High-Level Parliamentary Delegation Takes Part in 147th IPU Assembly, 212th Session of the Governing Council, and the Related Meetings

The members of the Moroccan Parliamentary Representation at the Inter-Parliamentary Union, led by the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Mohammed Sabbari, are taking part in the proceedings of the 147^th IPU Assembly, the 212^th Session of the Governing Council, and the related meetings, held in the National Assembly of the Republic of Angola in Luanda, on October 23-27, 2023.

The Moroccan delegation includes Rep. Ahmed Touizi, the Chairperson of the Group of Authenticity and Modernity, Rep. Mustapha Reddad (Group of the National Rally of Independents), Rep. Omar Hejira (Istiqlali Group of Unity and Egalitarianism), Rep. Khaddouj Slassi (Socialist Group), Cllr. Kamal Ait Mik (Group of the National Rally of Independents), Cllr. Hassan Chamis (Group of Authenticity and Modernity), as well as the Secretary-General of the House of Representatives, Mr. Najib El Khadi. 

The members of the Moroccan parliamentary delegation took part in the meetings of the African and Arab Geopolitical Groups, held on October 20-21, 2023. The meetings featured the exchange of views on the requests to include urgent items in the Agenda of the IPU Assembly, the examination of vacant positions within the organs of the Union, and the agreement on the endorsement of a candidate to the Presidency of the Union. Besides, the participants reviewed the recommendations of the Marrakesh Conference on Interfaith Dialogue, particularly the proposition included in the Marrakesh Declaration related to the "creation of an institutional mechanism within the Inter-Parliamentary Union based on the results of the Marrakesh Conference with a view to examining best practices, following and monitoring developments, and presenting propositions regarding interfaith dialogue."

The members of the Moroccan delegation also took part in the Inaugural Ceremony where the President of Angola, H.E. João Lourenço, gave an address in which he tackled the development of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, stressing the necessity to secure the arrival of aids to the Gaza Strip to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians. For her part, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Angola, Hon. Carolina Cerqueira, underscored the importance of the IPU meetings taking place in her country. In the same regard, she expressed her aspiration that the Assembly and the side meetings would contribute to results that consolidate parliamentary cooperation between the members of the Union. 

During the Assembly, the members of the Moroccan delegation will take part in the meetings of all IPU organs, namely the Governing Council, the Assemblies, the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, the Committee on Middle East Questions, the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, and the Forum of Young Parliamentarians. On the same occasion, the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Head of the Moroccan delegation, Rep. Mohammed Sabbari, will give an address on behalf of the Moroccan Parliament regarding the theme of the Assembly: “Parliamentary action for peace, justice, and strong institutions,” which is the 16^th UN SDG. In this respect, parliamentarians will have the opportunity to exchange views and debate the stimulation of parliamentary measures for establishing laws and regulations that govern societies, control the work of governments, and contribute to the construction of a further peaceful, just, and prosperous world. 

For his part, the Secretary-General of the House of Representatives, Mr. Najib El Khadi, will chair the meeting of the Association of Secretaries-General of Parliaments members of the IPU. The meeting will focus on several important themes, such as "The skills of parliamentary administrations in terms of the regulation and use of artificial intelligence," "Promoting transparency and accountability through better institutional communication in Parliaments," and "The renewal of representative democracies in a time of crisis: challenges and opportunities?"

The Assembly will also feature the election of a new President of the Union amongst four candidates from Senegal, Malawi, Tanzania, and Somalia. 

Besides, the Assembly will adopt a resolution on a theme discussed by the Committee on Democracy and Human Rights regarding “Orphanage trafficking: The role of parliaments in reducing harm.” Moreover, the Assembly would culminate in the adoption of a final document concerning the theme of the general debate.