The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H.E. Hon. Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira has arrived in Kigali, Rwanda to take part in the 145th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and its related meetings from 11 to 15 October 2022.
At the invitation of the Parliament of the Republic of Rwanda, all IPU statutory bodies, including the Governing Council, Standing Committees, Committees on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians and on Middle East Questions, as well as the Forum of Women Parliamentarians and the Forum of Young MPs, are convening during this Assembly.
The General Debate is expected to focus on the overall theme of Gender equality and gender-sensitive parliaments as drivers of change for a more resilient and peaceful world -and provide a platform for delegates to deliberate, exchange views and galvanize parliamentary action in this area.
During its 208th session, held in Madrid, Spain, the Governing Council of the IPU officially admitted the PAP as an Associate member, cementing its place within the Union alongside other international parliamentary assemblies and similar bodies.
The President of the PAP says that the upcoming Assembly presents an opportunity for the continental Parliament to renew its ties with parliamentary organisations around the world. H.E Hon. Charumbira adds that his delegation will seek to reinforce the message regarding the PAP’s return to full operational functionality and the new Bureau’s resolve to “revive, renew, reposition, and reinvigorate” the Parliament.
Ahead of the opening ceremony of the 145th Assembly of the IPU, the leader of the PAP is expected to take part in various preparatory meetings including consultations with the African and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Groups of the IPU.
The Assembly of the IPU will adopt resolutions on the emergency item and on the subject item taken up by the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights entitled Parliamentary impetus to the local and regional development of countries with high levels of international migration and to stopping all forms, including state-sponsored, of human-trafficking and human rights abuses. The Governing Council will examine and adopt a number of decisions, including on cases of violation of the human rights of parliamentarians.
The Assembly is expected to conclude with the adoption of an outcome document on the overall theme of the General Debate.
H.E. Hon. Charumbira was received in Kigali by the Rwandese delegation to the PAP.
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