Volume II Issue 1 English

Legislators met in Bogotá, , for Fifth FIPA Plenary Meeting Debates over a cup of coffee Warm Colombian hospitality the amendment to the FIPA parliamentarians were president of the Colombian set the tone at the Fifth Regulations approved by the delighted when the President Congress, presented the Plenary Meeting, which Plenary Assembly, both the of Colombia, Mr. Álvaro Uribe, outgoing president of FIPA, gathered representatives from president of the Women’s opened the floor to an Senator Céline Hervieux- 19 countries of the Americas Group and the out-going exchange of ideas after his Payette, with the Colombian together in Bogotá. president of FIPA are now speech. Parliamentarians were Congressional Order of the members of the Executive thus afforded the opportunity to Great Gold Cross (la Orden th st From the 19 to 21 of Committee. express their concerns and del Congreso Gran Cruz con November, 2006, legislators opinions and to raise questions Placa de Oro). Toro Torres, met in a relaxed and friendly At the beginning of to which Mr. Uribe responded the first woman to hold this atmosphere to discuss issues deliberations Víctor Rico, a readily, and with position in Colombia, pertaining to the hemisphere, representative of the OAS, Photo: FIPA presented the distinction to to re-elect part of the Hervieux-Payette on behalf of Executive Committee, and to the people of Colombia “in elect a new president for the recognition of her contribution organisation, Brazilian towards strengthening the ties parliamentarian Luiz Carlos of friendship and cooperation Hauly. The balance the among peoples”. organisation seeks between political, economic and social The meeting ended on a high, issues was once again and with a thunder of exemplified by the choice of applause. In Colombia, themes covered: the struggle legislators experienced the against drug trafficking, trade many facets of FIPA, going integration policies, and beyond discussions and strategies for alleviating exchanges of ideas, to poverty. In addition to explore other cultures and adopting recommendations in new ways of seeing the world. connection with these themes, A Colombian flag flies in the wind on top of the Congress. participants expressed support for the UNESCO urged participants to “formulate conviction. Convention on the Protection proposals and measures In this issue: and Promotion of the Diversity geared to the needs of As the meeting came to a of Cultural Expressions, and citizens”, and Senator Céline close, legislators had the Recommendations of 2 agreed to form a joint working Hervieux-Payette urged them opportunity to choose a new the Fifth Plenary group between FIPA and the to “seek innovative solutions”. president for FIPA, and The in 3 Parliamentary Confederation Senator Nancy Patricia Brazilian parliamentarian Luiz Brazil of the Americas (COPA) in Gutiérrez from Colombia, who Carlos Hauly, a founding The new president 4 order to consider a possible was in charge of organizing the member of the organization, merger between the two. The event, emphasised “the need was elected by acclamation for Workshop in Ottawa 4 Group of Women for common tools”. a term of two years. Parliamentarians of the United for cultural 4 Americas also elected its new A rare occurrence marked the The big surprise of the event diversity second day: Accustomed to came during the closing President, Colombian senator About FIPA 4 Cecilia López Montaño. With listening passively during ceremony, when Senator Dilian presidential addresses, Francisca Toro Torres,

January-March 2007 1 Recommendations of the Fifth Plenary Assembly

The National Capitol in Bogotá, The Poverty Reduction of the resources of the State. international court against with its impressive ionic Working Group Furthermore, it proposed drugs. columns, bore witness to the investment in science and hard work carried out by Chairman: Deputy Iván technology, the promotion of The Group of Women legislators at the Fifth Plenary Moreira Barros, Chile universal education, and Parliamentarians of the Assembly of FIPA. Speakers: Ana Lucía Muñoz, training in new areas of Americas Inter-American Development employment. The working groups made Bank (IDB) and Amelita Armit, Chairwoman: Senator Cecilia recommendations, which were Parliamentary Centre, Canada The Fight against Drug López Montaño, Colombia unanimously endorsed by the Trafficking Working Group Plenary Assembly. The During this, their fourth following is a summary of the The group favoured the Chairwoman: Senator Sandra meeting during an annual recommendations: consolidation of growth Husbands, Barbados Plenary Meeting, this strategies with increased Speaker: Sandro Calvani, permanent FIPA work group The Trade and Integration effectiveness of social approved its work plan for spending and improved United Nations Office on Drugs Working Group and Crime (UNODC) 2007-2008, which includes five international cooperation potential projects. Chairman: Mr. James Bezan, among countries. In like Canadian Member of Photo: Kerrie Rodier/Canadian section of FIPA Parliament Speaker: Paolo Giordano, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

