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National Council of Provinces Chairperson Ms Thandi Modise is leading a multiparty South African Parliament delegation to the 137th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in St Petersburg, Russia.

The Parliament of the Republic of South Africa delegation is among 152 parliamentary delegations - out of the 173 IPU member parliaments - which have indicated they will attend the forthcoming Assembly.

The main focus of the Assembly is: “Promoting cultural pluralism and peace through inter-faith and inter-ethnic dialogue” and this will feature at the General Debate starting on 15 October.

Other highlights of the Assembly and its Associated Meetings include debates and adoption of resolutions on an emergency item and on a subject to be presented by the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights: “Sharing our diversity: the 20th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Democracy”.

As of 10 October, nine Parliaments had tabled emergency items - Djibouti, Venezuela, Morocco, Indonesia, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Bolivia and Kuwait. Five of the emergency items proposed related to the Rohingya community and developments in Myanmar. Which emergency item should be debated is decided by a two thirds vote of the Assembly. The emergency item decided upon will be debated on 16 October and the Assembly will adopt a resolution on the item on 17 October.

Three other Standing Committees (besides the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights) will hold hearings and panel discussions on a range of matters, such as peace and security; sustainable development; nuclear disarmament.

Secretaries of IPU member Parliaments, including Parliament’s acting Secretary to Parliament Ms Penelope Tyawa, will attend sessions of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliament.

The Assembly is expected to conclude its business on 18 October.

The IPU has been in existence since 1889.
 

Issued by Parliament of South Africa