The Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments was convened as a follow-up to the first gathering of presiding officers that had been organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in August-September 2000 on the occasion of the United Nations Millennium Assembly. The Speakers participating in the event called on parliaments and their members to assume increased responsibility in international relations and suggested that this objective could be achieved primarily by playing a more active role at the national, regional and global levels as follows: At the national level, by reviewing, improving and making better use of parliament's procedures so that it can effectively influence policy on matters dealt with in international negotiating forums, be better informed of the progress and outcome of these negotiations, engage in the ratification of agreements and contribute actively to the implementation process; At the regional level, by making best possible use of existing regional parliamentary organisations and, through them, seek to influence the corresponding inter-governmental bodies; and At the global level, by consolidating the Inter-Parliamentary Union as the world organisation for inter-parliamentary cooperation and for relaying the vision and will of its members to intergovernmental organisations. Nations with a comprehensive view, and at the highest possible level, of the contribution of the world's parliaments in strengthening the multilateral system and in furthering peace, security, democracy, human rights and development pursuant to internationally agreed commitments. The Conference provided a direct input into the High-level Meeting of Heads of State taking place at the same venue from 14 to 19 September 2005. Substantive preparations for the Conference were made by the Preparatory Committee set up by the governing bodies of the IPU. The Committee met twice in 2004. Its third meeting was held in May 2005. The overall purpose of the Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments was to present the United Pursuant to a decision of the General Assembly (resolution A/RES/59/19), the Conference took place from 7 to 9 September 2005 in the General Assembly Hall of United Nations Headquarters in New York. A provisional list of participants was distributed together with the information kits. The final list is available on this site.

CONFERENCE DOCUMENTS
	Summary record [PDF]
	Declaration adopted by consensus [PDF] and [HTML]
	List of participants [PDF]
	Order of speakers [PDF]
	Draft Rules [PDF]
	Parliament and Democracy in the 21st Century. Preliminary Report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union. [PDF]
	Report on Parliamentary Involvement in International Affairs [PDF]
	Draft agenda [HTML] [PDF]
	Programme [HTML] [PDF]
	Revised Information Note [PDF]
	Information Note [PDF]
	General information about getting a visa to come to U.S. [PDF]
	Preparatory Committee [HTML]
IPU PRESS RELEASES
	Bridging the democracy gap in international relations: a stronger role for parliaments (9 September 2005)
	United Nations Secretary-General thanks Speakers of Parliaments for their belief in multilateral solutions (8 September 2005)
	Global gathering of leaders of parliaments opens in New York (7 September 2005)
	Speaker of United States House of Representatives at the opening of the IPU summit of Speakers of Parliaments (31 August 2005)
	Summit of Speakers of Parliaments to advance the principles and practice of democracy worldwide (25 August 2005)
RELATED SITES AND DOCUMENTS
	First Conference of Presiding Officers of National Parliaments
	Cooperation with the UN
	United Nation Web Site
	Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly A/RES/59/19 [PDF]

 

DRAFT AGENDA

Adoption of the agenda and rules of the Conference Presentation of the report on Parliamentary involvement in international affairs Progress report on meeting the Millennium Development Goals Presentation of the report on Parliaments' contribution to democracy General Debate: Parliaments and multilateral cooperation: Meeting the challenges of the 21st century Adoption of the Declaration

Updated on 29 August 2005
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
WEDNESDAY, 7 September
3 p.m.	Inaugural ceremony, with statements by - The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Senator Sergio Páez - The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Jean Ping - The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Mr. Dennis Hastert
3.30 p.m.	Item 1: Adoption of the agenda and rules of the Conference
	Item 2: Report on Parliamentary involvement in international affairs Presentation by Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita, President of the National Assembly of Mali
	Item 3: Progress report on meeting the Millennium Development Goals Presentation by Mr. Kemal Dervis, UNDP Administrator
	Item 4: Parliaments' contribution to democracy Report on Parliament and Democracy in the 21st Century Presentation by Senator Dulce María Sauri (Mexico)
4 - 6.30 p.m.	Item 5: General debate: Parliaments and multilateral cooperation: Meeting the challenges of the 21st century
6.30 - 8.30 p.m.	Reception for participants (Delegates' Dining Room, fourth floor) *
THURSDAY, 8 September
9 - 10 a.m.	Group photo (for Speakers of parliament only)
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Item 5: General debate (continuation) Panel discussion on Parliaments' contribution to democracy (Room 1)
3 - 6.30 p.m.	Address by Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, followed by continuation of Item 5: General debate
3.30 - 6.30 p.m.	Panel discussion on Role and responsibilities of parliaments as regards the work of the United Nations (Room 1)
FRIDAY, 9 September
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Item 5: General debate (continuation)
10 a.m. - 12 noon	Meeting of Women Speakers of Parliament (Room 7)
3 - 5 p.m.	Item 5: General debate (continuation)
5 - 6 p.m.	Item 6: Adoption of the Declaration Rapporteur: Ms. Ingrida Udre, Speaker of the Parliament of Latvia
* The reception on 7 September, hosted by the President and Secretary General of the IPU, is the only official reception that is taking place during the Speakers' Conference.

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE

President    Mr. S. Páez Verdugo, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Presiding Officers of National Parliaments    Mr. H. Vaca Diez, President of the Senate of Bolivia    Mr. G. Nzouba Ndama, President of the National Assembly of Gabon    Mr. W. Thierse, President of the Bundestag of Germany    Ms. K. Szili, President of the National Assembly of Hungary    Mr. P.F. Casini, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy    Mr. A. Majali, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Jordan    Ms. I. Udre, Chairman of the Saeima of Latvia    Mr. I. Boubakar Keita, President of the National Assembly of Mali    Mr. D. Fernández de Cevallos, President of the Senate of Mexico    Mr. A. Radi, President of the Chamber of Representatives of Morocco    Mr. T.-B. Gurirab, Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia    Mr. W-K. Kim, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea    Mr. B. Gryzlov, Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation    Mr. W.J.M. Lokubandara, Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka    Mr. B. von Sydow, Speaker of the Riksdag of Sweden Members of the Executive Committee    Mr. Francis K. Ole Kaparo, Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya    Mr. Lü Congmin, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress Representatives of the British and French Groups, Founding Members of the IPU    Mr. R. del Picchia, Executive President of the French IPU Group    Mr. J. Austin, Member of the IPU Executive Committee Senior representative of the United Nations Secretary-General    Mr. M. Moller, Director, Political, Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Affairs Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union    Mr. A.B. Johnsson