ANNUAL PARLIAMENTARY HEARING AT THE UNITED NATIONS New York (United Nations Headquarters), 19 - 20 October 2004
	Organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union

	The Hearing will take place in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), inside the main UN building (2nd floor) in New-York on 19 and 20 October 2004, beginning at 10 a.m. The President of the IPU, Senator Sergio Páez, will chair the meeting. The UN Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, is expected to welcome participants at the opening. Panels will feature senior officials of the United Nations as well as experts from prominent think tanks, universities, and the diplomatic corps. A complete list of discussants and rapporteurs will be circulated at a later date. Departing from past practice, this year’s meeting will last longer - a day and a half – in order to allow for a more in-depth discussion as well as the articulation of a more substantive outcome in the form of summary notes and recommendations to be shared with the relevant decision-making bodies of the United Nations. To sharpen the focus of the discussion, the meeting will cover only one broad subject area entitled "From Disarmament to Lasting Peace: Defining the Parliamentary Role". As presented in the provisional programme, the meeting will revolve around three inter-related topics: disarmament and arms control, peace-keeping, and post-conflict reconstruction. The speakers for each of these topics will be announced at a later time. They will include high-level United Nations officials and eminent experts from think tanks, academia and the diplomatic corps.

DOCUMENTS
	Summary and main conclusions [PDF]
	Convocation [PDF]
	Reminder note [PDF]
	Information Note [PDF]
	Registration form [PDF] or [WORD]
	Background note "Strengthening International Regimes for Arms Control and Disarmament" (prepared by the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs) [PDF]
	Background note "The Challenges of Peacekeeping in the 21st Century" (prepared by the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations) [PDF]
	Background note "Strengthening Humanitarian Action in Conflict: Defining the Parliamentary Role" (prepared by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) [PDF]
Note: Documents in PDF format require Adobe Acrobat Reader

Updated on 12 October 2004
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
Tuesday, October 19th
10 - 10.30 a.m.	Opening session – Introductory remarks by: Senator Sergio PAEZ, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Ms. Louise FRÉCHETTE, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. Jean PING (Gabon), President of the General Assembly
10.30 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Session I - Strengthening international regimes for arms control and disarmament The impasse in inter-governmental negotiations Ratification and implementation of international instruments. Democratic oversight of the security sector Urgent measures to counter the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction Specific approaches to curbing small arms and light weapons Making the voice of women heard Speakers Mr. Nobuyasu ABE, United Nations Under-Secretary General for Disarmament Affairs The Honourable Douglas ROCHE, Canada H.E. Enrique BERRUGA, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Phillipp FLURI, Deputy Director of the Geneva Center for Democratic Control of Armed Forces - DCAF
3 - 6 p.m.	Session II - Peace-keeping in the 21st century: needs and objectives Overview of today’s peace-keeping operations The evolving role and mission of peace-keeping operations The political and budgetary requirements for peace-keeping operations Interaction between peace-keeping missions and national parliamentary institutions Lessons learnt for enhanced parliamentary support Speakers Mr. Hédi ANNABI, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations The Honourable Olivier KAMITATU, President of the National Assembly, Democratic Republic of the Congo H.E. Adam THOMSON, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations Mr. William O’NEILL, Brookings Institution
6 - 8 p.m.	Reception in honor of participants (United Nations Delegates Dining Room, 4th floor)
Wednesday, 20 October
9.30 a.m. - 12 noon	Session III - An integrated approach to peace-building Prevention and the vital need for local action Facilitating national reconciliation and post-conflict reconstruction Basic steps to ensure free and fair elections The special role of women Speakers Mr. Danilo TÜRK, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs The Honourable Guy NZOUBA-NDAMA, President of the National Assembly, Gabon H.E. Jose Luis GUTERRES, Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the United Nations Dr. Necla TSCHIRGI, Vice-President, International Peace Academy Ambassador George WARD, Director of Professional Training Program, United States Institute of Peace
12.15 p.m. - 1 p.m.	Round-up of discussions: conclusions and recommendations.