Dokument nr. 17 (2003-2004) Årsrapport til Stortinget fra Stortingets delegasjon til Den Interparlamentariske Union

Årsrapport fra Stortingets delegasjon til Den In- – å bidra til å spre kunnskap om hvordan folkevalg- terparlamentariske Union for 2003 te institusjoner arbeider og å medvirke til at disse institusjonene styrkes og videreutvikles. Til Stortinget Pr. januar 2004 var 138 nasjonalforsamlinger medlemmer av IPU. Fem regionale parlamentariker- forsamlinger - deriblant Europaparlamentet - er asso- INNLEDNING sierte medlemmer. Stortingets delegasjon til Den Interparlamenta- riske Union (IPU) for valgperioden 2001-2005 består av følgende representanter: IPUS 108. INTERPARLAMENTARISKE KONFERANSE I SANTIAGO DE CHILE 6. - 11. Personlige APRIL Medlemmer: varamedlemmer: Karin Andersen (SV), leder Magnhild Meltveit Den Interparlamentariske Unions 108. konferan- Kleppa (Sp) se i Santiago de Chile 6.-11. april 2003 samlet dele- Oddbjørg Ausdal Starrfelt Knut Storberget (Ap) gasjoner fra 115 parlamenter i tillegg til assosierte (Ap), nestleder medlemmer og observatører. Totalt deltok ca. 1 200 deltakere, hvorav 579 var parlamentarikere. Til Thore A. Nistad (FrP) Ola T. Lånke (KrF) sammen 26 parlamentspresidenter og 33 visepresi- Finn Martin Vallersnes (H) Sonja Irene Sjøli (H) denter deltok. Andel kvinnelige parlamentarikere ut- gjorde 25 pst. Den Interparlamentariske Union ble etablert i Fra Stortinget deltok Karin Andersen, delega- 1889 og var det første permanente forum for politiske sjonsleder (SV), Oddbjørg Ausdal Starrfelt, nestleder multilaterale forhandlinger. Organisasjonen er et (Ap), Thore A. Nistad (FrP), Finn Martin Vallersnes samlingspunkt for parlamentarisk dialog og arbeider (H), Svein Roald Hansen (Ap) og Ola T. Lånke for å fremme fred og samarbeid og støtte utviklingen (KrF). Stortingets direktør Hans Brattestå deltok i av representative demokrati i alle verdensdeler. forbindelse med møter i Generalsekretærenes foren- For å oppnå dette, arbeider IPU med ing, ASGP. – å utvikle kontakt, koordinering og utveksling av I forkant av konferansen deltok leder og nestleder erfaring mellom parlamenter og parlamentarike- på det ordinære nordiske formøtet, som fant sted i re fra alle land Stockholm. – å ta opp spørsmål av internasjonal betydning og å gi uttrykk for synspunkter på slike tema, med sik- Konferansens innhold te på å bidra til at parlamenter og parlamentarike- re aktivt engasjerer seg i disse spørsmålene Plenum – å bidra til å beskytte og fremme menneskerettig- Konferansen ble formelt åpnet av den chilenske hetene - en hovedfaktor i de parlamentariske de- presidenten, Ricardo Lagos Escobar i en formell åp- mokratier og for samfunnsutvikling generelt. ningsseremoni. 2 Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004

Arbeidet i plenum ble innledet med et innlegg om ments' role in strengthening democratic institutions FNs Milleniumsmål av Mark Malloch Brown, leder and human development in a fragmented world". for FNs Utviklingsprogram (UNDP). Malloch Dette temaet ble behandlet i komiteen for parlamen- Brown understreket særlig parlamentenes ansvar i å tariske, juridiske og menneskerettslige spørsmål. De- bidra til at Milleniumsmålene blir oppfylt, og ba om legatene Ola T. Lånke og Thore A. Nistad fulgte ar- at parlamentarikere aktivt tok på seg en pådriverrolle beidet i denne komiteen, og deltok aktivt under be- overfor de respektive regjeringer for å sikre dette. handlingen av komiteens forslag til resolusjon. Ola Han uttrykte håp om at parlamentarisk støtte kunne T. Lånke holdt innlegg i forbindelse med temadebat- sikre at nye og viktige milepæler ble nådd i kampen ten i komiteen, der betydningen av grunnutdanning for utvikling. Utvikling kan kun nås hvis demokrati ble fremhevet, både i forhold til demokrati og utvik- og økonomisk vekst blir sett på som to sider av sam- ling. Resolusjonsteksten ble enstemmig vedtatt i ple- me stykke, sa Malloch Brown. num (vedlegg). Også den chilenske utenriksministeren, Soledad Det andre hovedtemaet var "International coope- Alvear, holdt et innlegg hvor hun bl.a. gikk inn på ration for the prevention and management of trans- den vanskelige internasjonale situasjonen i forbindel- border natural disasters and their impact on the regi- se med Irak, og hvor hun understreket viktigheten av ons concerned". Dette temaet ble behandlet i komi- å bidra til å støtte og utforme felles, internasjonale teen for økonomiske og sosiale spørsmål. Fra norsk kjøreregler og multilateral legitime løsninger. Parla- side deltok Svein Roald Hansen i arbeidet i denne ko- mentenes aktive innsats, både innad i det enkelte land miteen. Komiteens resolusjonsforslag ble enstemmig og internasjonalt, vil være et viktig bidrag for å skape vedtatt i plenum (vedlegg). den nødvendige politiske støtte og vilje, sa hun. Konferansen vedtok dessuten med kvalifisert Generaldebatten om den politiske, økonomiske majoritet (2/3) å behandle et tilleggstema. Iran hadde og sosiale situasjonen i verden ble i stor grad domi- fremsatt et forslag til tema: "A call by parliamentari- nert av Irak-spørsmålet og situasjonen i Midtøsten i ans to support a collaboration for peace", mens Un- vid forstand. Til sammen 119 delegater tok ordet i de- garn og Japan (med støtte fra Tolv pluss-gruppen der batten. Fra norsk side holdt delegasjonsleder Karin Norge er medlem) hadde fremsatt følgende forslag: Andersen et innlegg hvor hun vektla viktigheten av å "Importance of the non-proliferation of nuclear, che- følge FN-sporet i forbindelse med Irak-krisen. Sam- mical and biological weapons of mass destruction tidig advarte hun mot at Irak-krisen fikk overskygge and of missiles, including the prevention of their use utviklingskrisen i de afrikanske land, og minnet om by terrorists". Avstemningsresultatet viste at det un- at fattigdomsbekjempelse er et viktig middel i kam- garsk/japanske forslaget ble vedtatt med meget pen mot terror. Hun tok også opp kjønnslemlestelse, knapp margin (13 stemmer). Temaet ble behandlet i og påpekte både IPU og parlamentenes ansvar i den- komiteen for politiske saker, internasjonal sikkerhet ne sammenheng. Thore A. Nistad holdt innlegg på og nedrustning. Fra norsk side holdt Karin Andersen vegne av Nordisk Råd, hvor han bl.a. understreket et innlegg hvor hun bl.a. redegjorde for norsk støtte viktigheten av godt styresett og åpenhet for å skape til atomsikkerhetstiltak i Nordvest-Russland. Hun utvikling og bekjempe fattigdom. Også regionalt par- understreket også viktigheten av økt internasjonal lamentarisk samarbeid ble berørt i innlegget. innsats mot spredning av masseødeleggelsesvåpen, Konferansen vedtok, slik statuttene åpner for, å samt oppfordret parlamentarikere til å engasjere seg vedta et såkalt hastetema (emergency item) vedrø- med sikte på å få flere land til å undertegne landmi- rende Irak-situasjonen: The need to put an urgent end nekonvensjonen. to the war in Iraq and to re-establish peace: the role Under utarbeidelsen av resolusjonsforslaget i ko- of the United Nations and the Interparliamentary miteen, ble det forsøkt lagt vekt på å holde teksten på Union. Et alternativt forslag til temaformulering, et prinsipielt nivå og avstå fra å referere til konkrete fremsatt av bl.a. Storbritannia, Australia, Danmark, situasjoner eller land, og på den måten oppnå konsen- Filippinene m.fl. oppnådde ikke det kvalifiserte fler- sus. Resolusjonsteksten ble til slutt vedtatt enstem- tall av stemmer (4/5). mig (vedlegg). Teksten inneholder en klar oppfor- Under dette temaet vedtok forsamlingen enstem- dring til IPUs medlemsland om å ratifisere de inter- mig en resolusjonstekst (vedlegg). Resolusjonen nasjonale instrumenter som nevnes i resolusjonen. vektlegger bl.a. FNs rolle i gjenoppbyggingsarbeidet og IPUs muligheter til å støtte demokratiarbeidet i Irak. Paneldebatt om internasjonal handel med barn Under konferansen ble det, i nært samarbeid med Komiteene UNICEF, ILO og International Organization for Mi- Konferansen hadde, i følge en tidligere beslut- gration, arrangert en paneldebatt om handel med ning, to hovedtemaer. Det første temaet var "Parlia- barn. Så vel eksperter som parlamentarikere innledet, Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004 3 og dannet grunnlaget for en engasjert og bred debatt. mentarikere på særlig måte kan bidra til FNs ar- Deltakerne på møtet oppfordret IPU til å følge opp beid, og som kan styrke samarbeidet mellom FN dette temaet videre, og kom med konkrete ideer til og IPU. hvordan de nasjonale parlamenter kan følge opp i de – Rådet besluttet at det skal arrangere Den 2. glo- enkelte land. bale parlamentspresidentskonferanse i 2005.

