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Sixth issue of ParlAmericas |
 We are happy to present our sixth issue of ParlAmericas. This FIPA newsletter is designed to showcase the important work done by parliamentarians in building democracies that better respond to needs of citizens.
We encourage you to contribute to the newsletter by telling us about legislative developments in your parliament or by submitting article ideas.
Happy reading!
ParlAmericas sixth issue |
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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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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 |
Canadian Parliament as seen from the new FIPA office
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Consultation About Terrorism |
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On Line Work Space for Parliamentarians |
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