Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Republic of The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is an Association of Commonwealth The Secretariat of the ACP-EU joint Parliamentary Assembly is Parliamentarians. The Association’s mission is to promote the advancement of Parliamentary in Brussels, Belgium. The membership which is based on the democracy by enhancing knowledge and understanding of democratic governance. It seeks to signatories to the Contonou Agreement is as follows; 48 Africa, build an informed Parliamentary community able to deepen the Commonwealth’s democratic 15 Caribbean, 14 Pacific and 15 European Union States. Only one commitment and to further co-operation among its Parliaments and Legislatures. PARLIAMENT OF BOTSWANA Member of Parliament represents the Parliament of Botswana at the OUR PARLIAMENT OUR PRIDE The Association is composed of branches formed in Legislatures in Commonwealth countries Joint Assembly. The Joint Assembly Sessions of the ACP/EU are held which subscribe to Parliamentary democracy. The Presiding Officers of Legislative Chambers twice a year. are normally the Branch Presidents, while the Leaders of the Parliamentary parties are Vice- The objectives of the ACP/EU are as follows; Presidents. • Reinforcing intra-ACP cooperation with a view to the implementation CPA Branches are currently grouped geographically into nine Commonwealth Regions. The of the Contonou Agreement and achievement of its objectives. Regions are: Africa, Asia, Australia, British Islands and Mediterranean, Canada, Caribbean, America and Atlantic, India and South-East Asia. • To strengthen the ACP-EU relations within the framework of the Contonou Agreement by virtue of its role as a partner of the European The Executive of the Botswana Branch of the CPA consist of the Speaker of the National Union Parliam Promoting relations between the National Parliaments Assembly as the President of the Branch, the President of the Republic and Leader of of the ACP States and ensuring their cohesiveness. Opposition as the first and second Vice Presidents of the Branch respectively. The participation by Parliament of Botswana at these inter parliamentary The other members of the Branch are the Chairman of the CPA Botswana branch, his/her organizations is very essential especially at the time when Parliamentary vice and three additional members of the Executive, together with the Botswana Branch democracy and the influence of Parliaments in the Global Affairs is on the Representative to the CPA Africa region are elected by the general assembly at the beginning of international agenda. Parliament of Botswana continues to receive and every session. The Executive of the Botswana Branch must reflect the political representation send delegations to other National Parliaments through the exchange in the House. visits programmes under the various inter Parliamentary organizations. The Inter Parliamentary Union pursues its objectives through the annual Commonwealth The Parliamentary Committees continues to benefit from the exchange Parliamentary conferences, regional conferences and other symposiums, Parliamentary programmes and the technical assistance offered by these inter- seminars and workshops, publications, Parliamentary information and reference centre Parliamentary organizations. Of recent there has been an increase in communications. Parliamentary exchange visits, election observation and technical assistance. the visits by various Parliamentary Committees to exchange ideas on the mandates and operations of their Committees.

African Caribbean Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU)

The ACP-EU is an organization which discusses and influences decisions on political, economic and trade relations between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and European Union in terms of existing conventions and agreements. It brings together the democratically elected representatives of the European Union, Members of the European Parliament and the representatives and elected

Members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States who are signatories to the Lome Convention. The representatives of the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries meet in plenary session for one week twice a year with 15 members of the European Parliament.

The ACP-EU Joint Assembly meets alternatively in an ACP country and the EU. The Assembly is governed by rules of procedure based on parity and democracy. The Joint Assembly regularly carries out study and fact finding missions and observe elections. Other special missions are devoted to human rights issues. This allows the Members of the Joint Assembly to experience direct contact with the conditions in various developing countries that are members of the Lome Convention. INTERNATIONAL Physical Address: Government Enclave Phone: 3116800 Fax: 3913103 RELATIONS Postal Address: P O Box 240 Website: www.parliament.gov.bw

