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ISSUE N°25
APRIL 2007

C O N T E N T S
OF THE ISSUE

white cube Editorial
white cube Female Genital Mutilation
white cube Cooperation with the UN
white cube Women in politics
white cube Interview with Mr. Erman Suparno
white cube Human rights
white cube Technical cooperation update
white cube Parliamentary developments
white cube Read in the press

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The World of Parliaments
Editorial

ZERO TOLERANCE FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST THE GIRL CHILD

Photo IPU/M.Bustos Letelier Every year the IPU organizes a parliamentary event at the United Nations in New York, in the context of the spring session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). At this year’s event, over 150 legislators from around the world focused on legislation to combat discrimination and violence against the girl child. They underlined the urgent need to develop, adopt and implement strong laws that cover all types of violence against the girl child, physical and psychological, but also in more sensitive spheres such as violence in the home.

Exploitation, domestic violence, prostitution, trafficking, sexual abuse and female genital mutilation are the daily lot of millions of girl children and teenagers in all regions of the world. Zero tolerance for violence against the girl child is a must. If adults want to stop the increasing violence among children and young people at school or in the street, they must start by setting an example and putting an end to all kinds of violence against their own daughters and sons at home.

It is not normal for a brother to beat his sister. It is not normal to inflict sexual mutilation on a girl child or a teenager. These acts must be punished. Parliamentarians can make the difference. Not only does legislation have to be reviewed on a regular basis, it must be enforced to meet the real needs of the girl child. Women legislators have a leading role to play, but partnership with men is also important. Adults and young people must learn that respect for women starts with respect for girls. Men can play a more active role in spheres where they have been traditionally less active. Last but not least, society must make it clear to all men and women that educating and enabling girls is a priority. Parliaments can deliver. They have the power of the purse.

L.B.

The challenge of guaranteeing the right and aspiration
of citizens to be in touch with parliament

Recent IPU publication At a conference on Public Broadcasting and Parliaments held by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) at the European Parliament in Brussels in February 2007, IPU President Pier Ferdinando Casini recalled that the relationship between public broadcasters and parliaments is of crucial importance to democracy.

In a video message broadcast in the presence of the European Parliament President, Mr. Hans-Gert Pöttering, EBU President Fritz Pleitgen, and the President of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP), Mr. Anders Forsberg, Mr. Casini declared that "public institutions in any democracy must be transparent and accountable to the people. Broadcasts of parliamentary business foster the transparency and accountability that we, as politicians, owe to those who elected us. Many of you quite rightly emphasized this at the first Conference on Broadcasting of Parliamentary Business, organized last October in Geneva by the IPU, the EBU and the ASGP".

For ASGP President Anders Forsberg "it is also a matter of striking a balance between Parliament's responsibility and the responsibility of the parties and legislators themselves. Parliamentary administration should facilitate, be progressive, follow technical developments and provide new possibilities. And of course, parliaments should provide interesting debates and hearings. We have to be flexible in our planning and coversubjects of great interest for the citizens".

At an international conference entitled The policymaking role of parliaments in the development of the information society, held in Rome on 3 and 4 March 2007, IPU President Casini also pointed out that "the information society is a major revolution in many of our countries. It has the potential to greatly improve our lives. But it has not yet kept all of its promises. There is an urgent need for parliaments to play a more active and more decisive role in its development".

 

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