
Mensa-Williams shines at IPU

Hon Margaret Mensah-Williams who has been elected President of the Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians for a two-year term, at the 130th session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), held in Geneva, Switzerland.
A panel discussion focused on the contribution of Parliaments towards a nuclear-weapon free world. The Namibian delegation stated that although Namibia is ranked the 5th largest producer of uranium in the world, the country ratified the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT0) on 15 April 1998. In doing so, Namibia does not support the use of its uranium for nuclear weapons or explosive nuclear devices.
A panel discussion was held on the protection of children’s rights, in particular unaccompanied migrant children and preventing their exploitation in situations of war and conflict. The IPU meeting urged Parliaments to enact specific legislation to protect girls from human trafficking, sexual exploitation and gender violence and also to amend legislation to prevent children being recruited as child soldiers. Members of Parliament younger than 45 years will meet bi-annually to broaden diversity and inclusiveness by increasing the presence of young parliamentarians at IPU assemblies and meetings. The IPU asked all countries to include younger Members of Parliament in their delegations. Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab was President of the IPU from 15 October 2008 to 19 October 2011. When his term came to an end the Governing Council conferred on him the title of Honorary President of the IPU.