Islamabad– Pakistan
The third Regional Seminar for the parliaments of the Asia-Pacific region on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan, is being jointly organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the National Assembly of Pakistan. This in-person meeting will follow up on the conclusions of the previous seminars, hosted by the Parliament of Viet Nam (in 2017) and the Parliament of Mongolia (in 2018), as well as the IPU’s virtual SDG events.
Due to changing dynamics in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the theme of the event will be Parliaments and the pandemic: SDGs in the time of COVID-19. In recognition of the key role parliaments play in implementing the SDGs, the IPU and the National Assembly of Pakistan are pleased to continue to provide a platform for exchanging ideas, good practices and experience regarding SDG implementation in the Asia-Pacific region.
GENERAL INFORMATION
SEMINAR VENUE AND DATE
The seminar will be held from 13 to 14 September 2022 (excluding arrival/departure) at the Parliament House Building in Islamabad, Pakistan. Badges and seminar documents should be collected from the Registration Desk in the lobby of the hotel. Delegates will be allowed to access the Parliament House Building after collecting their badges.
PARTICIPATION
The seminar is open to the parliaments of the following Asia-Pacific countries: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Canada, China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. Delegations should be gender-balanced and reflect the political representation of their respective parliaments. It is recommended that delegates should be those working directly on sustainable development issues in their
parliaments.
ORGANIZATION OF PROCEEDINGS
In keeping with IPU practice, all participants will have equal speaking rights. To make the discussions as fruitful and enriching as possible, the following rules will apply:
(a) After the resource persons have introduced an agenda item, the floor will be opened to participants for questions and comments.
(b) Experience has shown that this kind of meeting does not lend itself to the reading out of prepared statements. Subject to alternative arrangements that the Chair may make to suit the circumstances, oral contributions may not exceed three minutes. Participants may speak several times on each item, particularly to respond to other statements.
DOCUMENTS
Presentations on the topics discussed at the seminar will be posted, when and if possible, by the IPU Secretariat on the IPU’s website.
Participants wishing to distribute relevant documentation to their colleagues will be required to provide the material in sufficient quantities and to place it on a designated table.
WORKING LANGUAGES
The working language will be English.
Delegations wishing to use interpretation facilities should inform the organizers no later than 30 August 2022. Additional interpretation booths will be made available on a first come, first served basis.