In drawing up their recommendations, the group highlighted the need to maintain a balance between eliminating trade barriers and promoting trade policies that contribute to achieving greater equality in order to alleviate poverty. The group recommended pursuing the integration agenda of the Americas while strongly encouraging a hemispheric FIPA meeting participants at the grand staircase of the Colombian Congress. agreement that would bring Taking into account the together all bilateral manner, it also recommended Two of the projects are economic, social, political and agreements. Similarly, setting up a political intended to encourage legal aspects of the fight members of the World Trade component to reduce poverty, women’s involvement in against drugs, the group Organization (WTO) were as well as an economic politics through engagement recommended, among others, urged to resume multilateral component to include a greater and education. To this end, the that countries establish crop- negotiations to conclude the tax levy on those with higher group proposed sharing of substitution and employment- Doha Development Round and taxable incomes. In this experiences and providing promotion programmes, as to eliminate international trade context, it was further advice through the Virtual well as educational barriers. recommended that a working Parliament and a project to be programmes imparting new group from FIPA be devoted carried out during International In addition, the Working Group values to prevent drug exclusively to studying the Women’s Week. Other projects recommended adopting consumption. They called for impact of the tax burden on the include a Mentorship complementary domestic an international forum to socioeconomic development of programme, a workshop on policies designed to foster address the role of the media the economies of member practical applications of the entry into international in imparting these values. The states. United Nations Convention on markets, and the creation of Group encouraged member the Elimination of All Forms of sustainable development states to convene a meeting The group deemed it Discrimination against Women programmes, as well as within the framework of the necessary to encourage (CEDAW); and a workshop on programmes to alleviate Organization of American Parliaments to propose methods for improving gender poverty and improve living States (OAS) and the United transparent laws in their equality, inspired by the conditions. Nations (UN) to discuss countries, in order to fight Bolivian experience. corruption and make better use creating an inter-American and

Página 2 January-March 2007 Parlamericano 2

The Legislature in Brazil

Photo: Bernardo Hélio The Federal Republic of Brazil is a democratic State founded upon three Powers – Executive, Legislative and Judiciary.

The duty of the Legislature is to represent Brazilian citizens, to legislate on National matters, and to control the use of public resources. The National Congress is made up of representatives from all States, as well as the Federal District, the result of which is a Parliament with diverse and pluralistic ideas, in the service of Brazilian society.

The Chamber of Deputies is composed of 513 Deputies elected for a four year term, in accordance with a system of proportional representation Interior of the Brazilian Congress, Brasilia based on the population of each State and that of the Deputies and in the . created following the from the business and Federal District. A minimum of Parliamentarians may be dictatorship — suspended the professional sectors. However, 8 and maximum of 70 Deputies elected for an indefinite restrictions under which the this legislature still maintains represent the population of number of terms. Brazilian Legislature operated, the tradition of representation each part of the . widening its role in society. from sectors such as traditional Proposals are initially debated Currently, the new legislature agriculture and religious The Federal Senate is made by the Permanent and to be inaugurated on February protestant groups. up of 81 Senators elected for Thematic Commissions of 1st has a strong representation an eight year term, according each House responsible for to a majority system. Each issues of National interest. Chamber of Deputies Federal Senate State, as well as the Federal Special commissions, such as (2007–2011) (2007–2011) District, is represented by three Inquiry Commissions, can also Senators. Representation is be created. In order to support ♦ 513 deputies ♦ 81 senators renewed, alternately, every the Legislative’s activities, the four years by one and two organizational structure ♦ 45 women ♦ 11 women thirds accordingly. includes a General Directorate that oversees the planning, ♦ 468 men ♦ 70 men The organisation of the coordination, and control of the ♦ Main parties: ♦ Main parties: Legislative Power into two managerial activities and is Houses, known as supported by the departments Brazilian Democratic Liberal Front 22.2 % (centre- Movement 17.3 % (centre- , is a Brazilian and sub-departments of right) right) constitutional tradition that has management, human Brazilian Democratic Workers Party 16.1 % been in force since resources, and legislation. A Movement 20.9 % (centre- (centre-left) monarchical times (1822- permanent body of staff right) Social Democracy 12.8 % 1889). One of its main duties is consultants supports Social Democracy 17.3 % (centre-left) to allow the Houses to revise Parliamentarians in their (centre-left) Liberal Front 12.6% (centre- and improve each other’s activities. Workers Party 12.3 % right) proposals, through discussions (centre-left) Others 41.1 % of the issues and normal It is important to mention that Others 27.3 % procedures in the Chamber of the 1988 constitution —

