30th September, 2015
 IPU Assembly puts spotlight on migration amid global crisis - Against the backdrop of an unprecedented flow of people into Europe and displacement crises around the world, MPs will examine the moral and economic imperative for fairer, smarter and more humane migration at IPU’s 133rd Assembly in Geneva from 17-21 October. Rising xenophobia combined with the ongoing impact of the global economic crisis continue to be at odds with the reality of regional demographics, skills shortages and an increasingly mobile workforce when defining national policies on migration. With nearly 60 million people either a refugee, asylum-seeker or displaced by the end of 2014 according to UNHCR, thought will be given to how best to handle large flows of asylum-seekers and ensure protection.
 
IPU Members will also adopt a resolution on democracy in the digital era and the threat to privacy and individual freedoms at the conclusion of the Assembly. Other major issues under the spotlight include counter-terrorism, protecting cultural heritage and discussions on how to strengthen parliament’s oversight capacities. This will be particularly relevant given the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the recent UN Summit that includes targets on the building of accountable and inclusive institutions needed to ensure peace, justice and the effective implementation of 17 SDGs.
 
The 133rd Assembly will also convene the Meeting of Women Parliamentarians, IPU’s Forum of Young Parliamentarians, the Committee on Middle East Questions and the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, which will hold several hearings and examine cases involving the violations of the rights of MPs. The 2015 Future Policy Award on best policies on protecting children will also be presented at an award ceremony on 20 October.
 
Online registration for the 133rd Assembly is open until 2 October. To take part in the debates on social media, use #IPU133 on Twitter. Photos from the Assembly will be available for use on Flickr from 18 October.
 
Resumption of democratic process in Burkina Faso welcomed - The resumption of civilian rule and democratic process in Burkina Faso has been welcomed by IPU. The Organization is urging authorities to ensure the now delayed presidential and parliamentary elections are held as soon as possible to consolidate the West African country’s transition to democratic rule. Elections had been due to take place on 10 October but plans were thrown into disarray 16 September by a coup d’état carried out by leaders of the presidential guard loyal to former President Blaise Compaoré.
 
Ratification of key trade agreement under spotlight – The ratification of an international agreement which could benefit the global economy by up to            US$ 1 trillion a year is the subject of the parliamentary session of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Public Forum this year on 30th September in Geneva. Organized by IPU and the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Session will help MPs attending the event to learn more about underlying issues related to global trade and the key role of parliaments in ratifying the agreement.  The Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) aims to speed up the movement of goods around the world and is perceived as the most important outcome of the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali. However, it can only come into force when two thirds of the members of the WTO have ratified it and so far, only 20 of 164 countries have done so. The parliamentary session is part of a series of public events being organized by the WTO from 30 September-2 October. The annual events bring together participants from government, parliament, civil society, the business sector, academia and the media to examine the world trade system and the WTO itself.   
 
New development agenda a generational challenge for world's parliaments - IPU has welcomed the adoption of a new sustainable development agenda that includes a set of 17 goals (SDGs) for the world as a turning point in efforts to shape our future and commits to doing its utmost to help achieve success.
 
It is the first major UN agreement to acknowledge the importance of governance in ensuring successful implementation. It highlights the essential role of parliaments in translating the goals into action, through legislation, resource allocation and oversight of government action. Goal 16 on peace, justice and the building of effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels is particularly apt as parliaments will work alongside governments, civil society, the private sector, the UN, and other international entities  to help ensure the targets for the 17 SDGs are met by 2030. Read more
 
Tackling malnutrition in Southern Africa - The fight against malnutrition and its devastating effects was under the spotlight at a regional seminar in the Namibian capital, Windhoek, on 28 and 29 September.  MPs and parliamentary staff from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region received training on promoting child nutrition.  Expert contributors provided information on malnutrition, detailing the damaging impact not just on individuals but also on communities and the economic development of entire countries. More than 180 million of the world’s under-fives are affected, including up to 40 per cent of children in sub-Saharan Africa.  Many suffer stunted development and growth­ and life-long impacts on their health, learning and earnings potential.  The seminar, hosted by the Namibian Parliament and organized by IPU and UNICEF, highlighted the action MPs can take to combat this cycle of poverty, in particular by improving nutrition programmes and policies. Concrete recommendations made at the end of the event will help strengthen parliamentary responses on nutrition.  Combating malnutrition has been shown to be cost-effective as well as being a moral imperative and is also a vital step towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals and their successors, the Sustainable Development Goals.
 
