Mazhilis deputy Aigul Kuspan represented Kazakhstan at the 145th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Astana, October 18, 2022, Mazhilis House. Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs, Defense and Security of the Majilis Aigul Kuspan took part in the work of the 145th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and other related events that took place from October 11 to 15 this year in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. The 145th IPU Assembly gathered parliamentarians from 122 countries, representatives of 32 international and inter-parliamentary organizations. The main topic of the meeting was gender equality and gender-sensitive parliaments as drivers of change for a more sustainable and lasting peace. At the opening ceremony of the Assembly, President of the Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagame, Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of Rwanda Donatill Mukabilisa, President of the IPU Duarte Paseku, Secretary General of the IPU Martin Chungong addressed the international parliamentarians, as well as a video message from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. During the general debate, Aigul Kuspan made a report in which she spoke about Kazakhstan's implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on gender equality, as well as the Concept of Family and Gender Policy in Kazakhstan until 2030. The deputy also familiarized the participants of the event with the changes in the Kazakh electoral legislation regarding the introduction of a 30% quota for women, youth and persons with disabilities in the formation of party lists and the distribution of parliamentary mandates. It should be added that Aigul Kuspan chaired the session of the general debate of the Assembly. Following the results of the 145th IPU Assembly, the Kigali Declaration on Gender Equality and Parliaments that Take into account Gender Aspects as driving forces of change for a more sustainable and lasting peace was adopted. This document calls on the members of the IPU to step up their efforts to promote gender equality in State bodies and society. The Declaration recommends that parliaments introduce selective gender quotas to achieve parity in political decision-making; ensure that gender aspects are taken into account when drafting laws and budgeting; place vulnerable groups of the population at the center of parliamentary action; put an end to discrimination and gender-based violence. In addition, the resolution "Parliamentary impetus to the local and regional development of countries with a high level of international migration and the cessation of all forms, including State-sponsored, human trafficking and human rights violations" was adopted. It was prepared by the IPU Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights. As part of the accompanying events, Aigul Kuspan held a meeting of the geopolitical group of the IPU "Eurasia" with the participation of parliamentarians from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Russia and Uzbekistan. They discussed issues on the agenda of the 145th Assembly, identified candidates for vacant positions in the IPU bodies. The deputy also spoke at a joint meeting of the chairmen of the geopolitical groups and Standing Committees of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, where she reported on the work done by the Eurasia Group, as well as on the implementation of previously adopted resolutions of the IPU. In addition, on the sidelines of the 145th IPU Assembly, Chairman of the Majilis Profile Committee Aigul Kuspan held a number of bilateral meetings to strengthen and establish cooperation with representatives of parliamentary organizations in Africa, heads and members of parliamentary delegations of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Indonesia, Namibia, UAE, Russia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, France and other countries. The 146th Assembly of the Inter–Parliamentary Union will be held from March 11 to 15 next year in the capital of Bahrain - Manama.