House of Representatives Takes Part in International Webinar on Peace on the Occasion of the 130th Anniversary of the International Peace Bureau
Members of the Moroccan Parliamentary Representation at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Ahmed Touizi, Khadouj Slassi, Omar Hejira and Mustapha Reddad took part on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, in an international webinar on peace. The webinar was organized by the International Peace Bureau (IPB) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the establishment of the International Peace Bureau.
Organized via videoconference, the webinar featured summaries of the work of the International Peace Bureau and the Inter-Parliamentary Union on issues related to climate change, disarmament, democracy and common security.
In their interventions, the Co-Chairs of the International Peace Bureau, Lisa Clark and Phillip Jennigs, stressed that international conflicts, armament, violence, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic pose an imminent threat to democracy, peace and security in the world. They also added that the solution to these challenges requires strengthening international solidarity and cooperation, without losing sight of the role that parliaments can play by promoting dialogue and consultation to contribute to finding solutions to these challenges.
The Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Martin Chungong, lauded the efforts made by the International Peace Bureau since its creation to restore peace and security in the world, noting that the current challenges facing the world are very complex and endanger peace.
On the same occasion, the Secretary-General of the IPU noted that the Union’s 2022-2026 strategy includes among its priorities climate change, the consolidation of democracy, human rights, gender equality, youth participation, peace and security, and ensuring sustainable development for all.
Referring to the main activities carried out by the IPU during 2021, Martin Chungong said that the IPU is elaborating a recommendation to be presented to the 144th General Assembly of the IPU to be held next March in Indonesia. In the same respect, he added that this recommendation focuses at reconsidering the current global approach to the peace and security process.
The participants in the webinar followed the interventions of a number of officials of international and regional organizations and specialists in peace and security issues, most of which praised the efforts of the International Peace Bureau, considering that national parliaments can play a major role in promoting dialogue and finding solutions to all the challenges and contribute to the resolution of international conflicts, which currently amount to 56.
The interventions also stressed the need to use the mechanisms currently in place in the diplomatic field and to involve youth networks.
The International Peace Bureau, created in 1891, is the oldest international peace organization. The international organization, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1910, works to link efforts between the various peace communities and to promote the principle of the peaceful resolution of international conflicts.