Facebook: BW Parliament INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS The following are some of the aims and objectives of the SADC Parliamentary Forum: Parliament of Botswana has always depended on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and • To promote the principle of human rights and democracy within the SADC region by International Cooperation for the execution of its international relations agenda. Today Pan African Parliament (PAP) internalizing values of functional democracy. Members of Parliament are often called on to represent the Parliament of Botswana in various The Pan African Parliament was established in March 2004 under Article 17 of the international forums and inter-Parliamentary organizations where they are increasingly Constitutive Act of the African Union as one of the ten (10) organs of the African Union. • To provide a forum for discussion on matters of common interest to SADC. involved in debating global issues and making their views heard. The role of Parliament in Article 17 states that: In order to ensure the full participation of African people in the • To promote peace, democracy, security and stability on the basis of collective responsibility the area of international relations is therefore mostly limited to participation of Members of development and economic integration of the continent, a Pan-African Parliament shall by supporting the development of permanent conflict resolution mechanism in the SADC Parliament in Inter Parliamentary forums and organizations. be established. The establishment of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) was inspired sub-region. by a vision to provide a common platform for African peoples and their grass-roots Participation in these international organizations allows Members to benefit from opportunities organizations to be more involved in discussions and decision-making on the problems • To strengthen regional solidarity and build a sense of common destiny among the people such as to learn through exchange visits and to channel Parliament input in international and challenges facing the continent of Africa. of SADC. affairs. The broad objectives of these inter-Parliamentary organizations are to: At present the seat of the Pan African Parliament is in South Africa, Midrand – • To encourage good governance, transparency and accountability in the region and in the • Foster the participation of Parliaments in the debate of global issues. Johannesburg. Each Member State is represented in the Pan-African Parliament by operation of SADC institutions. • Make sure that interests of the people occupy center stage at the international level. five (5) Members at least one of whom must be a woman. The representation of each • To facilitate networking with other organizations of Parliamentarians. • To build capacity within Parliaments to perform their role more efficiently by organizing Member State must reflect the diversity of political opinions in each National Parliament. training, information and awareness-raising seminars and workshops. Membership of the Pan African Parliament is concurrent to membership in the National Parliament. At present the Pan-African Parliament exercises advisory and consultative powers only. Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Among the objectives of the Pan-African Parliament we can mention the following:

• Facilitate the effective implementation of the policies and objectives of the African The Inter-Parliamentary Union is a multilateral political organization that brings together Union; representatives of National Parliaments and regional Parliamentary Assemblies of sovereign states. It was established in 1889 and has its headquarters based in Geneva, Switzerland. Its • Work towards the harmonization or coordination of the laws of Member States. mission is to foster peace and security through political dialogue, to promote democracy and • Encourage good governance, transparency and accountability in Member States. respect for human rights and to contribute to the development of representative and effective legislative institutions. • Promote peace, security and stability. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the world organization of Parliaments. It is the • Facilitate cooperation and development in Africa. focal point for world-wide Parliamentary dialogue and facilitator of multilateral contacts for Parliament of Botswana subscribes membership to the Parliamentarians from over 140 National Parliaments. • Strengthen Continental solidarity and build a sense of common destiny among the following international forums and organizations. peoples of Africa. The objectives of the IPU are as follows: • Fosters contacts, co-ordination and the exchange of experience among Parliaments and SADC-Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) Parliamentarians of all countries. 1. Pan African Parliament (PAP) The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) is a 2. SADC-Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) • Considers questions of international interest and expresses its views on such issues with regional organization that brings together Parliaments from the Southern Africa Region. the aim of bringing about action by Parliaments and Parliamentarians. 3. Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) The Forum was established in July 1996 as an autonomous institution of SADC. Its 4.Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) establishment was a result of what is now commonly known as the Windhoek Initiative; • It contributes to the defence and promotion of human rights, which are universal in scope 5. African Caribbean Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU) which is a resolution of a consultative meeting of Speakers and Presiding Officers and and respect for which is an essential factor of Parliamentary democracy and development. representatives from eight (8) SADC Parliaments from 20-22 October 1993. • It contributes to better knowledge of the working of representative institutions and to the The Membership of the SADC Parliamentary Forum is open to National Parliaments strengthening and development of their means of action. whose countries are members of Southern African Development Community. These The Inter Parliamentary Union purses its objectives through the annual conferences, Inter Member Parliaments are Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Parliamentary exchange visits,international seminars and symposia, election observation and Malawi, , Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia technical assistance. and Zimbabwe. Each Parliament is represented by the Presiding Officer and four members elected by each National Parliament. The National Parliaments must ensure equitable representation of women and political parties represented in Parliament.

Parliament of Botswana and Inter Relations -