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This site provides information about FIPA and its activities (left side) and facilitates the interaction of parliamentarians through its Virtual Parliament (right side). We encourage you to contact us with any questions or comments regarding our work or our site.

Meeting of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas in Ecuador

The National Assembly of Ecuador will be hosting the meeting of FIPA’s Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas “Women in Power: Challenges for the 21st Century” in Quito on August 11-12, 2010. Participants should submit their completed registration form to the FIPA Technical Secretariat NO LATER THAN JULY 23, 2010.

For more information on the event, please contact the FIPA Technical Secretariat (Tel.: +1 613-594-5222; Fax: +1 613-594-4766; info@e-fipa.org)

Full Press Release

Click here to read the Blog of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas (Spanish only)

Employment Opportunity at the FIPA Secretariat

The Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas is currently looking to fill the position of Executive Secretary at its Technical Secretariat, located at the Parliamentary Centre in Ottawa, Canada.

For further details, please view this document.

Application deadline: Sunday, August 8, 2010.

Thirteenth Issue of ParlAmericas

Welcome to the thirteenth 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.

SPECIAL ONLINE SUPPLEMENT TO THIS ISSUE

“Young as to its parliamentary experience, the Haiti Parliament resembles a tight-rope walker, for it is very aware of the challenges that lie ahead. “
-From Haitian Parliamentary Governance

Read the critical, online analysis of Haiti’s parliamentary affairs and challenges written by Marie-Edith Hilaire, from the Parliamentary Centre of Canada and one of our contributors in the 13th issue of ParlAmericas.

ParlAmericas Thirteenth Issue

Past issues

Online Survey for Capacity-Building Program for Parliaments of the Americas

The following questionnaire is part of a needs’ assessment conducted by the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA) and the Parliamentary Centre of Canada in order to develop a regional capacity-building program for Parliaments of the Americas.
Responses will be used to identify priorities and design program activities.

The questionnaire has 4 sections:
(1) Respondent information;
(2) General environment affecting parliamentary effectiveness;
(3) Parliament’s operational effectiveness;
(4) Program design.

In each section, respondents will be asked to share their opinions through ratings, yes/no answers, or open answers, or comments.

Questionnaires should be completed and submitted online by April 16, 2010.

Respondents can also download the questionnaire and return by e-mail (form@e-fipa.org) or fax (+1 613-594-4766).

We thank you for your participation!

Click here to complete online

Click here to download

FIPA Participates in the First Forum of the Parliamentary Front Against Hunger

On March 4, at the National Assembly of São Paulo in Brazil, 14 parliamentarians from around Latin America and the Caribbean, amongst them Brazilian deputy and FIPA's president, Luiz Carlos Hauly, participated in the First Forum of the Parliamentary Front Against Hunger, to discuss topics related to food security.

The event was organized by the Parliamentary Front against Hunger, with the support of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Full Press Release

President of FIPA talks with US Secretary of State

Brasilia, March 5, 2010

The president of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas, Brazilian Congressman Luiz Carlos Hauly, talked with American Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton about the consolidation of the United States participation in the Forum.

The encounter occurred during the visit of Clinton to the Brazilian Congress, on Wednesday March 3, in which President Hauly participated as a member of a congressional welcoming committee that greeted the United States Secretary of State.

Statement of Solidarity to Chile from the President of FIPA

Brasilia, March 4, 2010

Tragedy has hit again our continent, this time in Chile, where a violent earthquake and violent waves generated in the aftermath, have already claimed hundreds of lives, while affecting millions of people across Chile’s coast, and severely damaging homes and infrastructure.

See the complete text of the statement here

Solidarity with Haiti, a major discussion topic at Executive Meeting

Panama City, January 30, 2010.

Parliamentarians from the Americas, during the 21st Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas, held in Panama City, Panama, from January 29-30, expressed their deepest solidarity to the Haitian population in the face of the enormous crisis the country is suffering as a result of the earthquake that took place on Tuesday, January 12.

See full press release

Resolution on Haiti

Declaration of the FIPA President on the Earthquake in Haiti

Brasilia, January 13, 2010

On behalf of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA), I would like to personally express my most sincere sympathy to the people of Haiti following the earthquake that seriously affected this country yesterday, causing immense human losses and material damages still incalculable.

