31 March, 2016

World MPs discuss boosting women in politics - MPs from across the world called for a paradigm shift in attitudes to women's participation in
political processes within parliaments, political parties and society.  The call came at the 134th IPU Assembly in Lusaka last week during a session on
women's freedom to participate in politics and how genuine partnership with men can contribute to this.  The debate, organized by IPU's Committee on
Democracy and Human Rights, explored the current obstacles to women's participation, including discriminatory stereotypes, patriarchal culture and
party concerns about whether seats are winnable with women candidates. The MPs addressed issues such as reconciling family and political life, the risk
of suffering abuse on social media and traditional social views suggesting politics is not an appropriate career choice for women.  Possible solutions
were proposed, including education on gender equality, quotas, financial support, change of practice within parties, access to leadership positions,
and strong action against those who intimidate or harm female politicians. The session will inform a resolution to be adopted at the 135th IPU Assembly
in Geneva this autumn.

New name for IPU women MPs' group ­ IPU's Meeting of Women Parliamentarians, which for more than 30 years has been a unique opportunity for women MPs
globally to meet in person and provide input into international decision-making, has a new name ­ the Forum of Women Parliamentarians. Its
organizing body, the Co-ordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians will now be known as the Bureau of Women Parliamentarians.  The changes were
agreed by MPs attending the 134th IPU Assembly in Lusaka and were aimed at better communicating the remit and functioning of the group. The Women MPs'
Forum will continue to meet at IPU's twice-yearly assemblies to build on work to empower and encourage women MPs, and ensure that their voices are
heard in the wider work of IPU. With latest figures showing that only 22.6 per cent of the world's 45,000 MPs are women, IPU remains committed to
achieving gender equality both within its own structures and in the world's parliaments.

Central and East European Parliaments follow up on SDGs - MPs from Central and East European Parliaments will continue work on defining opportunities
and challenges they and their parliaments face in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) when they meet in Romania next month.
The gathering on 18-19 April follows on from a similar sub-regional meeting in June 2015 at which parliamentary action on a number of key areas, including
addressing environmental risk and climate change, was called upon. Participating parliaments will report on what action they have taken on the
SDGs since the 2015 meeting.

This year's event will lay emphasis on SDG 16, which highlights the importance of effective institutions, including parliaments, in implementing
all 17 goals through coherent policies that capture and build on synergies. Key issues such as effective governance, citizen engagement on the SDGs,
inclusive political participation, as well as ways to tackle the risk to environmental security by reducing disaster risk and switching to green
energy, will also be addressed. The session in Bucharest coincides with celebrations marking the 125th anniversary of the Romanian Parliament's
membership of IPU.  The Romanian Chamber of Deputies and the Senate will hold a joint sitting to mark the anniversary at which they will adopt a
declaration on the SDGs.  IPU is committed to helping parliaments become fit for purpose in delivering the SDGs by strengthening and adapting their
decision-making processes, translating the SDGs into enforceable domestic laws, holding governments to account and providing the necessary funding.

Canada funding agreement to boost IPU's work on gender equality - Canada has signed an agreement with IPU to provide two million Canadian dollars in
funding to help women parliamentarians in developing countries play a stronger leadership role. The grant from Global Affairs Canada will be used
by IPU to help increase the number of women in parliament, support female MPs in their work and help to equip national assemblies to promote gender
equality and respect for women's rights. IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong, who signed the agreement, said: Canada has always been a strong
supporter of the work and values of IPU. This funding agreement is another example of its commitment to our work to promote and develop democracy and
equality of opportunity.  Secretary General Chungong attended a signing ceremony in Ottawa with the Minister of International Development and la
Francophonie, Marie-Claude Bibeau, and later met the Foreign Affairs Minister, Stéphane Dion. The project is aiming over the next three years to
offer some 500 women MPs training on how best to carry out their role. It will develop an online database of research, statistics and evidence on
women in politics for policymakers.  The promotion of the equal rights of women and men in parliaments around the world improves inclusive and
accountable governance, said Minister Bibeau.

IPU team completes Egypt mission - An IPU team has completed a mission to Egypt, assessing the needs of the country's parliament for the next phase of
its development. The team explored a wide number of areas, including how to strengthen MPs in all aspects of their work, how to empower female and young
members, and the establishment of a parliamentary training institute. 

African MPs take new steps towards WMDs - Members of Parliament from across Africa have recommended fresh action to halt the spread of weapons of mass
destruction (WMDs) after a seminar in Côte d¹Ivoire. More than 70 MPs from 18 countries took part in the seminar, the first event to bring together MPs
from one continent to discuss the implementation of UN Resolution 1540. 

