political Director, Executive Office of the Secretary-General

Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

  • Mr. Anders B. Johnsson
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