IPU Inter-Parliamentary Union [to 20 June 2015]
http://www.ipu.org/english/news.htm

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Assessing progress on engaging parliaments on human rights
19 JUNE 2015
The discussion will take place on the sidelines of the Human Rights Council, currently in session in Geneva

Efforts to strengthen parliaments’ engagement on human rights will be examined next week in the latest measure to bridge the work of parliamentarians with that of the Human Rights Council. Diplomats, human rights officials and civil society representatives will meet on 22 June to assess what progress has been made on engaging parliaments in key UN processes and look at successful examples of parliamentary human rights work at an event held in parallel to the 29th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The meeting, organized by IPU and the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and supported by several countries (Romania, Philippines, Morocco, Uruguay and Ecuador), follows other similar events in recent years to enhance cooperation between parliaments, the Human Rights Council and its Universal Periodic Review of national human rights situations, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The event will reinforce the significance of parliaments’ role in promoting human rights by passing laws, setting budgets, holding governments to account on human rights commitments and protecting the rights of all citizens. Since the adoption of a Human Rights Council resolution in June 2014 encouraging governments to promote the involvement of parliaments in all stages of the UPR and greater collaboration between IPU and OHCHR, a series of regional seminars were held in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America to inform and engage MPs on human rights and the work of the Human Rights Council.