IPU draft strategy sets out vision for future -   IPU is inviting feedback from Members on its draft strategy for 2017-2021.   The document, Strong
democratic parliaments serving the people sets out a vision of a world where every voice counts, and where democracy and parliaments are at the service of citizens
for peace and development.  The strategy is built on the principles of equality, inclusiveness, respect, integrity and solidarity.  It sets out
IPU's commitment to gender equality, youth empowerment, human rights, the global development agenda, peace-building, fostering stronger relationships
between parliaments, and bridging the democracy gap in international relations by bringing a parliamentary perspective to global decision-making.
IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong told delegates at IPU's Lusaka Assembly that the strategy would continue to promote strong parliaments and
would help them deliver development and welfare to citizens. Please send feedback to postbox@ipu.org

IPU Annual Report ­ Reconnecting people and democracy through development ­ IPU's  2015 Annual Report is now available online and in print in English,
French and Spanish. It provides up-to-date information on the Organization's activities in its key areas of work, its membership, the composition of its
key structures as well as the budget and expenditure during the year. It is a useful source of information for anyone wanting to have a better
understanding of the remit and achievements of the world organization of national parliaments.

IPU report reveals chronic under-representation of young people in world¹s parliaments - Young people continue to be chronically under-represented in
the world¹s parliaments, a new IPU report has found at a time when the global youth population is the largest it has ever been in history.  Youth
participation in national parliaments 2016, reveals that only 1.9 per cent of the world's 45,000 parliamentarians are aged below 30.  The level shows almost no
improvement on figures from a previous IPU study conducted in 2014.  Nearly a third of single or lower houses of parliament and nearly 80 per cent of
upper houses surveyed do not have a single MP below the age of 30. 

Young MPs set sights on ending corruption and enhancing transparency - More than 130 young Members of Parliament (MPs) from all regions of the world
committed to enhancing transparency and oversight of public finances as a cornerstone of their fight against corruption in an outcome document adopted
at the conclusion of the 3rd IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Lusaka earlier this month. The MPs set their sights on increased public
scrutiny of state spending in a series of measures they would take to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.  Read more

Highlights of the 134th IPU Assembly - The 134th IPU Assembly in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, from 19-23 March was attended by nearly 640 MPs from 126
countries, including 79 Speakers and Deputy Speakers. Nearly 30 per cent of the MPs attending were women.  See below for the main outcomes:

Comoros, Egypt and Guyana bring IPU membership to 170 parliaments -  IPU welcomed back Comoros, Egypt and Guyana as Members of the Organization.
Their admission , has increased the IPU membership to 170, marking a significant step forward in the Organization's goal to achieve universal
membership.

An identity for world's unregistered children a global priority   - MPs from more than 130 countries called on governments to ensure the right to a legal
identity is upheld for every child by removing all barriers to birth registration. With an estimated 230 million children under five years of age
unregistered at birth and one in every seven registered child not having a birth certificate, an alarming number of the world's youngest people have no
legal identity or the means of proving it. Adopting a resolution, the MPs also highlighted the impact on access to education, welfare, health services and other basic rights on unregistered
children. Socially marginalized, these children are even more vulnerable to human trafficking and forced labour, particularly during humanitarian
crises. 

IPU increasingly worried by reduced space for political expression - IPU expressed deep concern at the shrinking space for political expression
across the world. In a series of decisions adopted on the violations of the human rights of parliamentarians, IPU deplored the widespread silencing of political
opposition. 

World's parliaments pledge to work together to counter terrorism - IPU called for a wide range of action to counter the growing global threat of
terrorism.  In a resolution on peace and international security, Members proposed a multi-faceted approach to dismantling terrorist networks, combating hatred, and counteracting
terrorist propaganda.  The resolution stressed the absolute need for international anti-terror cooperation to be stepped up, and identified
nearly 30 action points for parliaments.  It also urged parliaments to cut the risk of extremism taking root ­ by tackling poverty, discrimination and
unemployment while increasing dialogue, education and youth empowerment measures.

Call to action to save world's cultural heritage ­ IPU urged parliaments to take strong measures to protect the world's cultural heritage.  A
comprehensive resolution placed particular emphasis on the threats posed by armed conflict and terrorism, including the destruction of historic sites
and the looting of artefacts to fund extremism.  The resolution recommended that intentional destruction should be defined as a war crime.  It urged
States to become party to the 1954 Hague Convention and its protocols, dealing with the protection of cultural property in armed conflict, and all
other relevant UN Conventions.  Parliaments were urged to take all action in their power, including ensuring laws were in place to prosecute
perpetrators.  Steps to protect cultural heritage from the impact of mass tourism, climate change and urbanization were also identified.

Global parliamentary community urges democratic renaissance­ IPU Members adopted a strongly-worded document calling for urgent action to revitalise democracy
and reverse the waning youth interest in formal politics.  Rejuvenating Democracy, Hearing the Voice of Youth called for a democratic renaissance
and urged all parliaments to become modern, inclusive institutions. Proposals included quotas to raise the number of young MPs, using modern
technology to increase political engagement and transparency, and boosting political empowerment through the inclusion of civic education on school
curricula.  Members also stressed that responses to extremism had to be based on more democracy, not less. The focus on rejuvenating democracy was
prompted by statistics showing declining youth voting trends at a time when the world¹s youth population is at its highest-ever level.