Møte i IPUs råd Kvinnemøtet Følgende hovedsaker ble behandlet på til Som vanlig var det satt av en dag i forkant av ho- sammen tre møter i tilknytning til konferansen: vedsesjonen til kvinnemøtet. Rundt 100 deltakere fra 71 land deltok på møtet. Hovedtema på møtet var: – Medlemskapssaker. Det forelå søknad om med- "The situation of women and children in conflict si- lemsskap i IPU fra Saudi-Arabia. Eksekutivko- tuations, with particular reference to Iraq". Flere kon- miteen ga positiv innstilling til Rådet. Etter en krete elementer fra denne debatten ble oversendt og lengre debatt, der bl.a. Norge uttrykte bekymring innarbeidet i den Irak-resolusjonen som senere ble over at IPUs statutter er uklare m.h.t. hvilke krav vedtatt på hovedkonferansen. Under møtet ble det som stilles til at nasjonalforsamlinger er demo- også lansert en egen håndbok for parlamentarikere kratisk valgt, besluttet Rådet å innvilge søkna- om Konvensjonen for eliminering av alle former for den. Videre ble Pakistan gjeninntatt som med- diskriminering av kvinner (CEDAW) og tilleggspro- lem, mens den Sentralafrikanske republikken ble tokollene. Håndboken er utarbeidet i samarbeid mel- suspendert som følge av at parlamentet hadde lom FN og IPU. Fra norsk side deltok alle de kvinne- opphørt å fungere etter statskuppet. USA har ikke lige delegatene aktivt i arbeidet på kvinnemøtet. engasjert seg i IPU på flere år, og har heller ikke innbetalt medlemsavgift i disse årene. Også flere andre land har unnlatt å innbetale medlemsavgift. Studietur Ifølge statuttene skal dette føre til at landene sus- I etterkant av konferansen gjennomførte den nor- penderes, men endelig beslutning ble utsatt til ske IPU-delegasjonen en studietur til Puerto Montt i neste sesjon i Genève. Sør-Chile, hvor den norske ambassaden hadde forbe- – Reformprogrammet. Arbeidet med å effektivise- redt et faglig program som omfattet spørsmål knyttet re arbeidet i IPU har pågått over flere år, og prin- til fiskeri- og oppdrettsnæring, norske investeringer i sippene i en reformpakke ble vedtatt på rådsmø- denne sektoren samt chilensk kyst- og fiskeriforvalt- tet i Genève, høsten 2002. Rådsmøtet gikk igjen- ning i denne regionen. nom forslag til statuttendringer som følge av disse prinsippvedtakene. Vedtakene innebærer bl.a. at høstkonferansen reduseres i antall dager IPUS 109. INTERPARLAMENTARISKE og omfang, at antallet faste komiteer reduseres SESJON I GENÈVE 1.-3. OKTOBER fra fire til tre og at arbeidsstrukturen i disse komi- teene endres vesentlig. Norge har vært blant de På høstsesjonen deltok delegasjoner fra 122 na- land som aktivt har arbeidet for å få vedtatt disse sjonalforsamlinger, samt en rekke assosierte med- reformene, og har i løpet av prosessen en rekke lemmer og observatører. Totalt deltok 1 022 perso- konkrete endringsforslag. Alle de fremlagte for- ner, hvorav 465 var parlamentarikere. Til sammen 30 slag til statuttendringer ble vedtatt. parlamentspresidenter og 22 visepresidenter deltok. – Komiteene. Rådet valgte også ledelse til de tre Andelen av kvinnelige parlamentarikere utgjorde 28 nyopprettede faste komiteene, som etter refor- pst. men er: Fra Stortinget deltok de fire faste medlemmene av IPU-delegasjonen. 1. Fred og internasjonal sikkerhet I forkant av konferansen deltok leder og nestleder 2. Bærekraftig utvikling, finansielle spørsmål på det ordinære nordiske formøtet, som fant sted i og handel Nösund, Sverige. 3. Demokrati og menneskerettigheter Under denne sesjonen tok man for første gang i – Samarbeidet med FN. Rådet konstaterte med til- bruk de nye arbeidsstrukturene for konferansen og fredshet at FNs Generalforsamling i november komiteene. Dette innebar bl.a. at sesjonen var redu- 2002 hatte gitt IPU status som observatør, inklu- sert til tre dager med færre deltakere, samt at alle de dert retten til å sirkulere IPUs offisielle doku- tre nye faste komiteene trådte i arbeid og behandlet menter i FN. Rådet vil følge opp denne beslutnin- hvert sitt hovedtema. Det ble ikke gjennomført noen gen, bl.a. ved å utarbeide et aksjonsprogram hvor generaldebatt, ei heller et kvinnemøte i forkant av man identifiserer tema og prosesser hvor parla- konferansen. 4 Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004

Komiteene "Parliamentary support for the implementation of the Ifølge den nye ordningen for IPUs komitearbeid road map for peace in putting an end to the Palestini- var det oppnevnt to rapportører for hvert av de tre te- an-Israeli conflict an achieving a comprehensive maene. Rapportørene hadde utarbeidet en rapport og peace process and justice in the Middle East". IPUs resolusjonsutkast til hvert tema, og disse dokumente- Midtøsten-komité, under ledelse av Finn Martin Val- ne ble sendt ut i forkant, slik at samtlige delegasjoner lersnes, ble gitt i oppdrag å forberede et resolusjons- fikk muligheten til å sende inn synspunkter og kom- utkast, i nært samarbeid med komiteens medlemmer mentarer til rapportene, samt konkrete endringsfor- i regionen. Finn Martin Vallersnes introduserte reso- slag til resolusjonsutkastene. lusjonen i plenum, og den ble vedtatt med konsensus. Noen få delegasjoner reserverte seg på enkelte punkt. Prosessen bar imidlertid noe preg av at de nye ru- tinene ennå ikke var helt på plass, og Norge var blant de relativt få land som innsendte endringsforslag i Paneldebatt om Den internasjonale forkant. Tidsopplegget ble for knapt, tidsfrister for strafferettsdomstolen endringsforslag ble utvidet, noe som igjen førte til at Under konferansen ble det avholdt en panelde- samtlige komiteer valgte å nedsette redaksjonskomi- batt om utfordringene som møter Den internasjonale teer for å revidere resolusjonstekstene, i stedet for å strafferettsdomstolen (ICC). Sjefsanklager L. More- behandle forslagene i samlet komité. no-Ocampo innledet, sammen med en representant – Komiteen for fred og internasjonal sikkerhet. fra Amnesty International, en representant fra støtte- Denne komiteen behandlet følgende tema: "The gruppen for ICC, samt en parlamentariker fra Slova- role of parliaments in assisting multilateral organi- kia. Svært mange av parlamentarikerne valgte å delta zations in ensuring peace and security and in i den påfølgende debatt, som kan karakteriseres som building an international coalition for peace". Fra åpen, bred og engasjert. norsk side deltok Finn Martin Vallersnes og Odd- Under konferansen ble det for øvrig også arran- bjørg Ausdal Starrfelt i komiteens arbeid. Starrfelt gert et informasjonsmøte om hva parlamentarikere holdt et innlegg hvor hun særlig advarte mot å un- kan bidra med i kampen mot tortur og mishandling, dergrave det internasjonale rettssystemet og FN/ arrangert i samarbeid med The Assosiation for the Sikkerhetsrådets rolle, og hvor hun sterkt oppfor- Prevention of Torture (APT). dret til at flere land ratifiserte Roma-vedtektene til Den internasjonale strafferettsdomstolen. Innvielse av IPUs nye hovedkvarter – Komiteen for bærekraftig utvikling, finansielle IPUs nye hovedkvarter i Genève er nå ferdig re- spørsmål og handel. Denne komiteen behandlet novert, og den offisielle åpningen av lokalene fant temaet "Global Public Goods: A new challenge sted i etterkant av Genève-konferansen den for parliaments". Fra norsk side deltok Karin An- 3. oktober. Hovedkvarteret, som rommer både konto- dersen i komiteens arbeid. I sitt innlegg påpekte rer og møteromsfasiliteter, er gitt betegnelsen "The hun bl.a. at menneskerettigheter og rettferdighet House of Parliaments". burde anses som globale fellesgoder og trekkes sterkere inn i debatten i komiteen. Hun fikk også Møte i IPUs styrende råd (Governing Council) tilslutning til et viktig endringsforslag under re- solusjonsbehandlingen, hvor prinsippet om at Rådet avholdt to møter under konferansen. For "forurenser betaler" ble slått fast. første gang anvendte man det nye prinsippet at hvert – Komiteen for demokrati og menneskerettigheter. medlemsland kunne møte med tre representanter i rå- Temaet som ble behandlet i denne komiteen var det, gitt at begge kjønn var representert. Fra Stortin- "The contribution of new information and com- gets side deltok Karin Andersen, Oddbjørg Ausdal munication technologies to good governance, the Starrfelt og Finn Martin Vallersnes, noe som innebar improvement of parliamentary democracy and at Norge fikk tre stemmer i rådet (to tidligere). the management of globalisation". Thore A. Nis- Følgende hovedsaker ble behandlet i rådet: tad deltok i arbeidet i denne komiteen. – Medlemskapsspørsmål. Etter anbefaling fra ekse- Samtlige resolusjoner ble til slutt enstemmig kutivkomiteen besluttet rådet å ta opp Bahrain vedtatt (vedlegg), men med en rekke stemmeforkla- som medlem. Rådet besluttet også å suspendere ringer og reservasjoner, særlig knyttet til resolusjons- Irak, da parlamentet i Irak hadde opphørt å funge- teksten om fred og internasjonal sikkerhet. re. Guinea Bissau ble også suspendert etter at parlamentet var oppløst som følge av et stats- Hastetema kupp. Videre besluttet Rådet, i tråd med IPUs sta- På forslag fra Indonesia, besluttet konferansen å tutter, å suspendere Georgia, Liberia, Malawi, behandle følgende tilleggstema på konferansen: Marshalløyene, Paraguay og USA, da disse lan- Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004 5

