The World Economic Crisis, a Major Discussion Topic at the Plenary Assembly |
 Miami, December 18, 2008. The world economic crisis will be one of the major discussion topics at the Sixth FIPA Plenary Meeting to be held in 2009 (date and venue TBC), as decided by the FIPA Executive Committee during its eighteenth meeting, which took place today in the United States. Other discussion topics will include migrations and human rights –with an emphasis on the situation of indigenous peoples– and the food crisis.
The Executive Committee also reviewed corporate affairs, issues related to the Fifth Summit of the Americas, the work plan of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas, and future activities under FIPA’s training program for legislators. Representatives from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia and the Dominican Republic attended this meeting.
 Full Press Release
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Dominican Republic creates FIPA section |
Miami, December 18, 2008. The Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic has created a Dominican-FIPA Friendship Group. This news was contained in a letter presented to the Executive  Committee by the Chair of the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Committee, Minerva Tavárez Mirabal, today, in Miami.
The creation of this new FIPA section will advance the objectives of the organization and further dialogue between Dominican legislators and their counterparts in the Americas.
Full Press Release |
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Legislators Take Action to Favour Gender Equality in Times of Crisis |
 Bogotá, November 22, 2008. Some forty men and women parliamentarians left Bogotá today after having reaffirmed their strong commitment to fight for gender equality by developing laws and parliamentary initiatives during the Congress “Towards a Gender-Sensitive Legislative Agenda for Development in the Americas”, held on November 20 and 21 in the Colombian capital city.
“The global crisis affects women in particular, but crises can also provide opportunities”. This line appears in the final wording of the recommendations unanimously approved by the parliamentarians from Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Dominican Republic and Saint Lucia who met in the Senate of Colombia. “We must therefore work creatively so that the new order implemented is not just a minor change in the current order but major surgery based on a global and sustainable comprehensive vision that will allow the eradication of gender and other inequalities existing today.”
Full Press Release
Read the Recommendations
Read Report |
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Parliamentarians Discuss Doha Round Challengess |
San José, November 8, 2008. Over thirty parliamentarians attended a three-day workshop in the Costa Rican capital city entitled “The WTO, the Doha Round and Development Challenges”, an event co-sponsored by FIPA and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
These FIPA trade workshops started back in 2007 with the aim of providing parliamentarians from all over the Americas with an opportunity to gain a more in-depth knowledge of commercial law. This is the first time ever such workshop is co-sponsored with the WTO. Both agencies have found this cooperation most fruitful. María Pérez-Esteve, on behalf of the Secretariat of the Geneva-based agency that regulates international trade, noted in her opening remarks that “parliaments are the direct link to our citizens”. She was thus retaking the words of WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, who had already indicated that the help Parliaments may provide is “key to the WTO”, especially considering the current status of Doha Round negotiations, which have reached a deadlock.
Full Press Release
Read Report |
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FIPA rejoices at the liberation of Ingrid Betancourt |
July 4rd, 2008. The Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA) has expressed it's deep satisfaction and joy following the liberation of Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and fourteen other FARC hostages. Through an official declaration FIPA further congratulated the Colombian Government on their success in carrying out the intervention "without bloodshed".
See the complete text of the declaration here |
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FIPA delegation attends OAS General Assembly in Colombia |
 Medellín, June 3, 2008. With the purpose of establishing mechanisms to empower parliaments to act as permanent observers of the Organization of American States’ (OAS), and with the goal of discussing cooperation initiatives, a delegation of FIPA representatives attended the 38th regular session of the OAS General Assembly, held in Colombia on June 1st – 3rd.
The Forum was represented by Mr. James Bezan, Canadian MP and FIPA Executive Committee member, along with two delegates of the Canadian Section of FIPA, MPs Mario Silva and Marcel Lussier.
Full Press Release
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Bilateral trade workshop in TT a success |
Port of Spain, March 17, 2008. Members of the Canadian S ection of FIPA joined their colleagues in Trinidad and Tobago today to learn about trade rules and politics and discuss ideas and experiences relating to this important topic. The Trade Knowledge Workshop waspart a series of activities supporting FIPA'S goal of enhancing the knowledge and capacity of parliamentarians to address issues of significance to the Americas region.
