Regional Workshop for Pacific Parliaments Modern Parliaments: The Pacific Perspective

Transcription

1 Regional Workshop for Pacific Parliaments Modern Parliaments: The Pacific Perspective Fa Onelua Convention Centre, Nuku alofa, Tonga 7 and 8 November 2013 Since 2010 the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has worked with the Australian Parliament to hold an annual event with parliaments in the Pacific. The events have taken place in Auckland in 2010, with the assistance of the New Zealand Parliament, 2011 on the Gold Coast and in 2012 in Apia. The event in 2012 was jointly hosted by the Parliament of Samoa. To continue the momentum of engagement between the Pacific Parliaments and the IPU, a seminar for Pacific Parliaments will take place on 7 and 8 November It will be hosted by the Tongan Parliament in Nuku alofa, under the auspices of Pacific Parliamentary Partnerships. The seminar will cover the broad theme of operating a modern parliament in the Pacific. The seminar will cover three key issues: the skills and resources necessary for parliamentarians to fully participate in policy debates; encouraging equality of participation in parliamentary processes; and the services parliamentarians require to fully perform their duties. The seminar will examine how parliamentarians use the skills acquired to tackle key policy issues such as climate change and ocean management. The workshop will be jointly co-ordinated between the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Tongan and Australian Parliaments. Delegates will arrive on Wednesday 6 November, and would depart for home on Saturday 9 November. This is subject to flight availability as some delegates may need to extend their stay. Objectives Promote the role of parliaments in discussing key regional issues, with ocean policies as an example; Identify the skills and training required for parliamentarians to fully participate in debates on key regional issues; Identify the services required to fulfil all of the responsibilities of a parliamentarian in a modern parliament and ways in which they can be delivered; Consider the extent to which all sections of society have equal opportunity to participate in parliamentary processes, focusing in particular on women s participation and engagement with parliament; Identify mechanisms and requirements for parliaments to respond to interests of all constituents, women and men on an equal footing and 1

2 PROGRAMME Wednesday, 6 November pm Informal Dinner Venue: Waterfront Restaurant Thursday, 7 November am Registration Fa onelua Convention Centre 9.00am Opening Prayer Lord Tu iafitu Minister of Health 9.15am Opening Remarks Lord Fakafanua Speaker, Legislative Assembly of Tonga Hon. Betty Amongi MP, Vice President of IPU s Coordinating Committee of Women MPs 9.30am Introduction TBC 10.00am Professional development for parliamentarians Parliamentarians from across the region enter parliament with varied experiences and skills. Though many of these skills can be adapted to suit the work of a parliamentarian, many new skills need to be developed to assist them fully represent the interests of their constituents. In a modern world with an ever changing parliamentary environment, parliamentarians need to be able to adapt their skills to meet new challenges. This session will examine the importance of professional development of parliamentarians in terms of the skills required to be a modern parliamentarian in the Pacific and how these skills can be obtained and maintained. Discussion session led by Lord Fakafanua (Tonga), Mr Cedric Schuster (Samoa), Mr Harry Jenkins (Australia) 11.00am 11.15am What is professional development and how can it assist parliamentarians effectively undertake their duties representing their communities? What types of professional development are available? Where can parliamentarians access? Group Photo Break morning tea 2

3 11.30am Services required by parliamentarians in a modern parliament To be able to undertake all of the duties of representing their constituents, parliamentarians need to have access to a range of services to assist them with their work. The services required can vary from a strong parliamentary research service, through to reliable information technology systems and communication services. This session will provide the opportunity for participants to discuss the services currently available to parliamentarians in the region and their effectiveness. This will be followed by a discussion regarding additional services that may be suitable, and the means by which they can be established and maintained. Hon Halbert Dohsis (Speaker, FSM), Ms Selina Napa (Cook Islands), Hon Asenati Lole-Taylor (New Zealand) 12:30pm What services do parliamentarians currently use to assist them with their work? Who provides these services and are they effective? What type of services could be developed to assist parliamentarians, how can they be introduced and how can they be sustained? Break lunch Viewing and judging of Speaker s Art Competition 1.30pm Role of parliaments and parliamentarians in discussing key regional issues Like all regions around the world the Pacific faces issues that require a coordinated regional response. The ability of parliaments and parliamentarians to fully engage on regional issues greatly impacts upon the prosperity of local communities throughout the region. Furthermore, many of the issues being faced by the Pacific are also challenges confronting the global community more broadly. Hon Roch Wamytam (President, New Caledonia), Hon Hilda Heine (Minister for Education, Marshall Islands), [ ] (Tonga) This session will provide the opportunity for participants to examine the skills and resources required for parliaments and parliamentarians to fully engage in discussing key regional issues. This will include a particular focus on developing the ability to fully participate in debates and discussions, and the role of parliamentary committees. Moving beyond the region, participants will also have the opportunity to discuss how the regional perspective can be brought to the attention of the wider global community. Why is it important for parliaments and parliamentarians to engage across the regional on issues of common interest? What skills and resources are required to be able to fully engage in the discussions? How can parliamentary committees play a role? 3

