Annual Parliamentary Hearings bring members of parliament to the United Nations Headquarters in New York for an interactive discussion with high-ranking UN officials, representatives of Member States and experts drawn from think tanks and civil society organizations. The meeting brings together legislators who are part of their national delegations to the UN General Assembly, as well as other interested parliamentarians.
In accordance with the provisions of the General Assembly Resolution on cooperation between the UN and the IPU (A/61/6), the Hearing is a joint event of the two organizations, heralding a greater political commitment on the part of the United Nations to hear the views of parliaments on some of the most urgent issues of our times. Among other things, the Hearing provides an opportunity for members of parliament to meet and hear from the United Nations management team. The conclusions of the Hearing are circulated to the wider UN community as well as to all national parliaments.
The main theme of the 2011 Hearing is Strengthening political accountability for a more peaceful and prosperous world.
The meeting will examine aspects relating to:
- The role of the United Nations General Assembly in strengthening global accountability;
- Youth participation in the democratic process – challenges and opportunities;
- Accountability in the management of public funds – good practices and model legislation for budget transparency;
- Strengthening the links between national institutions and civil society – toward more open societies.
The Hearing will take place in the Conference Room 1 in the North Lawn Building (ground level). The proceedings will start at 10 a.m.
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