Though a near-universal organisation, there are a small number of parliaments not represented in the IPU. In the case of the Pacific Islands, the reasons for non-membership are essentially economic - in other words, the prohibitive costs of travel to statutory meetings.

Spearheaded by Speaker Jenkins of Australia a meeting of Pacific Parliaments was held in Auckland on 9 and 10 August.  Members of parliament from Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu met to discuss the IPU membership and parliamentary strengthening in the Pacific.

The participants were overwhelmingly in favour of IPU membership, agreeing to report back to their respective parliaments to recommend that they consider joining the organization.  The parliamentarians made it clear that the financial costs associated with participation in IPU were the principal obstacle to membership, and they asked the IPU to let them draw on their annual subscription to meet some of the cost of attending the IPU's two annual Assemblies.

By the same token, the participants asked the IPU to take a greater interest in the Pacific region, offer more support to Pacific Parliaments, and hold parliamentary meetings, seminars and workshops in the region.  They underlined the need for close cooperation and coordination with parliaments and organizations undertaking similar activities in the Pacific. They designated the New Zealand parliament as the liaison to facilitate IPU's interaction with the Pacific Parliaments and requested the Parliaments of Palau and Samoa to assist those of Australia and New Zealand in ensuring follow up to the meeting. 

Among the key issues for Pacific Island parliaments, climate change occupied pride of place.  Climate change is more than a mere hazard: it threatens the very survival of small island States in the Pacific.  Other issues listed as being top priorities for the Pacific parliamentarians included health (maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases, including obesity and diabetes), food security and sustainability, population dynamics and youth.  In all of these issues, the parliaments require training. Induction programs, research and library services, and legislative drafting were also areas where support was needed.

 At the recent IPU Assembly in Geneva, the Executive Committee acknowledged the financial constraints of the Pacific parliaments and requested the Secretary General to work on a proposal to facilitate their participation in IPU meetings. The Committee also urged the Secretary General to undertake similar efforts in respect of the parliaments of Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean.

OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE

FRENCH VERSIONMAIN PAGE OF THIS ISSUEARCHIVE OF PAST ISSUES