dene ikke har innbetalt medlemsavgift de siste tre don, ble saken endelig avgjort ved avstemning årene. (roll-call vote). Avstemningsresultatet viste 137 – Budsjettsaker. Rådet godkjente IPUs budsjett for stemmer for å flytte møtet fra London, mot 87 2004 på ca. 10 mill. sveitsiske franc (ca. 55 mill. stemmer (deriblant de 3 norske) for å beholde NOK), hvorav Norge betaler 0,67 pst. Budsjettet London som møteplass. Sekretariatet fikk i opp- innebar at de nasjonale bidragene økes med ca. 3 drag å undersøke hvor konferansen kunne flyttes pst. Rådet godkjente også eksekutivkomiteens til, og Thailand tilbød seg å undersøke mulighe- forslag om å opprette en stiftelse som skal støtte tene for å ta på seg arrangementet. (Dette viste nye demokratifremmende aktiviteter. seg senere å ikke føre frem, og det ble senere på – Møtested for kommende konferanse. Dette punk- høsten besluttet at konferansen skulle arrangeres tet la grunnlaget for den mest følelsesladede de- i Mexico City). batten på konferansen. I prinsippet var det allere- – Parlamentarikere utsatt for menneskerettighets- de besluttet at London skulle være møtested for brudd. IPUs komité for menneskerettighetsbrudd IPUs vårsesjon våren 2004. Den britisk IPU-de- rettet mot parlamentarikere hadde gjort grundige legasjonen var i full gang med forberedelsene til forundersøkelser i en lang rekke innrapporterte konferansen. Imidlertid ga den britiske delega- overgrepssaker. Som en oppfølgning av komite- sjonen beskjed om at den britiske regjering ikke ens tilrådning, vedtok Rådet 30 resolusjoner med ville kunne utstede visum til delegater som sto på dokumentasjon på og fordømmelse av menne- listen over personer som var ilagt internasjonalt skerettsovergrep mot til sammen 148 parlamen- reiseforbud, i dette tilfeller EUs liste over innrei- tarikere i 19 ulike land. Burma, Zimbabwe, Tyr- seforbud. Denne listen omfatter bl.a. noen parla- kia og Eritrea topper listen med antall overgrep mentarikere og regjeringsmedlemmer fra Zim- (vedlegg). babwe. IPUs generalsekretær hadde i forkant av Geneve-konferansen hatt flere runder med de be- ARBEIDET I TOLV PLUSS-GRUPPEN I 2003 rørte parter, uten at dette ført frem. Gruppen av de vestlige land, hvor Norge har del- Under rådsmøtet viste IPUs generalsekretær, tatt siden starten i 1974, kalles Tolv Pluss-gruppen. sterkt støttet av bl.a. den afrikanske gruppen, til Pr. i dag er 43 land medlemmer av gruppen. Mens de IPUs statutter og prinsippet om at medlemsparla- geopolitiske gruppene i begynnelsen spilte en meget mentene selv må stå fritt til å utpeke hvilke repre- tilbaketrukket rolle i IPU, er dette endret de siste åre- sentanter de ønsker å la seg representere av, at ne. I dag samordnes og drøftes et bredt spekter av sa- IPU er en viktig kanal for parlamentarisk dialog ker innen rammen av de geopolitiske gruppene. og at det derfor ikke kan aksepteres at et arran- Gruppene har fått økt innflytelse, både reelt og for- gørland "overprøver" hvilke parlamentarikere melt, på arbeidet under IPUs sesjoner så vel som i de som skal kunne delta på IPUs konferanser. Det løpende prosesser i organisasjonen. I økende grad ble også vist til at dette kan skape en farlig presi- konsulteres ledelsen i de geopolitiske gruppene i for- dens ved senere anledninger, for eksempel der- kant før større saker tas opp til vurdering. som IPU-konferansen skal avholdes i Midtøsten. Stortingsrepresentant Oddbjørg Ausdal Starrfelt Fra de fleste vestlige land (med unntak av Frank- (Ap) har innehatt ledervervet i Tolv Pluss-gruppen de rike og Belgia) ble det argumentert med at re- siste to årene, men stilte ikke opp til gjenvalg på høst- spekten for menneskerettighetene er et overord- konferansen i Genève. Som hennes etterfølger ble net prinsipp for IPU, at forbudslisten omfattet Gert Versnick (Lib) valgt. personer som står ansvarlig for alvorlige brudd Gjennom disse to årene Ausdal Starrfelt har vært på menneskerettighetene, og at prinsippet om vi- leder, har Stortinget hatt sekretariatsansvar for grup- sumutstedelse måtte anses som underordnet i for- pens løpende arbeid, i tillegg til det faglige og prak- hold til dette. Det ble videre vist til at EU-listen tisk ansvaret for gruppens møter i tilknytning til kon- var bindende for EUs medlemsland og en rekke feransene. andre land som frivillig har sluttet seg til de sam- Tolv Pluss-gruppen møtes ordinært til et heldags- me sanksjonene (bl.a. Norge), og at det i så fall møte i forkant av vår- og høstsesjonen. Dessuten av- ville bety at de fleste vestlige land ikke kunne ta holdes morgenmøter under sesjonen, hvor gruppen på seg å arrangere IPUs sesjoner i fremtiden, så samordner seg i forhold til den løpende utvikling på lenge slike lister med innreiseforbud er vedtatt i konferansen. Under både Santiago- og Genève-kon- lovs form. Etter en meget følelsesladet debatt, der feransen var gruppen aktiv med å fremme felles kan- den afrikanske gruppen holdt en meget klar og didater til eksekutivkomiteen og ulike politiske verv, felles linje og hvor det ble skapt et inntrykk av at utveksle synspunkter på arbeidet i komiteene og de den afrikanske gruppen ville vurdere å boikotte ulike resolusjonene, delta i redaksjonskomiteer og neste konferanse dersom den ble avholdt i Lon- legge frem forslag til tema for kommende konferan- 6 Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004 ser. Under konferansen i Genève var dessuten Tolv og kantonen Genève, arrangerte IPU ved Midtøsten- Pluss-gruppen aktiv i forkant av rådsmøtet for å for- komiteen et møte i Genève 17. juli mellom en opp- søke å bidra til en løsning som ville gjøre det mulig å nevnt delegasjon fra henholdsvis Knesset (tverrpoli- fastholde London som møtested for neste konferanse. tisk) og PLC ( Palestinian Legislative Council ). Mø- Oddbjørg Ausdal Starrfelt tok bl.a. initiativ til et tet resulterte i etableringen av en arbeidsgruppe mel- møte med den afrikanske gruppen, med sikte på å un- lom folkevalgte fra de to partene, med mandat å dersøke om disse to gruppene sammen kunne bidra fremme samarbeid og en infrastruktur for et videreut- til å finne en løsning. Møtet ble gjennomført i en god viklet samarbeid mellom de to parlamentene, i den atmosfære, men førte ikke frem til noen endelig løs- hensikt å styrke utviklingen av en fredsavtale mellom ning som de ulike partene kunne akseptere. Den afri- Israel og Palestina. Vallersnes leder arbeidsgruppens kanske gruppen satte imidlertid pris på Tolv Pluss- møter, og gjennomførte derfor en ukes kontaktreise i gruppens initiativ, selv om man i sak var meget ueni- Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Vestbredden og Gaza 3-7. no- ge. vember. Arbeidsgruppens neste møte er planlagt til Tolv Pluss-gruppen har vært en drivkraft i arbei- våren 2004 og møtene vurderes å legges til Jerusa- det for å reformere og fornye IPUs arbeid, og har i lem. De ytre forutsetningene for en slik arbeidsgrup- denne perioden også lagt ned betydelig arbeid for å få pe kan synes håpløse. Den norske IPU-delegasjonen reformene på plass og i god gjenge. Særlig har man har likevel valgt å prioritere dette arbeidet ut fra bl.a. arbeidet med å følge opp den nye komitéstrukturen. to forhold: Tolv Pluss-gruppens ledelse har ellers lagt vekt på å få til en god dialog med de øvrige geopolitiske – et flertall i begge de to befolkningene ønsker en gruppene. fredelig løsning som innbefatter en levedyktig Under det norske formannskapet er det for øvrig stat for den andre parten, og parlamentene har et utgitt et kompendium vedrørende Tolv Pluss-grup- særlig ansvar for å formidle befolkningens krav. pens historie og arbeid, som et bidrag i forbindelse – når situasjonen blir mer håpløs og konfrontasjon med gruppens 30-års jubileum i 2004. og vold dominerer, er det desto viktigere å opp- rettholde de få kanalene som ennå finnes for kon- ARBEIDET I IPUS MIDTØSTEN-KOMITÉ takt og dialog. Finn Martin Vallersnes etterfulgte i 2002 Odd- bjørg Ausdal Starrfelt som medlem av IPUs "Com- ARBEIDSGRUPPE MOT KJØNNS- mittee on Middle East Questions", og ble på konfe- LEMLESTELSE AV KVINNER ransen i Santiago, Chile, valgt som komiteens leder. Midtøsten-komiteen hadde som vanlig møter både Under IPUs sesjon i Burkina Faso høsten 2001 under vårkonferansen (Santiago) og under høstkon- ble det avholdt en paneldebatt om kjønnslemlestelse feransen (Genève), med oppsummering og analyse av kvinner. En rekke afrikanske parlamentarikere tok av siste halvårs utvikling i Midtøsten, og med dialog- initiativ til at IPU skulle følge opp dette temaet mer møte mellom delegasjonene fra palestinsk og israelsk systematisk. Det ble derfor foreslått opprettet en side til IPU. Øvrige arabiske land inviteres også til "think-tank" bestående av parlamentarikere fra land disse dialogmøtene, men til nå er det kun Egypt og hvor kjønnslemlestelse fremdeles er vanlig og fra Jordan som har valgt å delta. land som har innvandring fra disse kulturene. Målet Komiteens leder har dessuten deltatt på følgende er å utveksle informasjon om lovgivning, program- møter: mer og andre tiltak for å kunne bekjempe dette pro- blemkomplekset mer effektivt. På vårkonferansen i – 15.-16. juli på "United Nations Seminar on As- Marrakesh ble dette fulgt videre opp. Den afrikanske sistance to the Palestinian People" i Genève, med gruppen fremmet forslag om en egen spesialkonfe- et innlegg i paneldebatt under tittelen: "Priorities ranse om parlamentarikeres ansvar og rolle i kampen for humanitarian and economic assistance". mot kjønnslemlestelse. En arbeidsgruppe på seks – 4.-5. september på "United Nations Conference personer, deriblant Karin Andersen, ble nedsatt for å of Civil Society in Support of the Palestinian arbeide videre med forberedelsene av en slik konfe- People" i New York, hvor han også holdt et av ranse. Arbeidsgruppen møttes både under sesjonen i åpningsforedragene. Chile og Genève. I tillegg ble Karin Andersen, sammen med en representant fra Storbritannia og På initiativ fra den Genève-baserte ideelle orga- Uganda, bedt om å representere IPU under en afri- nisasjonen "Manifesto-Movement for a just and las- kansk konferanse om kjønnslemlestelse i Addis Abe- ting peace in the Middle East" og med støtte fra byen ba 3.-6. februar 2003. Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004 7

ØVRIG IPU-AKTIVITETER I 2003 tede demokratier i Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 11. Stortinget var i 2003 representert på følgende ar- september, der Finn Martin Vallersnes deltok. rangementer i regi av Den Interparlamentariske Uni- – Parlamentarikermøter i tilknytning til WTOs 5. on: ministerkonferanse i Cancun, 9. og 11. septem- ber, der Gunhild Øyangen, Morten Høglund, – Spesialkonferanse om WTO i Genève 12. -18. Lars Rise og Bjørn Jacobsen deltok (Disse repre- februar (arrangert i samarbeid med Europaparla- sentantene inngikk i den offisielle norske delega- mentet), der Finn Martin Vallersnes og Audun sjonen til WTOs ministerkonferanse). Bjørlo Lysbakken deltok. – Parlamentarisk høring i tilknytning til FNs 58. – Parlamentarikermøte i tilknytning til Den femte generalforsamling i New York, der Karin Ander- internasjonale konferanse for nye og gjenoppret- sen deltok.