Discussions and presentations at the workshop focused on the recently-concluded Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the CARIFORUM countries, as well as the upcoming CARICOM-Canada negotiations.
Full Press Release |
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A day to honour the role of women |
Bogotá, Colombia, March 8, 2008. March 8th is an important date to not only underscore the key role played by women around the world, but to also think about how we might bridge the historic gap between women and men in the public realm. In other words, it is a day to honour the role of women and, in so doing, to seek to improve their quality of life in our modern society.
The global debate on the prevailing development model should be based on three pillars, the Nation, the market and the family. The goal of this model would be to seek a new path for society, no longer determined by traditional gender differences.
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FIPA creates a national chapter in Brazil |
 Brasilia , 8 November 2007. A joint session of the National Congress of Brazil today approved the creation of a Mixed Representative Commission of the National Congress in the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA), a Forum chaired by Member of Parliament Luiz Carlos Hauly.
While calling for the approval of the draft resolution, Senator Alvaro Dias, rapporteur of the project, said that parliamentary democracy promotes the modern trend towards the sharing of parliamentary experiences aimed at strengthening democracy while ensuring the independence and freedom of the powers.
Full Press Release |
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During a meeting with the President of FIPA
Ecuadorian parliamentarian denounces situation at home |
 Brasilia , Brazil , November 1, 2007. Emerging from a meeting today with a representative of the Ecuadorian Congress in the capital of Brazil, parliamentarian Luiz Carlos Hauly, President of FIPA, voiced his “concern” regarding the institutional situation in Ecuador.
During his meeting with the FIPA President Ecuadorian parliamentarian Ramsses Torres Espinoza maintained that the President of his country, Rafael Correa, “intends to dissolve the National Congress” and that “the Constituent Assembly elected last August would assume the full power of congressmen and congresswomen.” “There is no constitutional basis for such action,” he added.
Full Press Release |
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FIPA and COPA to pursue talks for possible integration |
 Quebec City , Canada , October 29, 2007. FIPA and the Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas (COPA) have agreed on a timeline for pursuing, through a follow-up committee, work begun at the first meeting of a joint working group bringing representatives of the two organizations together at the National Assembly of Quebec on the 28 th and 29 th of October.
As a next step, the working group agreed on an informal meeting between the presidents of the two organizations in Brasilia in November of 2007, followed by a meeting of the Follow-up Committee in early 2008 to examine proposals concerning the nature and objectives of the possible integration of COPA and FIPA.
Full Press Release |
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FIPA President pays official visit to Ottawa |
 Ottawa , October 26, 2007. “Excellent prospects for cooperation” declared FIPA President, Luiz Carlos Hauly, following a series of meetings held in Ottawa as part of a strategy to promote and strengthen the organisation’s ties to the Canadian parliament and government agencies.
During his official visit to the Canadian capital yesterday and today, the Brazilian parliamentarian and President of FIPA held talks with senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Canadian International Development Agency, and was the guest of honour at a lunch hosted by Chair of the Canadian Section of FIPA, Member of Parliament, James Bezan. He also met the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification, and the Director of the Parliamentary Centre, and paid his respects to the Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, Peter Milliken.
Full Press Release |
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Productive talks with OAS and American Congress |
 Washington , D.C. , October 24, 2007 . “A major breakthrough” is how FIPA President, Brazilian parliamentarian, Luiz Carlos Hauly described his visit to the US capital where he chaired the 17 th Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas, attended by representatives from Chile (Iván Moreira Barros), Colombia (Cecilia López Montaño), Grenada (Brenda Hood) and Mexico (Ricardo Garcia Cervantes) in attendance. He also met the Secretary General of the OAS and members of the United States House of Representatives.
Full Press Release |
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Russia requests FIPA observer status |
 Ottawa , October 2nd, 2007. The Federal Assembly of Russia made a formal inquiry to FIPA about the possibility of attaining the status of ‘observer’, as a means of creating “effective interaction mechanisms” with Latin American countries.
Observer status may be granted to international organizations, sub-regional and special parliaments of the Americas, or to Parliaments of other continents, enabling these observers to participate in FIPA activities such as the plenary sessions.
