DRIVING DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IPU at 125 and beyond

	EVENT TO COMMEMORATE THE 125th ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION To mark the anniversary year that began on 30 June 2014, the IPU organized a half-day event at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Bringing together the diplomatic, parliamentary, civil society and media communities, the event charted some of the many achievements made since 1889 in shaping a radically different world where peace, human rights, equality and human development underpin a desire for greater democracy. It was also an opportunity to discuss some of the many challenges that democracy is facing. The exceptionally rich and diversified programme of the event can be downloaded in the form of a colour handout. In preparation for the 30 June event at the Palais des Nations, the IPU published an illustrated booklet highliting some of the most important dates and events in its long history. An electronic copy of this publication can be downloaded from this website in electronic format. The IPU Executive Committee held an extraordinary session at the Organization's Headquartres in Geneva on 30 June and 1 July 2014. On this occasion, it adopted a Statement to commemorate the IPU's 125th anniversary. 30 June 2014 was also the date of the official handover from the outgoing IPU Secretary General, Mr. Anders B. Johnsson, to the incoming one, Mr. Martin Chungong.

DOCUMENTS AND LINKS
	Statement of the IPU Executive Committee to commemorate the IPU's 125th anniversary		[English] [French]
	Illustrated booklet		[English] [French]
	Highlights of the event at the Palais des Nations		[English] [French]
	Programme of the event at the Palais des Nations		[English] [French]
	Opening address by Mr. Abdelwahad Radi, IPU President		[English] [French]
	Opening address by Mr. Michael Møller, Acting Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva		[English] [French]
	IPU press briefing note on the occasion of the official handover of powers to the new IPU Secretary General		[English] [French]
	IPU press release note on the occasion of the Organization's 125th anniversary		[English] [French]
	Streaming video of the commemorative event at the Palais des Nations		[UN Web TV]
Note: Documents in PDF format require Adobe Acrobat Reader

PROGRAMME OF THE EVENT AT THE PALAIS DES NATIONS
	Event moderator
	Mr. Owen Bennett Jones, BBC World Service
15:00	Welcome addresses
	Mr. Abdelwahad Radi, President, Inter-Parliamentary Union Mr. Michael Møller, Acting Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva
15:15	Debate
	Democracy: Changing lives, making a difference
	Mr. Pier Ferdinando Casini (Italy) Mr. Kenneth Marende (Kenya) Ms. Dionysia Avgerinopoulou (Greece)
16:00	Personal testimonials
	Mr. Mohamed Nasheed (Maldives) Mr. Ivan Cepeda (Colombia)
16:10	Interactive debate
	Breaking the gender inequalities – women’s political emancipation
	Ms. Margaret Mensah-Williams (Namibia) Ms. Fawzia Koofi (Afghanistan) Ms. Elissa Golberg (Canada)
16:55	Personal testimonial
	Mr. Kassoum Tapo (Mali)
17:00	Panel discussion
	Will democracy survive the media?
	Mr. Ulrik Haagerup (Danish Broadcasting Cooperation) Mr. Jimi Matthews (SABC TV, South Africa)
17:45	Personal testimonial
	Ms. Tsedal Yohannes (Eritrea)
17:50	Closing remarks
	Mr. Anders B. Johnsson, IPU Secretary General Mr. Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General-elect
* * *
18:30	Reception at the House of Parliaments, IPU Headquarters