Oslo, den 20. april 2004

Karin Andersen delegasjonsleder 8 Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004

Vedlegg

Vedlegg til årsrapport fra Stortingets delegasjon til Den Interparlamentariske Union for 2003

Resolusjonstekster vedtatt under vårkonferansen of practices that are specific to individual juris- i Santiago de Chile dictions, including oral question periods and the PARLIAMENTS' ROLE IN STRENGTHENING entitlement to address written questions to minis- DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND HUMAN ters, committee hearings and other practices that DEVELOPMENT IN A FRAGMENTED WORLD support financial scrutiny, – Providing citizens, both directly and through the Resolution adopted unanimously by the 108th mass media, with the information needed to hold Conference (Santiago de Chile, 11 April 2003) governments accountable and to contribute con- The 108th Inter-Parliamentary Conference, structively to the processes used to produce poli- Reaffirming the principles enshrined in the IPU's cy and legislation relating to democratisation and "Universal Declaration on Democracy" adopted by human development, both at home and abroad, the Inter-Parliamentary Council at its 161st session (September 1997, Cairo), Emphasising the central role of democratic insti- Recalling the Declaration of Presiding Officers tutions in ensuring successful long-term human de- of National Parliaments entitled "The Parliamentary velopment, by: Vision for International Cooperation at the Dawn of – Using effective electoral, parliamentary and the Third Millennium", adopted on 1 September other mechanisms to create the conditions for en- 2000, suring that governments are responsive to the Recalling also the United Nations Millennium needs and interests of the governed, Declaration of 8 September 2000 which sets out the – Ensuring that governments maintain the levels of Millennium Development Goals as internationally popular legitimacy required both for effective agreed targets for poverty eradication, and the United governmental action with respect to human de- Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human velopment and other issues, and for the civil or- Development Report 2002, der that is a precondition for effective governan- Reaffirming that democracy is both an ideal to be ce, pursued and a mode of government to be applied ac- cording to modalities which reflect the diversity of Stressing the important role of parliaments as le- experiences and cultural particularities without dero- gitimate representatives of the people in strengt- gating from internationally recognised principles and hening democratisation in multilateral institutions norms and that it is thus a constantly perfected and al- and furthering human development, ways perfectible state or condition whose progress Convinced that respect for human rights is not will depend upon a variety of political, social, econ- only a fundamental value in itself but also essential to omic and cultural factors, developing stable, democratic and prosperous socie- Acknowledging that national parliaments repre- ties that are capable of living together in peace, sent the basis for good governance grounded on de- Recognising that education is a key to human de- mocratic institutions responsive to the needs of the velopment, and acknowledging that parliaments have people, the rule of law, anti-corruption measures, a vital responsibility to guarantee free universal edu- gender equality and a favourable atmosphere and en- cation without any discrimination whatsoever, as this vironment for investment, hastens the pace of economic, social and political de- Recognising that parliamentary institutions make velopment and fosters cultural and spiritual advance- an indispensable contribution to the achievement of ment, meaningful democratic control and accountability Noting that countries that have developed effecti- through their scrutiny of the activities of govern- ve macroeconomic policies, established robust pu- ments, by: blic institutions, maintained domestic political stabi- lity and strengthened the rule of law, supported by in- – Relying on their constitutional authority to aut- vestments in people through better health and educa- horise, among other government legislative initi- tion, have generally achieved strong economic atives, the revenue-raising and spending measu- growth and made progress towards poverty reducti- res of governments as a means of ensuring their on, cooperation, Convinced that the side-effects of globalisation – Conducting substantive scrutiny using a variety and certain policies are, in some cases, inconsistent Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004 9 with the very concept of human development, and nancial resources, and instituting channels for stressing the need for developing countries to realise this purpose that are consistent with the spirit of that any progress, whether economic or social, is con- their Constitution and traditions; tingent upon their ability to create the necessary nati- 5. Stresses the need to reinforce cooperation bet- onal will to face the challenges imposed on them by ween the United Nations and its organs and agen- the new global system, cies and national parliaments with a view to furt- Stressing that persistent extreme poverty depri- hering peace, security and development, abiding ves citizens of full and effective enjoyment of human strictly by the principles of human dignity and rights and of participation in democratic processes in equity; each society, 6. Urges all States and multilateral institutions, in- Concerned that efforts to build strong democratic cluding the IPU, to continue providing practical institutions while working towards sustainable hu- support to strengthen political structures such as man development encounter numerous challenges, parliaments and their committees, local govern- such as poverty, corruption, globalisation, lack of ments, electoral commissions and political parti- resources, discrimination, transnational crime, civil es and to uphold democratic processes, and parti- strife, environmental degradation and overpopulati- cularly free elections, so that these essential poli- on, tical systems operate with sufficient power, Expressing concern at the growth of terrorism, responsibility and authority to reflect the inte- which poses a serious threat to democratic institu- rests of the people as a whole; in this regard, en- tions, and its repercussions on human development, courages the IPU and the UNDP to pursue their Also expressing concern at the growing divide cooperation in strengthening parliamentary insti- between rich and poor countries, tutions, and in implementing a strategic partners- Emphasising the need to grant debt relief to the hip within their respective development agendas; poor countries, address the causes of debt and take 7. Stresses the need for parliaments to submit regular measures to ensure that indebtedness does not recur, reports on the state of democracy and human de- Stressing the need to redouble efforts to combat velopment in the world, to serve as working and con- HIV/AIDS, sultative papers for the drafting of national policy; Recognising that volunteerism builds strong co- 8. Encourages all States to ratify and implement the hesive communities, encourages participation in the international human rights instruments in their democratic process and reduces social tensions by widest possible sense, which constitute the basis forging a common view, of democracy; 9. Urges the United Nations to extend the 1965 1. Urges governments and parliaments to acknow- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of ledge their collective responsibility to uphold the Racial Discrimination to cover any form of poli- principles of human dignity, equality and equity tical activity that derives from hate and violence; at the global level; 10. Recommends the development of the natural 2. Calls on all the parliaments in the world to work function of parliament as the mediator between for democracy based on the freely expressed will the public and international organisations and in- of the people through free and fair elections to stitutions, and parliament’s systematic rapproc- choose their own political, economic, social and hement with the NGOs that play a major role wit- cultural systems and participate fully in every hin civil society; sphere of their lives and, in this context, to affirm 11. Requests the IPU Secretary General to arrange the universal need to promote and protect human for the IPU to make a substantive contribution, rights and fundamental freedoms at the national including the circulation of a document on the and international levels; IPU and democracy, to the 5th International Con- 3. Calls on governments to promote the participati- ference of New or Restored Democracies in June on of all sections of society, in particular women, 2003 in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia); the disadvantaged and minorities, in the decision- 12. Stresses the urgent need to reform existing multi- making process; lateral institutions by promoting democratic prin- 4. Urges the governments and parliaments of all co- ciples to ensure that their policies and program- untries to foster participation by their citizens in mes meet the interests of and benefit all nations; political decision-making, shielded from undue and reaffirms that the United Nations is the only interference from institutionalised pressure legitimate multilateral institution responsible for groups, by creating, through democratic means, world peace and security and must perform its decentralised representative institutions vested role and functions in compliance with the prin- with real power and endowed with adequate fi- ciples of international law and its Charter; 10 Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004

13. Urges parliaments around the world to make ma- 22. Also requests all countries to make a firm pledge ximum use of existing processes for exerting le- to human development and take all appropriate gislative influence, financial control, scrutiny measures to increase current social expenditure and accountability in support of a global de- allocated in their budgets for human develop- mocratisation and human development agenda, ment; and to experiment with special debates, public 23. Calls on the parliaments of the developed coun- consultations, committee studies and other initia- tries to work towards the goal of earmarking at tives designed to mobilise governments and least 0.7 per cent of GNP as Official Develop- world public opinion in favour of democratic in- ment Assistance for global human development; stitutions and human development; 24. Further calls on all parliaments and parliamenta- 14. Encourages parliaments to develop parliamenta- rians to enact not only measures that focus on fa- ry diplomacy activities and to strengthen bilateral cilitating economic growth, but more particularly and multilateral cooperation; those that empower people and promote their 15. Urges parliaments, in this regard, to devote ever welfare and development; closer attention to international issues and particu- 25. Endorses the Brussels Declaration, and the Pro- larly to development financing, debt, poverty re- gramme of Action for the Least Developed Co- duction, human rights, gender equality, the rights of untries for the Decade 2001-2010, adopted by the the child, and the right to education, and to routinely United Nations General Assembly in its resoluti- take account of this dimension when legislating; on 55/279 of 12 July 2001, and emphasises, in 16. Also urges parliaments to put into place the ne- particular, the need for the effective implementa- cessary structures to monitor and oversee the in- tion of Commitment 2 of the Programme relating ternational negotiations conducted by govern- to good governance at the national and internati- ments, particularly when they need to be subse- onal levels, and of Commitment 7 relating to ne- quently enacted into legislation; cessary implementation of the Programme at the 17. Requests governments to ensure that all useful in- national level; formation relating to such negotiations is submit- 26. Requests the IPU to devote special attention to ted to parliament, both in the negotiation phase the LDCs in its programmes and activities focu- and when implementing decisions, encompas- sing on the areas of good governance at the nati- sing all texts, including those which do not requi- onal and international levels, and also requests re enactment into domestic law; parliaments to play a supportive role in ensuring 18. Emphasises the central role of the Inter-Parlia- the effective implementation of the Brussels Pro- mentary Union, as the world organisation of par- gramme of Action at the national level; liaments, in making a key contribution to strengt- 27. Strongly endorses the resolution adopted by the hening democracy in its relations with internatio- IPU Council at its 168th session on 7 April 2001, nal institutions and to keeping world peace; expressing support for volunteerism and enco- 19. Acknowledges that, to achieve peace and security uraging closer cooperation between the IPU and through social and economic stability, internatio- the United Nations Volunteers in this regard. nal institutions must offer the countries of the world the aid required to ensure reasonable stan- INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR THE dards of living, in contrast to the present dispari- PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF ties between rich and poor countries; TRANSBORDER NATURAL DISASTERS AND 20. Underscores the importance of establishing an THEIR IMPACT ON THE REGIONS CONCER- international and regional strategy for human de- NED velopment focused on attaining sustainable econ- omic growth and combating poverty, and of sup- Resolution adopted unanimously by the 108th porting and expanding integration-promoting in- Conference (Santiago de Chile, 11 April 2003) stitutions through national political participation The 108th Inter-Parliamentary Conference, in policy formulation and legislative decision- Noting that natural disasters due to such pheno- making, with continuous re-evaluation; mena as earthquakes, volcanic activity, floods, hurri- 21. Requests all parliaments to urge their govern- canes, forest fires that devastate virgin lands, and ments to adopt measures to effectively enable drought have hit countries throughout the world in them to honour the undertaking made by all the recent years; and that the prevention of natural disas- United Nations Member States in the Millennium ters and the management of their effects have become Declaration, and to work jointly to establish more issues of great concern to these countries, egalitarian processes in which all citizens in eve- Conscious that natural disasters cause death and ry country can participate; physical disruption which entails enormous social Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004 11 and economic cost and that the number of natural stitutional arrangements put into place after the disasters (such as drought, floods and hurricanes) is closure of the Decade, increasing, Calling to mind the strategy entitled A Safer Emphasising the importance of identifying the World in the 21st Century: Risk and Disaster Preven- meteorological and climatic causes of disasters, and tion, and the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: the regions vulnerable to them, in order to lessen their Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Prepa- impact, redness and Mitigation, and its Plan of Action, Realising that the developing countries are the Bearing in mind the Johannesburg Declaration most seriously affected by these disasters because on Sustainable Development and its Plan of Action, they are more vulnerable to natural risks, and particularly the commitments to enhance the role Noting that natural risks connected with rivers, of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction volcanoes and seismic fault lines often lie across na- and to allocate sufficient financial resources to the tional borders, necessitating their coordinated mana- Special Fund for the Decade, gement by all the countries concerned, Recalling the relevant conclusions of the Special Noting also that natural disasters which occur Session of the United Nations General Assembly on throughout the world have heightened national con- "Women in the Year 2000: Gender Equality, De- cerns for the safety of populations and the need for velopment and Peace for the 21st Century", national and international measures to mitigate natu- 1. Expresses its solidarity with countries and pe- ral disasters, oples struck by natural disasters; Emphasising that environmental protection and 2. Calls on governments to support efforts to build mitigation of natural disasters may be closely linked capacity in disaster preparedness, mitigation and and that natural disasters effect and may seriously da- management at regional, national and communi- mage the environment, ty levels, especially by increasing financial and Recognising that each State bears primary re- technological assistance to developing countries, sponsibility for bringing relief to the victims of the and to increase recognition and support for disas- natural disasters that occur on its own territory, and ter management, in particular by incorporating for adopting measures to allay their effects, disaster mitigation initiatives into national de- Aware of gender-specific differences in relation velopment strategies; to vulnerability to natural risks, the impact of natural 3. Urges all States to adopt and implement all ne- disasters and the needs to which they give rise, cessary legislative and other appropriate measu- Emphasising that vulnerability to natural disas- res to prevent, mitigate and manage the effects of ters is often heightened by inequalities stemming transborder natural disasters, and to participate from gender relations, economic circumstances, or and engage constructively in regional and inter- ethnic or racial factors, national disaster prevention and management Emphasising also that natural disaster risk re- forums; duction is an integral part of sustainable development 4. Encourages the international community to coo- based on sound environmental management, and that perate more closely in mitigating the adverse ef- fects of transborder natural disasters through im- – Effective natural disaster prevention requires the proved preparedness, risk reduction and effective participation of the vulnerable populations in response, and to strengthen coordination mecha- planning, decision-making and operational acti- nisms among States at the regional and internati- vities; onal levels, including improved donor response – Any natural disaster prevention strategy involves coordination and harmonisation; various disciplines, sectors and institutions, the- 5. Calls on the international community to address reby necessitating partnership arrangements, funding, coordination, information exchange, and strategic planning in the context of transbor- Recognising the importance of legal instruments der natural disasters, and to adopt common termi- and international, regional and bilateral mechanisms nology, standards and practices to ensure greater that address natural disaster prevention and prepared- interoperability in transborder disaster preventi- ness, and mitigate their effects, on and management; Appreciating the work done by the agencies and 6. Urges the UN agencies, multilateral and regional partner organisations of the United Nations and by organisations, governmental and non-govern- the various relevant regional organisations to mitiga- mental actors to support research into the chal- te the effects of natural disasters, lenges of preventing and managing of transbor- Noting the results of the International Decade for der natural disasters; Natural Disaster Reduction (1989-1999) and the in- 7. Calls on governments to recognise the critical 12 Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004