Full Press Release |
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Participate in FIPA’s Group of Women Parliamentarians Mentorship Project! |
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Group of Women Parliamentarians of the AmericasSecond Regional Forum (Central America and South America), Argentina 2005
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FIPA’s Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas mentorship project will allow newly elected women parliamentarians to connect with more experienced women colleagues from parliaments across the region in order to obtain assistance, advice and support useful in overcoming the challenges of political life.
Through the mentorship project seasoned women parliamentarians will be able to share their experience and knowledge on a variety of topics such as work-life balance, the development of legislation favourable to women’s rights and how to work with the opposition to promote women’s interests.
Women parliamentarians interested in joining this valuable initiative either as a mentor or as a new parliamentarian seeking a mentor are asked to submit one of the registration forms listed here below. |
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FIPA condemns the assassination of Colombian Deputies |
Ottawa, July 17th, 2007. The Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA) strongly condemned the recent assassination of eleven Colombian deputies by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The Deputies, who had been held hostage for the past five years, were assassinated in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. In the declaration, FIPA urges the parties concerned to “accept the offer of the Organization of American States (OAS), to set up an international commission in Colombia to cooperate for the prompt return of the bodies of the Colombian legislators to their relatives, in compliance with humanitarian law.”
Full Press Release
View declaration |
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FIPA seeks closer ties with the OAS in Panama |
 Ottawa , June 6th 2007 . Three members of FIPA Executive Committee attended the 37 th Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) held in Panama City June 3-5. The delegation sought to strengthen cooperation ties between national Parliaments of the hemisphere and the OAS and to have FIPA awarded a status that will, notably, allow it to attend OAS meetings in the capacity of special observer.
Full Press Release |
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Executive Committee approves discussion topics for the 6 th Plenary Meeting |
 Brasilia , Brazil, June 1st 2007 – Human rights and immigration, energy and sustainable development, and free trade, piracy and intellectual property infringements will be on the agenda for the next meeting of the FIPA Plenary Assembly, as well the ongoing issue of gender equality in the Americas. The decision to address these issues was made by the FIPA Executive Committee during the 16 th FIPA Executive Committee meeting, held today in this city.
Full Press Release |
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First Trade Knowledge Workshop a success |
 Ottawa , March 21 st, 2007. At the invitation of the Canadian section of FIPA, legislators from eight countries in the Americas met in Ottawa, March 18th - 20th, to attend a Trade Knowledge Workshop enabling them to expand their technical knowledge on the topic, as well as to analyze the social, economic, political and gender implications derived from potential trade agreements.
Full Press Release |
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Women in Parliament Share Experiences to Inspire |
Thursday, March 8th, 2007 - Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas President, Colombian Senator Cecilia Lopez, launches FIPA’s “Women in Parliament Share Experiences to Inspire” project, encouraging greater participation of women in parliament in celebration of International Women’s Day, March 8th, 2007.
Open letter to women parliamentarians of the Americas |
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The Canadian Section of FIPA offered training in international trade |
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William Dymond and James Bezan
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Ottawa , December 14th, 2006. As part of a series of initiatives intended to build the capacity of legislators on various issue, the Canadian Section of FIPA hosted a seminar on International Trade Policies addressed to deputies and senators.
This seminar was a pilot project, a prelude to a future event that will gather parliamentarians from the Americas in this city, this coming March. The discussion topics on this occasion were, therefore, primarily related to Canadian trade.
Full Press Release |
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Legislators’ Eyes set on Greater International Cooperation |
 Bogotá, Colombia, November 21st, 2006 Working group recommendations were approved at the end of FIPA’s Fifth Plenary Meeting held in Bogotá. The recommendations were the outcome of discussions held by approximately one hundred legislators from nineteen countries of the Americas on November 19th - 21st. Moreover, Brazilian representative Luiz Carlos Hauly was acclaimed new President of FIPA in the course of the Meeting. He will replace Canadian Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette.
Full Press Release
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Participate in FIPA’s Group of Women Parliamentarians
Mentorship Project! |
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Group of Women Parliamentarians of the AmericasSecond
Regional Forum (Central America and South America), Argentina
2005
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FIPA’s Group
of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas mentorship project
will allow newly elected women parliamentarians to connect
with more experienced women colleagues from parliaments
across the region in order to obtain assistance, advice
and support useful in overcoming the challenges of political
life.
