Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas

At the 2002 FIPA Plenary Meeting, women parliamentarians participating in FIPA held a breakfast meeting to discuss their role in parliament and politics, as well as their role in FIPA. The result was the creation of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas, headed by Argentinean Parliamentarian Margarita Stolbizer, whose proposal for the permanent establishment of the group was unanimously approved by the FIPA Plenary.

The FIPA Plenary Meeting resolved:

To approve the creation of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas, which is to operate as a permanent action group under the framework of FIPA.

To agree that this working group will be made up of two representatives from each of the sub-regions of the Americas (North, Central, South and Caribbean) and that it will have as its general objectives:

1. To strengthen the leadership of female politicians through ongoing regional exchange actions.

2. To promote the creation of conditions for equal opportunities, prioritizing the fight against poverty and the elimination of employment discrimination.

3. To strengthen democracies in the countries of the Americas in an effort to achieve respect for human rights and conditions that promote equitable and sustainable social development.

4. To promote the creation of mechanisms that encourage the participation of women in politics.

5. To strengthen the active participation by women at FIPA working meetings, incorporating the gender perspective into each of the topics analyzed by the organization.

To support the initial action plan proposed at the preparatory meeting, which seeks to:

1. Promote regional debate and exchanges of experience and legislative frameworks through ongoing interaction and the holding of regional and/or subregional meetings aimed at fulfilling the proposed objectives.

2. Raise awareness among women in the region by analyzing the challenges and opportunities of hemispheric integration, the main topics of the 2nd Plenary Meeting of FIPA held in Panama City.

3. Analyze the negative impact on women of the economic and financial crises in the region, and propose cooperation policies to address and resolve those crises.

4. Produce a participative assessment that helps illustrate the status of women in the region.

Parliamentarians interested in working with this group, which is open to both men and women, are encouraged to click here in order contact the FIPA Technical Secretariat.