role of voluntary community-based and non-go- on in the fields of natural disaster prevention, ear- vernmental organisations in disaster prepared- ly warning, intervention, disaster mitigation, re- ness and response, and to facilitate their work, re- covery and reconstruction. specting their roles and principles, by enacting appropriate legislation; IMPORTANCE OF THE NON-PROLIFERATION 8. Encourages States to consider signing or ratify- OF NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ing the Tampere Convention on the Provision of WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND OF Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Miti- MISSILES, INCLUDING THE PREVENTION OF gation and Relief Operations, adopted at Tampe- THEIR USE BY TERRORISTS re (Finland) on 18 June 1998, and also to commit Resolution adopted unanimously by the 108th to the Oslo Guidelines on the Use of Foreign Mi- Conference (Santiago de Chile, 11 April 2003) litary and Civil Defence Assets in Disaster Re- lief; The 108th Inter-Parliamentary Conference, 9. Urges all States to pursue international coopera- Convinced that nuclear non-proliferation and tion in order more fully to understand and thus prohibition of the development, production and lessen the impact of extreme weather events and stockpiling of chemical and bacteriological (biologi- other climatic variables, to share relevant know- cal) weapons and their elimination, through effective ledge and experience, and to continue improving measures, will facilitate general and complete disar- mament under strict and effective international con- transborder disaster reduction capacities through trol, increased scientific analysis of disaster causation and early warning mechanisms; Concerned at recent developments in arms con- trol, disarmament and the access to weapons of mass 10. Invites States to support the programmes imple- destruction, not least in consideration of the risk that mented under the International Strategy for such weapons may fall into the hands of terrorists, Disaster Reduction, and to increase funding Also concerned that certain States do not fulfil earmarked for the Special Fund; the commitments made with respect to weapons of 11. Urges States to incorporate a gender-equal per- mass destruction, and deeply concerned at recent se- spective into strategies, policies and activities re- rious incidents of non-compliance with international lating to the prevention of natural disasters; treaties and/or UN Security Council resolutions re- 12. Calls on parliaments to improve national legisla- garding the non-proliferation of weapons of mass de- tion on the prevention of natural disasters and the struction, mitigation of their impact, by adopting a multi- Stressing the need for confidence-building mea- disciplinary, gender-equal approach and by at- sures (information sharing and inspections) as sugge- taching special importance to the key role of local sted by the United Nations Department of Disarma- communities and partnership between all stake- ment Affairs, holders; Reaffirming the crucial importance of the Treaty 13. Also calls on parliaments to ensure that national on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) development programmes do not increase vulne- as the cornerstone of the international régime for nu- rability to national risks, and that natural disaster clear non-proliferation and as an essential foundation preparedness is systematically incorporated into for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament, these programmes; Wishing to help achieve the purposes and enforce 14. Invites parliaments to note that the International the principles of the United Nations Charter, Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Recalling the various IPU resolutions adopted re- Societies is preparing a report on the current state cently on this matter, in particular, "Parliamentary of international law relating to disaster response, action to encourage all countries to sign and ratify to be presented to States and national Red Cross the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty prohibiting all and Red Crescent Societies in December 2003, nuclear testing, to encourage universal and non- and calls on parliaments to make good use of this discriminatory nuclear non-proliferation measures report; and to work towards the eventual elimination of all 15. Urges parliaments to recognise, according to nuclear weapons" (101st Conference in Brussels, established rules and criteria, the role of local bo- April 1999), "To comprehensively ban nuclear wea- dies, the private sector, the scientific community, pons testing and halt all present nuclear weapons the media and other partners participating in acti- tests" (94th Conference in Bucharest, October 1995) vities linked to natural disaster prevention and and "The importance of adhering to the obligations management; specified in the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of 16. Calls on parliaments to make use of parliamenta- Nuclear Weapons" (91st Conference in Paris, March ry diplomacy to promote international cooperati- 1994), Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004 13

Determined to resolve these issues peacefully, be included in the overall arms reduction negoti- and contribute, for the stability of the world, to inter- ations; national cooperation to strengthen non-proliferation 12. Calls on all States which have not yet done so to mechanisms for nuclear and other weapons of mass conclude comprehensive safeguard agreements destruction, and missiles, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and to conclude additional protocols to 1. Reaffirms the importance of achieving universal their safeguards agreements (on the basis of the accession to the NPT, and of States not party to Model Protocol); the NPT acceding to it promptly and unconditio- 13. Urges all States to accede to the Comprehensive nally as non-nuclear-weapon States, and of all Nuclear Test Ban Treaty; States party to the NPT fulfilling their obligations under the Treaty; B. Chemical weapons 2. Also reaffirms the importance of achieving the 14. Also urges States party to the Chemical Weapons universal prohibition of chemical and biological Convention to implement its provisions fully and weapons, and calls on States not party to the re- without delay; levant international treaties to accede to them 15. Encourages all the parties concerned to consider promptly and unconditionally; the use of challenge inspections as a way of veri- 3. Calls on all States to comply with international fying compliance with the Chemical Weapons treaties on nuclear disarmament and non-prolife- Convention; ration and the prohibition of biological and che- mical weapons and to adopt stringent national le- C. Biological and toxin weapons gislation, where it does not already exist, for their 16. Urges all States which have not yet done so to ac- implementation; cede to the 1925 Geneva Protocol; 4. Also calls on all States to redouble their efforts to 17. Appeals to the States party to the 1925 Geneva prevent and curb the proliferation of weapons of Protocol that submitted reservations to withdraw mass destruction, confirming and strengthening them at their earliest convenience; their policies not to transfer equipment, materials 18. Urges parliamentarians to use all the mechanis- or technology that could contribute to the prolife- ms of parliamentary diplomacy to promote broa- ration of such weapons, not least in the hands of der accession to the 1925 Geneva Protocol and to terrorists; have any reservations attached to it withdrawn; 5. Reaffirms the importance for all States to fulfil 19. Urges all States which have not yet done so to ac- their obligations under the relevant UN resolu- cede to the Convention on the Prohibition of the tions on the weapons of mass destruction; Development, Production and Stockpiling of A. Nuclear weapons Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons 6. Calls on States which have decided to withdraw and on their Destruction; or are contemplating withdrawing from the NPT 20. Urges all States signatories to the aforementio- to retract the decision and to comply with all their ned Convention to ratify it as soon as possible; obligations to the international community regar- 21. Urges parliamentarians to use all the mechanis- ding the use of nuclear energy for peaceful pur- ms of parliamentary and inter parliamentary di- poses, under the NPT, the IAEA Safeguards plomacy to promote broader accession to the Agreement and all other relevant international Convention; commitments; 22. Urges the parties to the Convention on biological 7. Calls on all Member States not to hinder the acti- weapons to make efforts to establish a more ef- vities of States party to the NPT relating to the fective control mechanism for the verification of use of nuclear energy and technology for peace- the Convention; ful purposes, in accordance with the provisions 23. Urges that measures be undertaken to ensure na- of the relevant disarmament instruments; tional implementation of the prohibitions provi- 8. Urges States not party to the NPT to accede to it ded for in the Convention; immediately and unconditionally; 24. Calls on parliaments and parliamentarians to 9. Also urges all States to take effective action to identify the causes of failure to implement the achieve the total elimination of nuclear weapons; Convention at the national level and the require- 10. Calls on the international community to facilitate ments for improving such implementation; the creation of zones free from weapons of mass 25. Urges national parliaments to exchange informa- destruction; tion on best practices for national implementati- 11. Agrees that further reductions of non-strategic on and parliamentary oversight of implementati- nuclear weapons should be accorded priority and on through the interaction of parliamentarians 14 Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004