Through the mentorship project seasoned women
parliamentarians will be able to share their experience
and knowledge on a variety of topics such as work-life balance,
the development of legislation favourable to women’s
rights and how to work with the opposition to promote women’s
interests.
Women parliamentarians interested in joining
this valuable initiative either as a mentor or as a new
parliamentarian seeking a mentor are asked to submit one
of the registration forms listed here below. |
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FIPA now has its own offices in Ottawa |
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We have moved.
Thanks to the generous contribution of the Canadian Parliament, we have our own office.
Following the example of some European parliaments, the Parliament of Canada has decided to support FIPA by giving it physical space for its activities. It’s worth noting that the parliaments of the United Kingdom, Denmark and France pioneered this idea by respectively hosting the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie.
 Full Press Release
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 Canadian Parliament as seen from the new FIPA office
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FIPA Executive Committee approves discussion topics for Plenary Assembly in Colombia |
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WASHINGTON, DC, April 12, 2006 – Hemispheric challenges in international trade, poverty reduction, drug trafficking and gender equality will be on the agenda June 8th to 10th, in Bogotá, Colombia at the fifth annual Plenary Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA). This was the decision made by the FIPA Executive Committee at their recent meeting in Washington, DC, where possible cooperation with the IDB to provide training for FIPA parliamentarians and approval of the program for the Fifth Plenary Assembly were the main topics of discussion.
The 14th meeting of the FIPA Executive Committee took place on April 11 and 12 at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) headquarters, on the invitation of IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno and was chaired by Canadian Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette, President of FIPA. Representatives of Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Grenada and Guatemala attended, as well as experts from the IDB and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Organization of American States (OAS). |
Executive Committee of FIPA: Deputy Gudy Rivera Estrada (Guatemala), Deputy Nancy Patricia Gutiérrez (Colombia), Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette (President), Senator Brenda Hood (Grenada), Deputy Iván Moreira Barros (Chile), Mario Silva, Member of Parliament of Canada and Senator Sandra Husbands (Barbados).
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FIPA President emphasizes common values with OAS
Senator Hervieux-Payette made a speech to the Permanent Council of the OAS to mark FIPA’s fifth anniversary |
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 WASHINGTON, DC, April 12, 2006 - The Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA) not only shares a common agenda with the OAS but also “common fundamental values,” said Canadian Senator and FIPA President Céline Hervieux-Payette in a speech to the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS). This is not surprising, since the OAS played a key role when FIPA was created five years ago.
The senator made particular mention of FIPA’s “total commitment” to the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, pointing out that, when the Government of Nicaragua asked the international community for support in January 2005, FIPA responded by calling on the National Assembly of Nicaragua to respect the separation of powers and the democratic process in that country. She also announced that FIPA’s Group of Women Parliamentarians has undertaken to support future Haitian women legislators in their new functions.
Full Press Release |
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FIPA President visits OAS Secretary General |
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 WASHINGTON, DC, March 21, 2006 – The President of the Inter-American Forum of the Americas (FIPA), Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette, travelled to Washington on March 21, 2006, to meet with OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza.
“After its first five years, FIPA’s record is very positive,” stated the Canadian Senator, referring among the Forum’s latest achievements to two regional workshops on women’s leadership and democratic governance, as well as a mission to Haiti to encourage women to participate in the electoral process.
The Secretary General and the Senator used this meeting to discuss various issues of mutual interest, such as trade, drug trafficking, gender equality and poverty in single-parent families, a problem affecting all countries in the region and that will be on the agenda for FIPA’s next Plenary Meeting.
Full Press Release |
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Meeting between the FIPA President and the IDB President
IDB to host the 14th meeting of the FIPA Executive Committee |
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 WASHINGTON, DC, March 21, 2006 – The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA), Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette, travelled to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) headquarters on March 21, 2006, to meet with the institution’s new president, Luis Alberto Moreno, who assumed office in October 2005.
“It is an honour for FIPA to be hosted by an institution that is highly regarded for its role in development in the hemisphere,” stated the Canadian Senator, as she thanked IDB President Moreno for hosting the 14 th meeting of the FIPA Executive Committee in April.