Uganda and IPU extend partnership on maternal and child health - A new agreement between IPU and the Ugandan Parliament will build on efforts to improve maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) in the East African country. The agreement, signed by IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong and Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament Rebecca Kadaga will continue to strengthen the parliamentary response to a priority issue for the country.  Read more
 
Pacific parliaments provide latest backing for Common Principles – Seven parliaments from the Pacific Island countries – Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu - have provided a regional impetus to the Common Principles for Support to Parliament with a formal endorsement. Their backing, and that of the Israeli Knesset now brings the number of endorsements by national parliaments, parliamentary assemblies and partner organizations to 96. The Common Principles, aimed at improving the quality of parliamentary development support, were put together by a group of parliaments and parliamentary development entities and are the result of more than four decades of experience on parliamentary development. Coordinated by IPU, they encourage the parliamentary community to work together more effectively when planning, designing and providing support. Parliaments and organizations wishing to add their endorsement can notify the IPU Secretariat.
 
Parliamentary leaders’ summit pledges to reconnect people and democracy - Parliamentary leaders from nearly 140 countries pledged to do their utmost to reconnect people with democracy in an ambitious and far-reaching declaration adopted at the end of a three-day global summit in New York.  More than 170 Speakers and Deputy Speakers of Parliament at the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament acknowledged that extraordinary efforts would be needed to build a world that people want by turning the tide against the many challenges that undermine democracy, peace and development.   Read more
 
Women Speakers define agenda for equality within a generation - Female Speakers of Parliament from around the world called for action on gender equality to be dramatically scaled up through collective action. At the conclusion of a two-day meeting on “Innovating for gender equality” at UN Headquarters in New York last month, women Speakers underlined the strength of unity of thought and action as a powerful agent for change to achieve gender equality within one generation.    Read more
 
IPU celebrates Democracy Day with global message and Geneva event - IPU marked International Day of Democracy (IDD) on 15 September with a call for a major stepping-up of efforts to involve the public more deeply in formal political processes and institutions, including parliaments.  Democracy was only as strong as the political participation of citizens and  this needed to be increased for world peace, social cohesion and development. IPU also welcomed 50 students to its headquarters in Geneva to meet young MPs from Switzerland and other countries and to debate on ways to get more young people involved in politics. The event, supported by the Japanese foundation Worldwide Support for Development (WSD) was organized in collaboration with the Geneva authorities, Geneva University and Geneva’s Youth Parliament. The canton of Geneva was the first in Swiss history to celebrate Democracy Day, with the IPU event being part of a week-long programme that included a “speed-debating” session with the Youth Parliament.
 
Unresolved Mongolian assassination questions faith in rule of law - Despite 25 years of democratic progress in Mongolia, the unresolved assassination of parliamentarian and former Minister of Infrastructure Zorig Sanjasuuren 17 years ago is eroding confidence in the rule of law, an IPU human rights mission to the Asian country said. Following a four-day mission to Mongolia led by Swiss parliamentarian and member of IPU’s Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, Margret Kiener Nellen, the IPU delegation called for the Mongolian authorities to redouble their efforts to resolve what is widely believed to have been a political assassination. Sanjasuuren, considered by many as the father of democracy in Mongolia, was brutally murdered at his home in October 1998.
 
The perpetrators have still not been brought to justice despite an ongoing investigation since his death. The lack of progress on the case has been a source of concern for the IPU Committee, which has been engaging with Mongolian authorities over the years to shed more light on the investigation. Read more
 
Solid commitment to nuclear-weapons-free world - IPU is strengthening its collaboration with the UN on the elimination and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as part of the Organization’s work to promote peace and security in the world. In a recent and separate address to both the UN 1540 Committee, set up to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1540 on WMD, and the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee, IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong outlined how parliaments and MPs could be mobilized on the issues and ensure greater coherence between IPU and the UN Committees in their work. Although several IPU resolutions on nuclear non-proliferation and a nuclear weapons free world have already been adopted by IPU Members in recent years, work is underway on a new resolution defining parliamentary action to enhance global cooperation to counter the threat of terrorism to democracy and individual rights. A regional seminar in Algeria in December will also help African parliaments to implement the 1540 resolution nationally.

Committed to a world free of nuclear weapons as a priority issue and marking International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26th September, IPU highlighted the urgent need to counter the continued threat to global peace and security posed by the existence of 16,000 nuclear weapons.
 
IPU President marks WWII anniversary at UN tree ceremony - IPU President Saber Chowdhury took part in a ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York to dedicate a plaque commemorating the end of World War II in Asia and the Pacific. The plaque was placed beneath the UN’s “Tree of Peace and Unity”, a weeping cherry planted to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. “This tree will remind not just us, but future generations, that as with peace, a tree needs to be looked after,” President Chowdhury told guests at the ceremony.  “That’s the message we bring to the citizens of the world as the UN tries to strike a brave new world vision, a vision that’s not going to leave anyone behind.” He also underlined IPU’s and the UN’s shared focus on the wellbeing, security, dignity, peace and prosperity of the world’s citizens.