4 2.30pm 3.00pm 4.30pm 5.00pm 6.30pm Break afternoon tea Oceans Policy At the workshop held in Apia in August 2012, the participants suggested policies relating to the management of the regions oceans be an issue of discussion at the next workshop. This session will commence with a presentation on the scientific aspects relating to oceans policy. Following on from the previous session, participants will then have the opportunity to examine oceans policy as a key regional issue, while at the same time considering the skills required to fully participate in discussions and debate. Partnerships in the Pacific During this session the various assistance organisations in attendance will provide participants with an overview of their current activities in the Pacific. This will be followed by discussions regarding potential areas for future partnerships. Workshop adjourns Welcome Dinner Venue: Oholei Beach Resort Lord Fakafanu (Speaker, Tonga), Professor Stuart Kaye (University of Woolloongong) Mr Andres Lomp Director, International and Community Relations Office, Parliament of Australia Friday, 8 November am Effective parliaments: responding to the needs and interests of all By definition, parliaments are established to represent their communities and respond to the issues they raise. Increasingly, parliaments are being called on to ensure that the legislation, policies and programs they approve meet the diverse needs of the community and do not discriminate against men or women, boys or girls. Having discussed the importance of professional development for parliamentarians to assist them fulfil their representational duties, this session will discuss the benefits for parliaments in ensuring that all voices are heard and represented. What works for one parliament may not necessarily work for another. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the challenges faced by their parliament and how they can overcome these when responding to gender equality issues. Plenary discussion chaired by Dr Ana Maui Taufe ulungaki (Minister for Education, Tonga) What are some of the more common issues being raised in the Pacific regarding parliaments be accessible to all sections of the community? How are parliaments responding to gender equality issues raised in the community? What have been some of the challenges in identifying gender equality concerns in the 4

5 community? What practical strategies have worked to overcome those challenges? 10.00am 10.30am Break morning tea Parliamentary policies, mechanisms and resources for gender equality The IPU has worked with many parliaments around the world to determine best practices for ensuring a gender perspective across the work of parliament. As outlined in its Plan of Action for Gender Sensitive Parliaments, parliaments need to demonstrate their commitment to gender equality by incorporating gender into their strategic or corporate plans and by creating and adequately resourcing mechanisms such as caucuses or committees that will monitor that commitment. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about some of these practices implemented around the world and consider what might work in their own parliamentary context. Panel discussion led by Hon. Betty Amongi MP, Vice President of IPU s Coordinating Committee of Women MPs Do the strategic/corporate plans of Pacific parliaments include references to gender equality? What committee is responsible for addressing gender equality issues, and if relevant, how does it work with other committees to ensure coordination? What access to sex disaggregated data do parliaments have, and how is this information used in parliamentary deliberations? How does the parliament engage with, and seek the views of, women s organisations? 12.00pm 1.00pm Break lunch Parliament as a productive workplace Parliaments can sometimes be seen challenging workplaces for both men and women. Long hours, travel to the capital and the often disparaging treatment of political opponents can act as disincentives to run for parliament, especially for women. During this session participants will be asked to consider how the culture and conduct of parliament would make it a more efficient and productive workplace. How would you describe the workplace culture of your parliament? What is the tone of debate? Are there language restrictions in the standing orders? Does the parliament have a code of conduct for Members? Plenary discussion led by Ms Brigitte Filion IPU 5

6 2:15pm Break afternoon tea 2:45pm 4.00pm Strategies to ensure parliament delivers on gender equality Consideration of the IPU Plan of Action for Gender Sensitive Parliaments and possible strategies that could be implemented in each Pacific parliament Action Area 2: Developing a strategy to deliver on specific gender equality issue (Hon Lyn Breuer MLA) Action Area 3: Mainstreaming gender in the work of Parliament (Hon Betty Amongi MP) Action Area 5: Role of men parliamentarians as champions of gender equality (Mr Harry Jenkins) Report back from working groups Working groups 4.30pm Concluding remarks Speaker TBC 5.00pm 6.30pm Workshop concludes Farewell Dinner Venue: Lunarossa Restaurant Hosted: Lord Fakafanua Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga Special Program Speaker s Art Competition prize giving 6