See the complete text of the declaration here

Some 100 participants at Plenary Meeting in Ottawa

Ottawa, September 15, 2009. Some 100 participants from 22 countries of the Americas participated in the Sixth Plenary Meeting of FIPA which ended today with the approval of several recommendations and the re-election of Brazilian Congressman Luiz Carlos Hauly as president of FIPA for another two years. OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza acted as keynote speaker during the opening ceremony. For the first time, delegations from China and Russia participated as observers.

From September 13 to15, parliamentarians discussed and made recommendations on issues related to the economic and financial crisis, food security, international migrations and human rights, gender equality and the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic. A number of specialists in different fields presented their findings and shared their expertise during the working group sessions.

Full Press Release

Background papers and reference material

Reports, resolutions and recommendations

FIPA condemns the coup in Honduras

July 1, 2009. The Executive Committee of FIPA condemned “emphatically” the coup perpetrated against the constitutionally- elected government of Honduras.

Through an official declaration, FIPA called for the internal crisis to be resolved “by means of dialogue among political and social actors involved.”

See the complete text of the declaration here

FIPA and OAS to Sign a Cooperation Agreement

Washington DC, June 24, 2009. FIPA and OAS will sign a cooperation agreement to pursue matters of common interest. This was the major outcome of the meeting held yesterday by FIPA Executive Committee members and the OAS Secretary for External Relations, Adam Blackwell.

The meeting with OAS representatives preceded the Executive Committee meeting held today on Capitol Hill, during which preparations of the Sixth Plenary Meeting - to take place in Ottawa next September 13 to 15 - were discussed. Congressman Gregory Meeks, Chair of the recently created OAS Caucus, attended the meeting as observer.

Full Press Release

Parliamentary participation in the Summit Process to ensure accountability and transparency

Port of Spain, April 16, 2009. In a statement adopted at the end of the Special Parliamentary Dialogue held today at the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, parliamentarians of the Americas called for an increased parliamentary participation in the Summit Process as a means to ensure accountability and transparency.

The Dialogue – a joint effort of FIPA and the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago – provided an opportunity for parliamentarians and government representatives of Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Grenada, Haiti, Paraguay, the United States, Uruguay, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago to share ideas on possible means to bring a legislative dimension into the Summit of the Americas process.

Full Press Release

Read Progress Report

Parliament of Canada to host Sixth FIPA Plenary Meeting

Ottawa, April 13, 2009. The Parliament of Canada will host the Sixth Plenary Meeting of FIPA in Ottawa, September 13 – 15, 2009.

On this occasion, legislators from the thirty-five countries of the Americas will meet to discuss issues related to the world economic crisis, migrations and human rights, with an emphasis on the situation of indigenous peoples, food security and gender equality.

Full Press Release

Women legislators in Haiti

Ottawa, April 4, 2009. On 2nd-3rd April, a delegation of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas participated in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in the launching of the training programme for men and women candidates, hosted by the Canadian Parliamentary Center and MINUSTAH.

Under the leadership of Maria Estela de la Cruz,FIPA's vice-president for the Central American region, the women legislators shared their experiences with women candidates and members of women’s associations, with the purpose of providing them with hands-on experience on issues related to electoral campaigns, communication strategies, and reconciliation of political and family life, among other topics.

Full Press Release

Bilateral Trade workshop in Peru

Ottawa, March 27, 2009. Members of the Canadian Section of FIPA and Peruvian parliamentarians met in Lima, Peru, on March 25-26 to participate in a bilateral trade workshop. The Workshop for Parliamentarians on Understanding Trade took place in the Congress of the Republic of Peru in collaboration with the Ottawa-based Centre for Trade Policy and Law, of Carleton University, and the Economic and Social Research Consortium (CIES), in Lima.

Discussions and presentations focused on trade, competitiveness and development, examining the opportunities and challenges confronting Peru in light of the evidence of the advantages stemming from the opening up of trade and its relation to the reduction of poverty, the evolution of labour markets in the context of the opening up of trade, and key aspects of the Peru-Canada economic relationship.

Full Press Release

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bilateral trade workshop in TT a success

Port of Spain, March 17, 2008. Members of the Canadian Section 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

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.

Full text

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

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

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

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

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

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

Participate in FIPA’s Group of Women Parliamentarians Mentorship Project!

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

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

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

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