Speaker Leads Parliamentary Delegation to the 147th IPU Assembly in Angola

Dubai, UAE – 20 October – The Speaker of the Fijian Parliament, the Hon. Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu is leading a Parliamentary delegation to the 147th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly hosted by the Parliament of Angola from 23 to 27 October 2023.

The delegation includes the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Inia Seruiratu and the Assistant Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Hon. Alitia Bainivalu.

The IPU is the global organisation of 179 national Member Parliaments and 14 regional Parliamentary bodies. It facilitates Parliamentary diplomacy and empowers Parliaments and Parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world.

The General Debate will focus on the overall theme, ‘Parliamentary action for peace, justice and strong institutions’, which is closely linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions, a key enabler of the entire development agenda.

The Hon. Speaker is expected to speak during the General Debate on the theme  whilst the Hon. Bainivalu will participate in the Forum of Women Parliamentarians.

The Leader of the Opposition will also contribute to the General Debate as well as participate in the special segment on Cybercrimes: the new risks to global security.

In the margins of the General Assembly, bilateral meetings will be held with the Small Island Development States and the Asia-Pacific Group of the IPU.

The IPU Member Parliaments is expected to elect their 31st President to replace the incumbent, Mr Duarte Pacheco, a Parliamentarian from Portugal whose term comes to an end at the 147th Assembly.

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