2015
November 25, 2015
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
On the occasion of November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Group of Women Parliamentarians of ParlAmericas is sharing resources which are useful references for legislators working to end gender violence in the Americas and the Caribbean.
November 17, 2015
VI Forum of Parliamentary Fronts against Hunger
The Member of the National Assembly of Ecuador, Gina Godoy, President of the Group of Women Parliamentarians, participated in VI Forum of Parliamentary Fronts against Hunger. This event was held in Lima, Peru, from the 15 to the 17 of November.
August 7, 2015
Marcela Guerra, President of ParlAmericas and Senator of Mexico, participated in the II Inter-American Forum of Presidents of Parliaments.
Marcela Guerra, President of ParlAmericas and Senator of Mexico, participated in the II Inter-American Forum of Presidents of Parliaments, which took place on 6 and 7 August in Santiago, Chile. The forum aimed the dialogue between the Presidents of Legislative powers, the Presidents of Forums and Integration Parliaments; regarding challenges parliamentarian communication faces, and the new strategies undertaken by the Parliament, reinforcing transparency values, accountability, access to information and probity, of those who exercise political representation.
See the gathering's agenda (in spanish), the document of reference (in spanish) and the declaration (in spanish).
June 15, 2015
7th Annual Gathering of the Group of Women Parliamentarians: Action Plan for Preventing Political Harassment and Violence Against Women
Press releases available. More
May 13, 2015
International Conference on Strengthening Legislative Oversight to Foster Accountability, Transparency, and Sustainable Development
Brochure and registration form available.
April 30, 2015
7th Annual Gathering of the Group of Women Parliamentarians: Action Plan for Preventing Political Harassment and Violence Against Women
Agenda and registration form available. More
April 18, 2015
Parliamentary Gathering during VII Summit of the Americas: Legislative Transparency
Declaration and press release available. More
March 6, 2015
Dear colleagues,
On March 8, in each of our countries we commemorate International Women’s Day. This year we’d like to invite you to take part in UN Women’s Beijing+20 campaign, “Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!” We all know that there is impactful work being carried out in favour of gender equality. For this reason, we invite you to share on social media the advances made by your governments, and what you imagine a future of gender equality will look like. Be sure to tag @ParlAmericas in your responses.
We also ask that our male colleagues join the campaign “He for She,” another initiative of UN Women. Gender equality is not just a women’s issue but rather a human right that will require everyone’s participation in order to be achieved. Take action against all forms of violence and discrimination faced by women and girls. Join the movement!
Parliamentarians of the Americas: download the toolkits, add your voice to the online conversations (#Beijing20 #HeForShe #IWD2015) and involve as many people as possible in the movement. Our collective work can make a real difference!
With best wishes from the Executive Committee of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of ParlAmericas,
Jennifer Simons, President of the National Assembly of Suriname and President of the Group of Women Parliamentarians
Claudia Nogueira Fernández, Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile and Vice-President of the Group of Women Parliamentarians
Magda Rodríguez Azcona, Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic and Secretary of the Group of Women Parliamentarians
February 26, 2015
Legislative Transparency: Survey Results Available
During the 11th Plenary Assembly, delegates completed a survey designed by Andy Williamson, world-renowned expert on digital democracy and legislative transparency. The survey was adapted from Dr. Williamson’s report MPs Online: Connecting with Constituents, and ParlAmericas will use the data obtained to design future programming on social and digital media in parliaments. Read the survey results.
New Publication: Year in Highlights 2014
ParlAmericas’ Year in Highlights includes outcomes from the working groups at our last Plenary Assembly in Santiago, Chile; survey results on parliamentarians’ use of digital technologies; as well as our latest work on gender equality and politics. Read the report.
February 16, 2015
Bilateral of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas in Colombia
A delegation of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas comprised by Senator Michael L. MacDonald and Members of Parliament Jim Munson, Earl Dreeshen, and LaVar Payne visited Colombia from February 6 to 13, 2015.
The delegation met with Representative Germán Blanco, 1st Vice-President of ParlAmericas, and other parliamentarians to hear their viewpoints on the challenges and opportunities facing various regions of the country. They also attended briefings with Canadian Ambassador to Colombia Carmen Sylvain, Colombian Ambassador to Canada Nicolás Lloreda, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade of Colombia Mariana Sarasti Montoya.
The Canadian Section delegation had the opportunity to meet with several governmental departments: SPRC, Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Cartagena, and DIRAN, Dirección de Antinarcóticos, to discuss narcotic smuggling methods, and ACR, Agencia Colombiana de Reintegración, to hear from demobilized women in the process of reintegration. Alongside representatives of MAPP/OEA, Misión de Apoyo al Proceso de Paz, the delegates reviewed a mission to support the peace process in Colombia, and with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), they reviewed the human rights situation in Colombia. The bilateral visit also included meetings with civil society organizations (Proantioquia, Insight Crime, Fundación Plan) and the private sector (Red Eagle Mining).
Finally, the delegation received an overview of the Colombian justice system at the Universidad de los Andes, participated in a discussion with the Canada-Colombia Chamber of Commerce, and visited a comuna (urban neighbourhood) to meet with community leaders and victims of the armed conflict.
January 18, 2015
IV Congress of the Future closes
Yesterday the IV Congress of the Future, "The Crossroads of the 20th Century," came to a close. The congress gathered political leaders, academics, and specialists in Chile for four days of analysis on the future of the planet and on the living conditions of its population.
The congress was organized by the Future Challenges Commission of the Chilean Senate, chaired by Senator Guido Girardi. Summarizing the four days of activities, he stated, "We conversed with first-rate scientists from around the world, on what I would say are the forefront of the most important challenges facing Chile and all of humanity."
The conclusions of the experts highlight the fact that investment is lacking in science and technology. Senator Girardi will soon present President Bachelet with a proposal on this subject and on the possible creation of a ministry of science, innovation, and technology.