IPU council examines breaches of law-makers human rights

The Inter-parliamentary Union council, an executive body of the world assembly of parliaments, examined at its session on Friday several resolutions related to law-makers human rights breaches worldwide.

During the council session, that follows the IPU conference held this March 17-22 in Marrakesh, chairman of the parliamentarians human rights committee, Juan Pablo Letelier (Chile) recalled that several law-makers lost their live in the discharge of their duties as people representatives, citing the case of Colombian senator Marta Catalina Daniels who was assassinated as she was interfering to obtain the liberation of seven other members of parliaments held by the Columbian guerilla movement.

The council examined 24 public and confidential cases of human rights violations against legislators in 18 countries, including the case of Azmi Bechara, a Palestinian member of the Israeli Knesset.

French representative, Yves Tavernier, tables a report of the committee of middle east issues, before the council which included delegations from Palestine, Israel, Egypt and Jordan. The council unanimously called for the end of violence so that the two peoples live in peace. The committee also supported various initiatives undertaken by parliamentary and inter-parliamentary groups, including the joint initiative by speaker of the Egyptian parliament, Fathi Sorour, and French peer, Raymond Forni, to convene a session in Sharm-Sheikh, Egypt, between speakers of the Israeli Knesset and Palestinian legislative council.

The committee further supported a project to hold a meeting between Israeli and Palestinian legislators in Ramallah.

The committee also voiced concerns over the inability of the Palestinian Legislative council, a democratically elected body, to hold a session in 18 months while its contribution to the peace process and to dialogue with the Knesset is fundamental.

Other issues brought up at the council proceedings were the creation of a Mediterranean parliamentary assembly, worst forms of children labor and cooperation between the Inter-parliamentary union and the United Nations Organization.

Representatives of the inter-parliamentary conference n security and cooperation in the Mediterranean asked the committee chairman to consult with chairman of the Middle East committee over potential joint possibilities for peace and security establishment in the region. Parties also endorsed the creation of a Mediterranean parliamentary assembly but acknowledged that the present political situation in the Middle East is not opportune for the creation of such an assembly.

The council further took noted of a report on worst forms of children labor by an international panel which met in parallel to the IPU session presented by Kenya's Beth Mugo with the collaboration of the International program for the abolition of children labor, the Moroccan parliament and the UNICEF. The report insisted on the situation of girls who are more vulnerable and will be taking an essential social role as mothers. The report also urges for generalization schooling as an obligation and for raising the needed funds and resources to ensure that all children have access to education until 15 years of age.

Of cooperation between the IPU and the UNO, the council adopted a draft resolution providing for giving the IPU an observer status at the world body. The draft resolution will be submitted next September to the UN general assembly.

The council elected the IPU executive committee comprising Joan Fraser (Canada), Pia Larsen (Denmark). G. Mahlangu (south Africa) was elected chairwoman of the women parliamentarians coordination committee while Y. Kwikawa (Japan) and A. Moller (Iceland) were elected respectively 1st and 2nd vice chairwomen.