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Roundup: 136th IPU assembly focuses on means to end inequalities worldwide

Xinhua, April 1, 2017 Adjust font size:

With more focus on ways to end economic, political and social inequalities worldwide, the 136th assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) kicked off here on Saturday night.

Some 1,500 delegates of 131 countries have been attending the mega assembly.

The conference will be held from April 1 to April 5 on the theme of "Readdressing inequalities: delivering on dignity and well-being for all."

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Children's Rights Activist Kailash Satyarthi will present a key-note paper on the topic in the assembly.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the five-day conference at the South Plaza of Bangladesh Parliament House in capital Dhaka.

She released a commemorative postage stamp and launched IPU web television.

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong told reporters at a press briefing in Dhaka on Friday that some 135 countries, out of 170 member IPU countries, will have discussions to fight against the menace of widening inequality from different perspectives.

IPU President Saber Hossain Chowdhury said acts of violence and militancy have become a global problem and they will also be discussed in the conference.

"Taking decisive actions to end economic, political and social inequalities will be the focus of deliberations," according to a news release issued by the IPU headquarters in Geneva on Monday.

Founded in 1889 with its headquarters in Switzerland, the IPU, a global organization of parliaments, works to establish democracy, peace and cooperation among people worldwide.

"During the IPU's Assembly, parliamentarians will concentrate on the impact of inequality on the poor, women and vulnerable groups."

IPU members are expected to adopt a resolution to guarantee the financial inclusion of women as drivers of development, said the release.

Joining the assembly, it said, women MPs from different countries in their session of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians would focus on "ending the gender gap in access to financial services."

According to the agenda of the conference, the participants are also expected to make recommendations for parliamentary actions to further promote the values of democracy and to strengthen the exercise of democratic government.

Officials said the IPU Standing Committee on Peace and International Security will further scrutinize and possibly adopt a resolution on the issue of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. Endit