Parliament, Thursday, 25 November 2021 – The Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, will lead a high-level delegation of Members of Parliament to the 143rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly scheduled to take place from 26-30 November 2021 in Madrid, Spain.
The main focus of the Assembly will be on contemporary challenges to democracy: Overcoming division and building community. IPU Members will discuss what parliaments can do to address the eroding trust in political systems among citizens, growing polarization, and spreading disinformation through social media.
Parliamentarians will also have the opportunity to exchange ideas on how to engage more meaningfully with the public and ensure decision-making is as inclusive and representative as possible. Expected to feature firmly on the Assembly's agenda is a discussion on dealing with threats to parliamentarians, whether physical or online.
The IPU will launch several new tools for parliamentarians during the Assembly, including a Handbook on gender-responsive law-making in partnership with UN Women, a regional report on Sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments in Africa and Guidelines for parliamentarians on budgeting for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Delegates will also consider a draft resolution on legislation worldwide to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The IPU is a global organization of national parliaments, and it facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development worldwide. The work of the IPU revolves around building strong democratic parliaments, advancing gender equality and respect for women's rights, protecting and promoting human rights, contributing to peace-building, conflict resolution and security, fostering inter-parliamentary dialogue and cooperation, promoting youth empowerment, mobilizing parliaments around the global development agenda and bridging the democracy gap in global governance.
The IPU was established in 1889, and its membership is made up of 179 national parliaments. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.
For interviews with the leader of the Parliamentary delegation, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula, please contact Ms Masego Dlula on e-mail: mdlula@parliament.gov.za /or WhatsApp: 081 715 9398
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
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