Draft resolution of the 137th IPU Session features the initiative to establish the International Day of Parliamentarianism

The 137^th Assembly of the IPU – the largest and oldest association of parliamentarians, established in 1889, will take place in October 2017 in St. Petersburg. The decision to host this event was adopted by the IPU Governing Council on the final day of the 135^th Session in Geneva.

The IPU will elect a new Chairperson during the Session and adopt a resolution “Sharing our diversity: the 20th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Democracy” that features the initiative to establish the International Day of Parliamentarianism.

The IPA CIS delegation will take part in the IPU Session. At its meeting in March this year, the IPA CIS Council decided to ask the United Nations to establish the International Day of Parliamentarism during the 137^th Assembly.

Secretary General – Head of the IPA CIS Council Secretariat Alexey Sergeev mentioned that the establishment of the International Day of Parliamentarianism “would draw the attention of the international community to the role of parliamentarians in preserving peace, stability, economic growth, and would facilitate the development of image of parliamentarianism as democracy`s fundamental tradition”. He also clarified that the International Day of Parliamentarianism was proposed to be celebrated on 30 June, the day of the first IPU assembly in 1889.