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Theme: New Challenges for the Americas in the 21st Century
Objectives of the meeting: to discuss a number of challenges facing the Americas, including preparation and response to disasters and emergency situations, regional security and transnational crime, and the participation of civil society in democracy, and to develop recommendations for the hemisphere’s parliaments.
Working groups
- WG1. Preparation and Response to Natural and Human-Made Disasters and Emergency Situations
- WG2. Regional Security and Transnational Crime
- WG3. Participation of Civil Society in the Strengthening of Democracy
- Group of Women Parliamentarians. No discrimination and interculturality
Articles
- Disaster Management in Latin America and the Caribbean: Engaging Policy Makers (Jeremy Collymore - WG1)
- Challenges in Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Response (Ricardo Mena - WG1)
- Threats to Latin American Security: New and Old (Gerardo Rodríguez Sánchez Lara - WG2)
- Security Sector Reform and the Regional Fight against Organized Crime: Analysis and Proposal (Athanasios Hristoulas - WG2)
- Civil Society & Citizen Participation in Democracy Strengthening I (Koebel Price - WG3)
- Civil Society & Citizen Participation in Democracy Strengthening II (Professor Philip Oxhorn - WG3)
- Progress, Setbacks, and Challenges Concerning the Afro-Caribbean Women’s Electoral Political Participation (Gloria Young - Group of Women Parliamentarians)
Inauguration. Statement by Adriana González (Mexico), member of the Executive Committee of ParlAmericas (Spanish)
THEME
Progress, Difficulties and Challenges With Respect to Political and Electoral Participation by Women
OBJECTIVE
To discuss issues related to the current situation of women’s participation in politics, family issues they face, as well as their roles, and the issue of confidence in their abilities and the right to act as political representatives of men and women
Objectives of the meeting: to review preparations for the upcoming 7th Plenary Assembly, to receive updates from Executive Committee members, and to discuss the updated financial report of the organization.
THEME
Women in Power: Challenges for the 21st Century
OBJECTIVE
- To further develop women parliamentarians’ political skills from a gender and human rights perspective
The meeting agenda was developed based on the current scenario in the Americas and the status of women’s rights, under the following topics: Exercising Power: The Experience of a Woman Politician; The Current Situation of Women’s Rights in the Americas: A Critical Look at National Legislatures; and Women Politicians and the Media.
IN THE NEWS (original language)
Video: Interview with Linda Machuca of Ecuador, President of the Group of Women Parliamentarians (in Spanish)
Objectives of the meeting: to adopt decisions on issues such as peace, hemispheric security and cooperation, democracy, human rights, freedom of expression, legal development, social development, terrorism, corruption, civil society, removal of anti-personnel landmines, combating the manufacturing of and illicit trafficking in arms, cooperation in dealing with criminal gangs, drug abuse control, natural disasters, trade, tourism, scholarships, disability, women, children, and indigenous peoples.
FIPA delegation
- Adriana González Carillo, Senator, Mexico
- Alberto Grillón, Senator, Paraguay
- Rosemary Husbands-Mathurin, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Saint Lucia
- Víctor Juliao, Member of the National Assembly, Panama
- Linda Machuca, Member of the National Assembly, Ecuador
- Emmanuelle Pelletier, Executive Secretary, FIPA
Objectives of the meeting: to move forward on preparations for the 7th FIPA Plenary Assembly and the next Gathering of the Group of Women Parliamentarians, to start planning activities as part of FIPA’s new capacity-building program, and to adopt an action plan based on the review of FIPA’s communication strategy.
During their stay in Paraguay, FIPA Executive Committee members were received by the President of the Republic, Fernando Lugo at the Presidential House, Mburuvicha Roga.
Theme: The Doha Development Round: Challenges and Opportunities for the Region
Objectives of the meeting: to promote a better understanding of the multilateral trading system and the current state of play in the Doha Development Agenda negotiations, to provide a forum for participants to discuss and share ideas and opinions on the content of the negotiations and their possible impact on countries in the region as well as on other topics of regional interest, and to encourage open discussion on the potential role of parliaments, international organizations and trade in promoting development.
Objectives of the meeting: to discuss the 2010 work plan – which includes preparations for the 7th Plenary Assembly, a regional trade workshop, the Gathering of the Group of Women Parliamentarians and initial activities of the new project financed by the Canadian International Development agency (CIDA) – and to address administrative matters.
In response to the January 12 earthquake in Haiti, members also discussed and adopted a resolution of solidarity towards that country.