dealing with such aspects of legislation and over- THE NEED TO PUT AN URGENT END TO THE sight on parliamentary committees; WAR IN IRAQ AND TO RE-ESTABLISH PEACE: 26. Also urges parliaments to raise awareness of the THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND need to strengthen national and international pre- THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION paredness to fight the deliberate spread of disea- Resolution adopted by consensus* by the 108th Con- se, both man-made and naturally occurring; ference (Santiago de Chile, 11 April 2003) 27. Is convinced that such awareness-raising efforts should be undertaken in close cooperation with The 108th Inter-Parliamentary Conference, the relevant international organisations, such as Gravely concerned by the war in Iraq, a sove- the World Health Organization (WHO) and the reign Member State of the United Nations, and its International Committee of the Red Cross consequences for peace and stability in the region, (ICRC); and expressing profound sorrow for the victims 28. Recommends that in specific areas and regions, amongst the civilian population, particularly women, parliaments and the IPU monitor the deliberate children and the elderly, spread of disease; Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the primary re- D. Missiles sponsibility of the UN Security Council under the 29. Calls on all States to exercise maximum self-re- Charter for the maintenance of international peace straint when conducting their missile activities, and security, for the sake of regional and global peace and sta- Affirming its adherence to the principle of bility; maintaining the sovereignty, territorial integrity and 30. Invites States to consider adherence to The Ha- security of Iraq, gue Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Reaffirming the right of the people of Iraq to de- Proliferation and endeavour to make it a legally termine their own political future and to control their binding instrument; own natural resources, Underlining the importance of respecting human E. Export control rights and fundamental freedoms, and religious, 31. Calls for the strengthening of export control and ethnic and cultural diversity in the territory of Iraq at the multilateral export control régimes, not least all times, in fighting terrorism; Stressing the urgent need to provide humanitari- 32. Calls on the United Nations – even though deple- an assistance to the people of Iraq, and welcoming ted uranium is not a weapon of mass destruction, UN Security Council resolution 1472 (2003) on the but in view of its long term effects – to establish provision of humanitarian relief measures to the peo- an additional protocol to the Geneva Convention ple of Iraq throughout the country on an equitable ba- of October 1980 known as the "Convention on sis, Inhuman Weapons" to prohibit the use of deple- Recalling UN Security Council resolution 1325 ted uranium weapons and cluster bombs; (2000) on the subject of women, peace and security, 33. Reminds the international community of the im- Conscious of the role that the IPU must play in portance of doing its utmost to resolve peacefully Iraq in promoting peace, democracy and cooperation the issues mentioned in this resolution and of ex- through dialogue and by consolidating representative pressing its firm commitment to international co- institutions, operation on such issues and to contribute to the peace and stability of the world, through dialogue 1. Affirms the need to put an urgent end to the war between parliamentarians and cooperation with in Iraq and to restore peace in the country; the relevant international organisations; 2. Emphasises the importance of upholding interna- 34. Invites the Secretary General of the Inter-Parlia- tional law, especially the Charter of the United mentary Union to contact on an annual basis the Nations; parliaments which have not ratified the internati- 3. Reaffirms the fundamental importance of multi- onal treaties mentioned in the present resolution lateralism and international cooperation in sol- with a view to encouraging them to do so. ving conflicts between States and, therefore, the war in Iraq, and calls on all States to cooperate fully with the United Nations and its Specialised Agencies; 4. Requests all parties to the armed conflict to abide strictly by their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Con- ventions and the Hague Regulations especially Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004 15

those relating to the essential civilian needs of the Resolusjonstekster vedtatt under people of Iraq; høstkonferansen i Genève 5. Emphasises that the United Nations is the only organisation authorised under the Charter to use THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTS IN ASSISTING force, and therefore calls on it to assume a moni- MULTILATERAL ORGANISATIONS IN toring role with regard to the full withdrawal of ENSURING PEACE AND SECURITY AND IN foreign troops from Iraq and to facilitate the re- BUILDING AN INTERNATIONAL COALITION storation of peace, law and order; FOR PEACE 6. Calls on the international community to provide Resolution adopted by consensus* by the 109th humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq, in- Assembly (Geneva, 3 October 2003) cluding the provision of clean water, sanitation, food, shelter and emergency health care, and The 109th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, calls on the United Nations to continue playing its central role in the provision of such assistance; Noting the importance of parliaments as the cor- nerstone of democracy and their role in promoting 7. Calls on the United Nations Security Council to peace, lift the sanctions against Iraq as soon as possible in order to restore the necessary economic condi- Considering that peace and justice are two inter- dependent issues of fundamental importance to hu- tions for the survival of the population and the mankind, country's development; Noting that peace is not only a political issue de- 8. Reaffirms that the United Nations must assume a fined by the absence of violence and war and that it leading role in the post-war period, including the also encompasses cultural, economic, social and edu- reconstruction process, and stresses that Iraq's cational issues, wealth should not be used, nor its natural resour- Recognising that not only physical violence but ces depleted, to implement the reconstruction also increasingly acute social, cultural and ethnic ten- process; sions, such as those resulting from severe pollution, 9. Calls on all parties to ensure that women are fully impoverishment of the environment, corruption or integrated at all levels in the negotiation of peace poverty, aggravate the threat to peace and security, agreements and that the resulting reconstruction Concerned moreover that the mass of weaponry programmes include a gender perspective reflec- produced throughout the world is a threat to the hu- ting the special needs and inputs of women and man race, as well as an enormous waste of resources are based on equality and parity; in terms of human labour, financial investment, and 10. Emphasises the contribution that the United Na- the cost of stockpiling and deployment, tions can make in promoting the rule of law and Recognising the fact that terrorism, including building effective State institutions in Iraq; State terrorism and State-sponsored terrorism, has af- 11. Underscores the particular role the IPU can play fected many countries of the world in a variety of in regard to democracy and representative insti- ways for several decades, tutions and thus contribute towards the rapid re- Observing that, in the final decade of the last cen- storation of lasting peace in Iraq; tury and the first years of the present one, peace and 12. Stresses that it is for the Iraqi people to choose security worldwide are still under threat from terro- their own political institutions, and declares that rism in all its forms and manifestations, armed inter- the Inter-Parliamentary Union stands ready to put nal conflicts, aggression, wars between members of its expertise at the service of those choices; the international community, occupation and wea- 13. Recalls that democracy is a mode of government pons of mass destruction, to be applied according to modalities which re- Aware that terrorism and organised crime, espe- flect the diversity of experiences and cultural par- cially trafficking in weapons, drugs and human ticularities without derogating from internatio- beings, are often closely interrelated, and welcoming nally recognised principles, norms and standards, in this context the recent entry into force of the Uni- including those relating to human rights, freed- ted Nations Convention against Transnational Orga- om, equality, transparency and responsibility, nised Crime, and in full respect for plurality of opinion and the Drawing attention to UN Security Council reso- common interest. lutions 1368 (2001) of 12 September 2001 and 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001, After the resolution was adopted, the delegation of Mindful that, to prevent security from being thre- the Syrian Arab Republic expressed a reservation on atened, joint global counteractive measures are requi- the text. red to combat environmental problems, 16 Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004

Convinced that parliamentarians can play an im- 1. Calls on governments and parliaments to promo- portant role in early conflict prevention, te reconciliation processes aimed at achieving Reaffirming its position that internal conflicts in sustainable solutions to internal conflicts; all countries and their spread into other countries can 2. Also calls on all parliaments to do everything be averted through mutual respect and coexistence possible at the national level to facilitate the among the various religious and ethnic groups, as establishment of standing mechanisms for con- well as through dialogue and openness and a compre- flict prevention and resolution, as a way to pro- hensive and anticipatory development policy compri- mote action geared to achieving real peace; sing political, economic, social and environmental 3. Further calls on all parliamentarians to work elements, hard to limit the effects of war on civilians, whom Also reaffirming IPU resolutions "Achieving they represent, particularly as regards the vulne- peace, stability and comprehensive development in rable situation of women and children and the the world and forging closer political, economic and consequences of rape; cultural ties among peoples" (103rd Conference, 4. Emphasises the need for better control of small Amman, April-May 2000), "Financing for develop- arms, encompassing the trading, trafficking and ment and a new paradigm of economic and social de- smuggling of small arms, in order to reduce the velopment designed to eradicate poverty" (104th risk of violent conflicts; Conference, Jakarta, October 2000), "Securing ob- 5. Unequivocally condemns terrorism as a criminal servance of the principles of international law in the act, noting that terrorism endangers the territorial interests of world peace and security" (105th Confe- integrity of countries and their national and inter- rence, Havana, April 2001), "Ten years after Rio: national security, destroys innocent lives and the global degradation of the environment and parlia- physical and economic infrastructure, and desta- mentary support for the Kyoto Protocol" (107th Con- bilises not only legitimately constituted govern- ference, Marrakech, March 2002), and "Importance ments but society as a whole; of the non-proliferation of nuclear, chemical and bio- 6. Emphasises the need for the Inter-Parliamentary logical weapons of mass destruction and of missiles, Union to focus more closely on the issue of terro- including the prevention of their use by terrorists" rism and its root causes, and to work with the in- (108th Conference, Santiago de Chile, April 2003), ternational community on a definition of terro- Convinced that strengthening democracy, pro- rism; moting human rights and supporting the peaceful 7. Vigorously condemns all terrorist acts, methods settlement of conflicts are the most effective means and practices, and considers them criminal and of combating terrorism, unjustifiable, wherever and by whomever they are committed; Concerned that the United Nations system has often been unable to prevent wars between members 8. Strongly urges all States and governments world- wide to refrain from funding or encouraging ter- of the international community, and reaffirming the rorist activity, supporting it by any other means, paramount importance of all States abiding by the providing training for it or allowing their territory United Nations Charter and resolutions, to be used for organising terrorist activities Mindful of the importance of international instru- against other States, individuals or groups of in- ments on the protection of fundamental human rights dividuals; and liberties, for men and women alike, 9. Urges the Inter-Parliamentary Union to coopera- Welcoming and fully supporting United Nations te closely with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), entitled established under Security Council resolution "Women and peace and security", and bearing in 1373 (2001) and the Vienna-based United Nati- mind the specific recommendations on women and ons Terrorism Prevention Branch, and to promo- war made in the Beijing Platform for Action, and the te the implementation of the Global Programme outcome document of the "Beijing+5" Special Sessi- against Terrorism; on of the United Nations General Assembly, 10. Invites all States to consider, if they have not yet Stressing that education, particularly human done so, acceding to and/or ratifying internatio- rights education, is essential, and recognising the po- nal instruments, as appropriate, in particular the sitive role that children can play in building a culture Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions of peace, and the Rome Statute establishing the Internatio- Aware of the significant roles played by different nal Criminal Court, and recalls that, in establish- sectors of civil society and of the importance of their ing the crimes falling within the jurisdiction of cooperation with parliaments to foster democracy, the International Criminal Court, the latter's Sta- peace and security, tute defines rape, sexual slavery, enforced prosti- Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004 17

