Source: New Zealand Parliament
A cross-party delegation of members of Parliament (MPs) will join representatives from over 100 other Parliaments in attending the 146th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, being held in Manama, Bahrain. The New Zealand delegation is Vanushi Walters MP (Head of Delegation), Dr Anae Neru Leavasa MP, Simon O’Connor MP, and Hon Scott Simpson MP.
The theme of the Assembly is “Promoting peaceful coexistence and inclusive societies: Fighting intolerance.” The Assembly’s general debate will give delegates the opportunity to debate, discuss, exchange viewpoints, and propose actions that Parliaments can take in this area. Delegates will cover topics including online hate speech, trust in the media, and rising religious intolerance, as well as developing good practices to promote inclusion and support peaceful coexistence as a prerequisite of resilient, cohesive, and democratic societies.
There will also be strong Pasifika representation at the Assembly. Speakers from Fiji, Kiribati, and Tonga will be in attendance, giving their Parliaments the opportunity to not only advocate for the Pacific on a global scale, but also to build relationships and network with a diverse range of countries and Parliaments.
Speaker of the House Rt Hon Adrian Rurawhe said that the Assembly “will give our delegation a chance to work with colleagues from across the world, share values, and develop resolutions for parliamentary action.”
The Assembly will also consider actions that parliaments can take on international migration and related topics such as how to stop human-trafficking and human rights abuses, including state-sponsored abuses. Additionally, the Assembly will debate environmental and climate issues and matters of food security, the impact of atrocities and war on civilians.
Vanushi Walters MP, the Head of Delegation, said “We have the privilege and duty as parliamentarians to fully make use of this Assembly as the real opportunity to explore major issues confronting countries and their parliaments that it is.”
The Assembly will be live streamed on the IPU’s YouTube channel.
ENDS
The 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will be held in Manama, Bahrain from 11 to 15 March 2023, hosted by the Parliament of Bahrain. For more details about the 146th IPU Assembly, click here.
The IPU is the global organisation of national parliaments and was founded more than 130 years ago. It is made up of 178 different national parliaments and 14 regional parliamentary bodies. The IPU promotes democracy and supports parliaments to become stronger, modern, and more diverse. IPU Assemblies are held twice a year in different cities around the world, with more than 1,200 delegates attending each one. The New Zealand group of the IPU is chaired by Vanushi Walters, MP. Click here to learn more about the New Zealand IPU Group.
Inter-Parliamentary Relations are a way for members of New Zealand’s Parliament to keep Parliament relevant, effective, and innovative. Dialogue between members of different parliaments increases mutual understanding between countries, develops best parliamentary practice, and ensures New Zealand is playing an active part in the international parliamentary community. Members’ active participation in inter-parliamentary activities improves their knowledge and insights as legislators, which in turn improves parliamentary scrutiny of Government.
Contact Information
For more information contact IPR@parliament.govt.nz
