By George Sanzila
Date: 09/10/24
Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Prof. Peter Katjavivi will lead a delegation of Members of Parliament to the 149th Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly to be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 13 to 17 October 2024.
According to a statement released by the world parliamentary body ahead of the meeting, hundreds of parliamentarians, UN partners, experts and parliamentary staff from around the world are expected to attend the meeting that will result in the adoption of an outcome document on the overall theme of the General Debate “Harnessing science, technology and innovation (STI) for a more peaceful and sustainable future”. Namibian Members of Parliament who form part of statutory bodies of the organization will take part in wide ranging discussions including the role of parliaments in preventing conflicts over natural resources, achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and an expert hearing on advancing a two-state solution in Palestine.
On the latter, the IPU has made diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the Middle East crisis and this has laid groundwork for parliamentary diplomacy during the upcoming assembly. The IPU Committee on Middle East Questions, which consists of 12 MPs, including representatives from Israel and Palestine, is expected to consider what parliamentary actions can contribute to finding a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Hon. Prof. Katjavivi is also the Vice President of the IPU task force on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, whose activities will be discussed during the plenary.
The Speaker is further expected to participate in a General Debate on the overall theme including discussions on the IPU Charter on the Ethics of science and technology that is currently being developed by the IPU Working Group on science and technology. The IPU Assembly is a global organization of Parliaments around the world that brings together lawmakers to identify international challenges and make recommendations for action. Namibia is a member of the IPU.
Other MPs accompanying the Speaker include Hons. Vincent Mareka, Maria Kamutali and Loide Iipinge from the National Assembly. The National Council is represented by the Vice Chairperson, Hon. Victoria Kauma and fellow MPs, Hons. Emma Muteka, Paul Isaak and Alfeus Abraham