tution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilisation, 15. Recognises the need for a reform of the United or any other form of sexual violence both as war Nations, in particular by enlarging the Security crimes and, when committed as part of a wide- Council to make it more representative and effec- spread or systematic attack directed against any tive in addressing issues of international peace civilian population, as crimes against humanity; and security; 11. Reaffirms its deep apprehension at the increase in 16. Agrees that peace at a global level can only be terrorism and therefore: achieved through dialogue, within the framework (a) Reiterates its call to the world's parliaments to of international law; promote consensus on the United Nations 17. Calls on the United Nations to place peace, an is- conventions on terrorism, referring in this con- sue of grave human concern, on the agenda of its nection to the resolution entitled "Terrorism – General Assembly meetings; a threat to democracy, human rights and civil 18. Calls on the Inter-Parliamentary Union to exerci- society: the contribution of parliaments to se its right as an observer to the United Nations to combating international terrorism and addres- speak during security policy debates in the Uni- sing its causes in order to maintain internatio- ted Nations General Assembly; nal peace and security", adopted by the 107th 19. Views with great concern the continuing occupa- Conference, Marrakech, March 2002; tion of territories belonging to other nations, whi- (b) Stresses the need to confront the exercise of le noting that any attempts to disrupt partially or terror and eliminate the causes that lead to its totally the national unity and territorial integrity development, and urges all States to enhance of a country are incompatible with the purposes cooperation in the fight against terrorism in and principles of the Charter of the United Nati- all its forms and manifestations; ons; (c) Reaffirms its commitment to eliminate any 20. Calls on the multilateral organisations to support perception that the fight against terrorism is efforts to achieve the following: also a fight against particular cultures, pe- (a) The immediate termination of all forms of oples or religions; occupation; (d) Calls for the enhancement of national and (b) The formal recognition of the responsibility multilateral export administration systems as of all occupying forces for the remedy of all part of the fight against terrorism; ills caused by occupation, including the mis- (e) Calls on each country to ratify promptly the appropriation of resources, damage to infra- relevant international and regional treaties, structure, deterioration of the environment conventions and protocols against terrorism; and impediments to economic, social, cultur- (f) Calls on parliaments to support the elaborati- al and educational achievement; on of a comprehensive United Nations con- (c) The qualification of occupation as an infrin- vention on international terrorism, and of an gement of international law; international convention for the suppression 21. Stresses the importance for the United Nations to of acts of nuclear terrorism; enhance its involvement and play a key role in 12. Calls on all parliamentarians to press their go- the reconstruction process in Iraq, so as to allow vernments to sign, accede to and ratify all inter- the Iraqi people to decide independently on the national instruments drafted to eliminate the measures which they find most suitable and world's arsenal of weapons; which are compatible with their aspirations; 13. Calls the international community's attention to 22. Further stresses that Article 2 of the United Na- the need for best efforts to resolve these issues as tions Charter should be observed in both letter peacefully as possible, and expresses the IPU's and spirit and that, although the IPU and other firm determination to become involved in global multilateral organisations involved should assist cooperation for resolving such issues through di- the Iraqi people in their endeavour to regenerate alogue among parliamentarians and cooperation their own State, no attempt should be tolerated to with relevant international bodies, thus contribu- impose upon them what they do not voluntarily ting to world peace and security; accept; 14. Calls on all countries to intensify efforts to pre- 23. Agrees that efforts to promote the concept and vent and curb the proliferation of weapons of culture of peace and to renounce violence should mass destruction, and to consolidate policies for be encouraged by fostering intercultural and in- preventing equipment, materials and technology ter-faith understanding and respect and by elimi- which may possibly be used for any proliferation nating all forms of discrimination; of such weapons from being transferred, especi- 24. Calls on parliaments and governments to strengt- ally to terrorists; hen measures to combat poverty, corruption and 18 Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004

environmental destruction through international Considering the impact of Global Public Goods cooperation, and to devote attention to the gender on neighbouring countries and regions, implications of conflict; Emphasising that the consumption of traditional- 25. Also calls on governments to ensure that educati- ly defined Global Public Goods by one person does on seeks to promote respect and understanding, not reduce the possible consumption by another, ir- free from false indoctrination and hatred in vari- respective of income levels, ous forms; Acknowledging that countries have differing in- 26. Further calls on parliaments to support national comes, economic structures and social priorities, efforts and international cooperation aimed at 1. Calls on both developed and developing countri- promoting education for all, while paying special es to recognise that Global Public Goods have attention to human rights education as a means of transnational effects and therefore require joint fostering the culture of peace; assumption of responsibility; 27. Encourages all parliamentarians to urge their go- 2. Calls on both developed and developing countri- vernments and political parties to promote social es to promote an active debate among public po- justice as a guarantee for the establishment of las- licy makers, civil society, businesses and acade- ting peace; mia, while stimulating further research on the 28. Also encourages parliaments to support NGOs, subject of Global Public Goods; including those which seek to promote peace 3. Urges governments, parliaments, international through art in all its forms. organisations and donor agencies to channel fi- * Reservations were expressed by the delegation of nancial resources to poor countries, especially those in the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries the Syrian Arab Republic. (HIPC) category, and to pay special attention to the debt burden of developing countries, which hinders them from providing Global Public GLOBAL PUBLIC GOODS: A NEW Goods at the domestic level; CHALLENGE FOR PARLIAMENTS 4. Emphasises the need for close cooperation Resolution adopted by consensus* by the 109th among governments, parliaments, businesses, in- Assembly (Geneva, 3 October 2003) ternational organisations and NGOs if Global Pu- The 109th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary blic Goods are to play a role in the pursuit of Union, economic growth, which is necessary for the era- dication of world poverty, but which should not Recognising the increased globalisation and in- be achieved at the expense of the environment; terdependence among world economies, and the 5. Urges the representatives of States to meet to enormous importance acquired by Global Public evaluate preferences for Global Public Goods Goods, that cross borders; Stressing the importance of the United Nations 6. Encourages governments jointly to identify and Millennium Declaration in increasing political and rank various Global Public Goods in order of fi- economic stability and reducing worldwide poverty, nancial feasibility and ease of implementation in Recognising the need for disseminating the con- order to lessen friction arising from the choice of cept of Global Public Goods as a new rationale for in- alternatives; ternational cooperation, 7. Stresses the need to build financial solutions on Emphasising the collective responsibility of nati- the principle that nobody should be able to gain ons to debate resolutions to accelerate the process of from Global Public Goods at the expense of development assistance by helping determine, with another person and on the principles agreed upon the appropriate parliamentary debates and national at the UN Summit Meetings, for example the consultations of constituent groups, the definition of "polluter pays" principle; Global Public Goods and the way to finance them, 8. Urges the governments of developed and develo- Noting the emphasis placed on Global Public ping countries to ensure that Global Public Goods by the World Bank, the United Nations and Goods are not financed at the expense of traditi- the Inter-Parliamentary Union in tackling the pro- onal sources of development finance; blem of world food security, 9. Calls on governments to convene in a forum to Further noting that a definition of Global Public exchange information about various financing Goods will enable governments to have a greater in- mechanisms, including innovative use of private fluence on the development of their countries, espe- sources of funding, to be managed within the cially with respect to provision of such goods at the framework of the World Solidarity Fund adopted domestic level, by the United Nations on 20 December 2002; Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004 19

10. Calls on the IPU Member parliaments to enco- ments of transparency, accountability, communicati- urage governments to adopt, if required, the legal on, respect for the rule of law, an independent judici- frameworks needed to institute agreed financing ary and a liberal and democratic State that protects mechanisms, and to monitor the pursuit by go- human rights, guarantees clear rules for the free play vernments of the above-mentioned objectives. of market forces and favours the unfettered develop- * The delegation of India expressed reservations ment of civil society in all its cultural, economic, so- on certain parts of the text. cietal and political dimensions, enabling it to exerci- se a democratic power of initiative and oversight, Underscoring that traditional means of commu- THE CONTRIBUTION OF NEW INFORMATION nication, transparency and accountability, no matter AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES TO how indispensable, can be enhanced by the NICTs to GOOD GOVERNANCE, THE IMPROVEMENT further good management of governance, OF PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY AND Recalling that the NICTs facilitate the defence THE MANAGEMENT OF GLOBALISATION and promotion of human rights and gender equality, Resolution adopted unanimously by the 109th As- Asserting that without an appropriate public poli- sembly (Geneva, 3 October 2003) cy, the NICTs cannot be a factor of shared progress, The 109th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Noting that the majority of the developing coun- Union, tries have lagged behind the North in the economic Hoping that the new information and communi- and social field, fearing that the extremely rapid de- cation technologies (NICTs) will help to build a more velopment of the NICTs may further widen the digi- peaceful, more prosperous and fairer world based on tal divide between industrialised and developing co- global public goods in all their diversity, untries, and recognising the need to narrow the gap, Convinced that the NICTs can bring about signi- Placing great importance on mutual cooperation ficant political, economic and social changes that between industrialised and developing countries for will reduce distances and generate new cultures and further promotion of the NICTs on a worldwide ba- markets, although they give rise to concerns as well sis, as hopes, Acknowledging that the NICTs can enhance but Also convinced that the NICTs play an increas- do not obviate the duty of national parliaments to ingly important role in socio-cultural, economic and take responsibility for good governance and parlia- political development in an era of globalisation, mentary democracy in their own countries, Mindful that the NICTs facilitate the sharing of Mindful that if citizens are to fulfil their duties knowledge among peoples, and assert their rights, they must be able to access and Fully supporting the forthcoming World Summit utilise information, on the Information Society, as a unique opportunity Aware that the NICTs can be a very useful tool to foster the global consensus and commitment requi- for consolidating and renewing parliamentary de- red to harness the power of the NICTs to advance hu- mocracy by allowing better participation by all citi- man development, zens, Mindful that the NICTs as such are not the solu- Noting that the NICTs make it easier to manage tion to the world's problems but rather tools, mecha- and participate in the globalisation process, especial- nisms and opportunities that require the political will ly as far as the international organisations are concer- of society and cooperation among States in order to ned, ensure that they serve the goals pursued at the natio- nal and international level, Hoping that the NICTs will be used for develop- Emphasising the many financial, economic and ment, and noting the importance of the NICTs as an social restrictions and barriers hindering the use of integral part of efforts to combat poverty and discri- the NICTs in developing societies, including inade- mination and achieve the Millennium Goals, quate financial resources to cover the huge invest- Recalling that the NICTs advance education and ments needed in this field, a shortage of managers training which are essential for development and and skilled personnel, weak demand for such servi- gender equality, ces due to limited purchasing power and low inco- Mindful that each State has a duty to ensure that mes, and the rising costs of the services provided by the NICTs are acquired and utilised properly, the NICTs, Regretting that the NICTs have to a large extent Recalling that good governance requires, within been used for so-called spam mail and destructive each country and at the international level, an ethic purposes involving anti-democratic messages and for the management of the State and its resources ba- degrading pornographic content and including unre- sed on principles and norms that include require- gulated weapons trading, 20 Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004