Full Press Release |
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Following the 4th Summit of the Americas, FIPA Executive Committee meets in Guatemala to plan 5th Plenary Assembly |
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GUATEMALA CITY , GUATEMALA, Nov 8-9, 2005 – In the days following the 4 th Summit of the Americas, the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA) met at the Guatemalan Congress to plan the 5 th Plenary Assembly of FIPA. Hosted by Guatemalan representative Diputado Gudy Rivera Estrada, the Executive Committee meeting was attended by Mr. Don Boudria, Canadian Member of Parliament, Diputado Iván Moreira Barros of Chile, Representative Sergio Díaz Granados of Colombia, Senator Brenda Hood of Grenada, Deputy Jack Arévalo of Honduras and the President of FIPA, Canadian Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette.
Full Press Release
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FIPA President to present recommendations of parliamentarians in Mar del Plata, Argentina |
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OTTAWA , November 1st, 2005 – Canadian Senator and FIPA President Céline Hervieux-Payette will promote the involvement of parliamentarians in hemispheric affairs when she presents the recommendations of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA) to the region’s foreign affairs ministers at a pre-Summit meeting in Mar del Plata, Argentina, November 3rd.
34 Heads of State and Government of the Americas will meet to discuss political, economic and social issues facing our region at the IV Summit of the Americas, November 4 th and 5 th in Mar del Plata. This year’s Summit will focus on “Creating Jobs to Fight Poverty and Strengthen Democratic Governance.” Full Press Release
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Women Parliamentarians of the Americas support the women of Haiti in the lead-up to elections there |
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 OTTAWA, September 16, 2005 – Four representatives of the Inter-Parliamentary Form of the Americas (FIPA) are home after a three-day mission to Haiti, where they had gone to encourage Haitian women to participate in the electoral process, register as voters and stand as candidates in the parliamentary elections being held this coming November.
FIPA President Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette of Canada, Argentinean congresswoman Margarita Stolbizer, Grenadian cabinet minister Yolande Bain-Joseph and Mexican senator Silvia Domínguez met with women candidates in Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien. “Pacification and stabilization of the political and social situation in Haiti depends on active involvement by women in the pre-election and post-election processes,” said Congresswoman Stolbizer, who is President of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas. “We met women who feel true vocations, who are convinced of their historic responsibilities [...] and ready to shoulder them.”
Full Press Release
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Parliamentarians of the Americas Build Consensus on Controversial Issues |
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Brasilia, Brazil, May 19-21, 2005 – Over 90 participants from all regions of the Americas met at the Brazilian National Congress this past week for the Fourth Plenary Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA).
Participants at this year’s event worked to build consensus on how to contribute most effectively to resolving the controversial questions of Free Trade, Terrorism and Foreign Debt facing our region. More ...
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Women's Leadership to Strengthen Democratic Governance
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Buenos
Aires , April 8, 2005. Today, Friday, April 8,
the Regional Forum of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of
the Americas, chaired by Argentine Deputy Margarita Stolbizer,
ended. She said that, in view of the importance of equal opportunity,
it was essential to have the active participation of parliamentarians
representing both the government and opposition parties in order
to achieve the stated objectives of implementing public policies
for equality. Full
Press Release
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Barbados Hosts First Sub-Regional Forum of the
Group of Women Parliamentarians
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Barbados, March 21 - 22,
2005 - The first sub-regional forum (Caribbean and
North America) of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of the
Americas was held in Barbados March 20th – 22nd and attracted
high level participants from across the Caribbean, as well as
Canada and Mexico. Full
Press Release
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FIPA Executive Meeting gears parliamentarian discussions toward
4th Summit of the Americas Agenda
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SAN JOSÉ , COSTA RICA, February 11-12, 2005
- The Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of
the Americas (FIPA) met February 11 th and 12 th in San José,
Costa Rica, to set the thematic focus for FIPA's upcoming Plenary
Assembly, May 12 th-14 th, in Brasilia, Brazil. Under the chairmanship
of Canadian Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette, Executive
Committee members decided that FIPA would pay particular attention
to the question of Employment Creation to Confront Poverty
and Strengthen Democratic Governance ; the proposed theme
for the 4 th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Americas
to be held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, in November 2005. More
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Declaration of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas
on the Situation in Nicaragua, January 7, 2005
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