Volumen I, Número I January-March 2007 Página 3 3 Our new president About Photo: FIPA FIPA The process of integration of negative effect on the Americas is a development. The Inter-Parliamentary commitment undertaken by Forum of the Americas (FIPA) Senators and Members of The road is long, but our steps is an independent network Parliament who participate in grow longer and we move made up of the national forward towards eliminating FIPA as representatives of of the member their countries. It is for this the barriers to the free countries of the Organization reason that, today, as movement of people and to President of this Forum, I the observation of the rules of of American States (OAS) would like to reiterate my good citizenship and respect committed to promoting desire to seek integration to human rights. Our parliamentary participation in with the Parliamentary challenge now is to organize the inter-American system. Confederation of the ourselves, within our Americas—COPA—so that community, so that our this union may strengthen all countries may be integrated Deputy Luiz Carlos Hauly, President Trade workshop Parliaments, in the spirit of into the international context, fraternity and reinvigorated as partners. in Ottawa democracy. The Canadian Section of Our next meeting will take FIPA invites legislators of We have made great place in March — when we the Americas to participate progress since the creation of will work to organize our FIPA in a workshop on FIPA. From humble agenda for the coming years. beginnings we have I would like to encourage EXECUTIVE strengthening knowledge developed a greater everyone to work towards our COMMITTEE and skills for trade, to be held the 18, 19 and 20 of understanding of the increased representation, so functioning of our that our ongoing efforts might President March 2007, in Ottawa. The legislatures; we have shared result in the transformation of • Deputy Luiz Carlos Hauly, workshop will cover themes our uncertainties and our FIPA into the future Brazil such as: aspirations as we face Parliament of the Americas. North America • Trade rules and politics economic globalization and • James Bezan, MP, Canada • The role of parliament and Deputy Luiz Carlos Hauly, its troublesome side effects, the consultation process Brazil, President of FIPA • Senator Ricardo García such as wealth Cervantes, Mexico concentration, with their 2006-2008 • The links between trade, Central America poverty reduction and gender equality • Deputy Gudy Rivera Estrada, United for Cultural Guatemala • Stanford Callender, MP, For more information or to Diversity Trinidad and Tobago register, please contact Caribbean Sabra Ripley at the FIPA The UNESCO Convention on territory”. • A representative of the Technical Secretariat. the Protection and Promotion Dominican Republic, to be of the Diversity of Cultural Representatives of the confirmed legislatures in attendance at • Senator Brenda Hood, Grenada Expressions will enter into FIPA force on March 18, 2007, three the Fifth Plenary Meeting in South America 500-165 Sparks St. months after the date of Bogota reiterated their support • A representative of deposit of the thirtieth for the Convention by Colombia, to be confirmed Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5B9 instrument of ratification. recommending to the • Deputy Iván Moreira Canada Parliaments of the Americas to Barros, Chile Phone: +1 613 594-5222 Adopted in October 2005 by take steps as quickly as Fax: +1 613 594-4766 Former FIPA president the UNESCO General possible to join the ranks of [email protected] Conference, the objectives of those countries who have • Senator Céline Hervieux- the Convention are, among become parties to the Payette, Canada www.e-fipa.org others, to reaffirm “the convention. They urged importance of the link between governments in the region to President of the Group of FIPA receives the financial culture and development” and adopt policies for Women Parliamentarians of the Americas support of the Government “the sovereign rights of States implementing provisions of the of Canada provided through to maintain, adopt and treaty. So far six countries of • Senator Cecilia López Montaño, implement policies and the Americas have become Colombia the Canadian International measures that they deem parties to the Convention: Plenary Meeting Development Agency host country appropriate for the protection Bolivia, Canada, Ecuador, (CIDA). and promotion of the diversity Guatemala, Mexico and Peru. • To be confirmed of cultural expressions on their

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