1. Calls on parliaments to support the successful the use of the NICTs to enhance civic involve- completion of the World Summit on the Informa- ment in public decision-making; tion Society and to take the necessary steps to en- 15. Also calls on governments to see to it that the sure that their representatives are included in the NICTs are acquired and used properly with a national delegations to the Summit; view to guaranteeing good governance and avo- 2. Calls on parliaments and their members to make iding all forms of discrimination; full use of the NICTs: 16. Encourages States to put in place national strate- gies centred on education, including basic and di- – to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and gital literacy, for the implementation of the infor- transparency of their activities and to better mation society; connect with the electorate; 17. Calls for strengthened national efforts and inter- – to expand inter-parliamentary relationships national cooperation in order to prevent and com- and cooperation at bilateral and multilateral bat the use of the NICTs for criminal and terrorist levels, thus enhancing parliamentary de- ends; mocracy and diplomacy; 18. Encourages national policies and international 3. Urges the establishment of appropriate aid me- action aimed at ensuring that the NICTs serve chanisms, including an NICT observatory for gender equality and the empowerment of wo- Africa and other disadvantaged regions, and re- men; commends the establishment of a network of cor- 19. Invites parliaments to take legislative action with respondents among IPU Member parliaments; the aim of providing an environment conducive 4. Recommends that each parliament put in place to the dissemination, development and secure use the necessary structures to follow up and monitor of the NICTs; annually the development of e-government in its 20. Reaffirms the principle of freedom of expression country so as to guarantee its transparency for ci- in cyberspace, with the restrictions required by tizens and democracy; the fight against terrorism, pornography, traffick- 5. Urges governments to take the necessary steps to ing in human beings, organised crime, racism, re- ensure free community access to those NICTs visionism and discrimination; that guarantee good governance; 21. Stresses the need to facilitate Internet hook-ups by 6. Calls on the international community to seek breaking the monopoly of the telephone compani- further means of closing the South's NICT gap; es and promoting cheaper alternative solutions; 7. Invites the international community to promote 22. Considers that the new technologies must help to NICT training for managers and technicians from integrate generations and social groups; the South; 23. Stresses that the IPU can contribute to strengt- 8. Calls on international organisations and NGOs to hening North-South and South-South cooperati- promote knowledge sharing in this area and the on in the NICT field via appropriate mechanisms; establishment of NICT networks, in cooperation 24. Urges the Inter-Parliamentary Union to create a with partners from both the South and the North; climate conducive to the advent of the informati- 9. Urges governments to use the NICTs to broaden on society by: distance education, which can reach groups of – Encouraging the use of the NICTs in the or- people that otherwise would not have access to ganisation of elections so as to guarantee the education; democratic process, particularly in the coun- 10. Draws governments' attention to the need to tries of the South; strengthen the personal protection and security of – Strengthening the role of parliaments in fol- the users of the NICTs and to strive for legislati- lowing up decisions and resolutions relating on on international range; to the information society by monitoring and 11. Urges governments to find ways to limit the use implementing commitments made by go- of spam mail and the use of the NICTs for de- vernments in the NICT field; structive purposes; – Encouraging parliaments to commit 12. Supports all NICT-related initiatives aimed at re- themselves to knowledge acquisition, consul- specting and promoting linguistic and cultural di- tancy and assistance in the NICT field with a versity; view to consolidating parliamentary de- 13. Calls for the introduction of national and regional mocracy; policies that incorporate the development of in- – Further helping parliaments from emerging formation and communication infrastructures democracies and developing countries to take and existing resources; full advantage of the NICTs, by means of its 14. Calls on the international community to promote technical assistance programmes. Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004 21

PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT FOR THE IMPLE- 4. Urges Israel to withdraw completely from all the MENTATION OF THE ROAD MAP FOR PEACE occupied territories in order to achieve a compre- IN PUTTING AN END TO THE PALESTINIAN- hensive peace process and justice in the Middle ISRAELI CONFLICT AND ACHIEVING A COM- East in accordance with United Nations and IPU PREHENSIVE PEACE PROCESS AND JUSTICE resolutions; IN THE MIDDLE EAST 5. Calls on the UN Security Council and the Quartet Resolution adopted by consensus* by the 109th to guarantee the full implementation of the road Assembly (Geneva, 3 October 2003) map, including by sending international obser- The 109th Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, vers to monitor the stage-by-stage implementati- Recalling its resolutions adopted at the 104th on on the ground of the decisions contained in the Conference, October 2000 (Jakarta), at the 106th road map; Conference, September 2001 (Ouagadougou), and at 6. Calls on both parties to return to the negotiating the 107th Conference, March 2002 (Marrakech), table and put an end to the cycle of violence in or- which called for an end to the tension and violence in der to save lives on both sides, urges the parties the Middle East, to enact confidence-building measures, and en- Reiterating its support for a just and lasting solu- courages them to reach an accord through bilate- tion to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the re- ral negotiations within the framework of the road levant United Nations resolutions, map; Recognising the full acceptance by the Palestini- 7. Calls also on both parties immediately to begin an Authority of the road map for peace proposed by considering building a lasting peace through edu- the Quartet (the United States, the United Nations, cation for peaceful coexistence. the European Union and the Russian Federation) and noting the subsequent conditional acceptance of it by * The delegations of the Islamic Republic of Iran Israel, and Yemen expressed reservations on those parts of the text which might be construed to imply re- 1. Strongly urges the international community to cognition of Israel. The delegation of Palestine exert pressure on Israel to desist from any act ai- expressed a reservation with respect to para- med at the expulsion of President Yasser Arafat graph 3 stating that the text did not make it clear and to cease all threats to the safety of the legiti- that the Palestinian Authority had started imple- mately elected head of the Palestinian Authority; 2. Urges Israel to halt the building of settlements in menting the road map. The delegation of Israel the occupied territories, which, along with the de- expressed a reservation with respect to para- molition of Palestinian homes and property, is in graph 4. A delegate of the United Kingdom ex- contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention pressed a personal reservation on paragraphs 2 and the road map, to abandon its policy of erec- and 4. A delegate of South Africa expressed a ting fences and imposing paralysing closures, personal reservation on the entire resolution and to stop using its regular army to police the ci- while the delegation as a whole stated that it wis- vilian population and conduct extrajudicial kil- hed to abstain from approving the resolution. lings in the occupied territories; The delegations of Jordan, the Syrian Arab Re- 3. Demands that the Palestinian Authority take all public and Lebanon also voiced comments on the necessary measures to put an end to the violent resolution. attacks that result in the deaths of large numbers of civilians and innocent people; 22 Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004

RESOLUTIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS CASES ADOPTED BY THE 173RD SESSION OF THE GOVER- NING COUNCIL (Geneva, 3 October 2003) Case N° Name Country BLS/01 Mr. Andrei Klimov Belarus BLS/05 Mr. Victor Gonchar Belarus BDI/01 Mr. S. Mfayokurera Burundi BDI/05 Mr. I. Ndikumana BDI/06 Mr. G. Gahungu BDI/07 Mrs. B. Ntamutumba BDI/29 Mr. P. Sirahenda BDI/35 Mr. G. Gisabwamana BDI/02 Mr. N. Ndihokubwayo Burundi CMBD/18 Mr. Chhang Song Cambodia CMBD/19 Mr. Siphan Phay CMBD/20 Mr. Pou Savath CO/01 Mr. Pedro Nel Jimenéz Obando Colombia CO/02 Mr. Leonardo Posada Pedraza CO/03 Mr. Octavio Vargas Cuéllar CO/04 Mr. Pedro Luis Valencia Giraldo CO/06 Mr. Bernardo Jaramillo Ossa CO/08 Mr. Manuel Cepeda Vargas CO/139 Mr. Octavio Sarmiento Bohórquez CO/09 Mr. Hernán Motta Motta Colombia CO/121 Ms. Piedad Córdoba Colombia CO/122 Mr. Oscar Lizcano Colombia CO/132 Mr. Eduardo Gechen Turbay CO/133 Mr. Luis Eladio Pérez Bonilla CO/134 Mr. Orlando Beltrán Cuéllar CO/135 Ms. Gloria Polanco de Lozada CO/136 Ms. Consuelo González de Perdomo CO/138 Mr. Gustavo Petro Urrego Colombia EC/02 Mr. Jaime Hurtado González Ecuador EC/03 Mr. Pablo Vicente Tapia Farinango ERI/01, ERI/02, ERI/03, ERI/04, ERI/05, Eleven parliamentarians Eritrea ERI/06 ERI/07, ERI/08, ERI/09, ERI/10, ERI/11 GMB/01 Mr. Lamin Waa Juwara Gambia GMB/03 Mr. Omar Jallow Gambia HOND/02 Mr. Miguel Angel Pavón Salazar Honduras IDS/13 Mr. Tengku Nasrihuddin Daud Indonesia MAG/01 Mr. Jean-Eugène Voninahitsy Madagascar MAL/15 Mr. Anwar Ibrahim Malaysia MON/01 Mr. Zorig Sanjasuuren Mongolia Dokument nr. 17 – 2003-2004 23

MYN/01, MYN/04, MYN/09, MYN/13, Fifty-two parliamentarians Myanmar MYN/36, MYN/60, MYN/80, MYN/104, MYN/118, MYN/119, MYN/122, MYN/124, MYN/133, MYN/134, MYN/138, MYN/139, MYN/209, MYN/215 MYN/02, MYN/15, MYN/22, MYN/24, MYN/28, MYN/102, MYN/162, MYN/212, MYN/216, MYN/217, MYN/218, MYN/219, MYN/220, MYN/221, MYN/222, MYN/223, MYN/224, MYN/225, MYN/226, MYN/227, MYN/228, MYN/229, MYN/230, MYN/231, MYN/232, MYN/233 MYN/53, MYN/55, MYN/72, MYN/83, MYN/131, MYN/132 MYN/66, MYN/67 PAK/08 Mr. Asif Ali Zardari Pakistan PAL/02 Mr. Marwan Barghouti Palestine PAL/04 Mr. Hussam Khader Palestine RW/01 Mr. Eustache Nkerinka Rwanda RW/02 Mr. Jacques Maniraguha RW/03 Mr. Jean-Léonard Bizimana RW/04 Mr. Joseph Sebarenzi Kabuye RW/06 Mr. Léonard Hitimana Rwanda SYR/02 Mr. Mamoun Al-Homsi Syrian Arab Republic SYR/03 Mr. Riad Seef Syrian Arab Republic TK/39, TK/40, TK/41, TK/42, TK/43, TK/44, Fifteen parliamentarians Turkey TK/48, TK/51, TK/52, TK/53, TK/55, TK/57, TK/58, TK/59, TK/62 TK/66 Ms. Merve Safa Kavakçi Turkey ZBW/12, ZBW/13, ZBW/14, ZBW/15, Twenty-two Zimbabwe ZBW/16, ZBW/17, ZBW/18, ZBW/19, ZBW/20, ZBW/21, ZBW/22, ZBW/23, ZBW/24, ZBW/25, ZBW/26, ZBW/27, ZBW/28, ZBW/29, ZBW/30, ZBW/31, ZBW/32, ZBW/33

Nærmere informasjon om den enkelte sak finnes under IPUs hjemmeside: http://www.ipu.org/hr-e/173/ 173all.htm