Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU)

The 206th Session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Governing Council (Extraordinary Virtual Session) took place 1–3 November 2020. The Governing Council is the primary oversight body of the IPU and is made up of representatives from all member parliaments. It has a variety of subsidiary bodies which report to it, including the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, the Committee on Middle East Questions and the Forum of Women Parliamentarians. Decisions of the Governing Council are most often taken by consensus. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions to international travel, the session took place with a reduced agenda, focusing primarily on the election of the President for the 2020-2023 term, the IPU’s budget, decisions of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, and future meetings of the IPU. Over 400 Council members from 144 national parliaments participated, of which 40% were women and 25% young parliamentarians. The Canadian delegation comprised:

• the Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., President of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UIPU) and Vice-President of the IPU Executive Committee for the Twelve Plus Group (official delegate);

• the Honourable Salma Ataullahjan, Senator, Vice-President of the UIPU, Chair of the IPU Committee on Middle East Questions, and Bureau member of the IPU’s Forum of Women Parliamentarians (observer);

• the Honourable Senator Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, Senator, Member of the Executive of the UIPU (official delegate);

• Ms. Marilène Gill, M.P., Member of the Executive of the UIPU (observer); and

• Ms. Stephanie Kusie, M.P. (official delegate).

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is a unique organization made up of national parliaments from around the world which works to protect and build global democracy through political dialogue and concrete action. The theme of the general debate at the 141st Assembly was "Strengthening international law: Parliamentary roles and mechanisms, and the contribution of regional cooperation".

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is a unique organization made up of national parliaments from around the world which works to protect and build global democracy through political dialogue and concrete action. The theme of the general debate at the 140th Assembly was "Parliaments as platforms to enhance education for peace, security and the rule of law".

The Statutes and Rules of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) permits members to form geopolitical groups. These groups play an important role in the functioning and activities of the IPU. Canada belongs to the Twelve Plus Group and Canadian parliamentarians occasionally participate in meetings of its Steering Committee of representatives from approximately seven to nine member-countries.

During the 63rd Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, whose priority theme was "Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls", the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women have organized a parliamentary meeting entitled "Investing in gender equality: Parliaments ensuring social protection, public services and infrastructure deliver for women and girls".

The IPU’s annual parliamentary hearing brought parliamentarians to the UN headquarters in New York for a discussion with high-ranking UN officials, representatives of [UN] Member States and experts drawn from think tanks and civil society organizations. The theme of the hearing was "Emerging Challenges to Multilateralism: A Parliamentary Response".

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is a unique organization made up of national parliaments from around the world which works to protect and build global democracy through political dialogue and concrete action. The theme of the general debate at the 139th Assembly was Parliamentary leadership in promoting peace and development in the age of innovation and technological change.