Modern information and communication technology (ICT) is essential to democracy and development. The World e-Parliament Conference - the annual forum on how ICT can help to strengthen parliaments - met in Washington, D.C., from 3 to 5 November 2009. It was hosted by Ms. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives and brought together 400 elected members and staff of 95 parliaments.
The Conference provided parliaments with an opportunity to engage a new generation of citizens, especially young people, since information technology is pervasive in many young people’s lives in a way that formal politics is not. Delegates discussed the opportunities and challenges offered by new social media such as Facebook and Twitter, including issues of security and reliability. They also exchanged their most recent experiences of using ICT in parliament in areas such as strategic planning, legislative processes and parliamentary websites, to mention a few examples.
The World e-Parliament Conference 2009 is an initiative of the Global Centre for ICT in Parliament, which was established by the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 2006. The Board of the Global Centre met in the wings of the Conference to discuss its future work programme and to adopt the principles of a 10-year strategic plan for stimulating parliamentary action to develop modern information societies and expanding the use of ICT in parliaments.
Investing in ICT helps to strengthen parliaments, thereby advancing good governance and democracy and contributing to the attainment of internationally agreed development goals. However, the long-term goals advocated by the Global Centre cannot be achieved without greater involvement, cooperation and coordination among parliaments, governments, international organizations, academic institutions and donors. Inter-parliamentary cooperation in particular is an essential ingredient for success.
