UAE proposes youth parliamentarians committee

The UAE has submitted a proposal to the 126th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly for setting up a committee for youth parliamentarians as one of the IPU organs, Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, First Deputy Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council (FNC), has unveiled. Participating as member of the FNC delegation at the 126th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly and the 190th Session of the Governing Council, Al Qubaisi said the proposed committee would have its own agenda, meet in concurrent with the IPU assembly and its prime goal is to empower young generations to engage in political life. ''We will study all ideas concerning this committee and then submit them to the executive committee of the IPU's secretariat general,'' she told WAM. She also proposed that a technical team of the six IPU Geopolitical Groups be tasked with devising an action plan for establishing the committee. Dr. Al Qubaisi explained that she had coordinated with the IPU secretary general to provide adequate support for the initiative so as to bring it to life as soon as possible. She also disclosed the Parliamentary Division of the FNC had proposed at the meeting of the First Standing Committee (Peace and International Security) the convocation of an international parliamentary conference (during the next IPU assembly) on role of youth in the political process. Dr. Al Qubaisi outlined the UAE leadership's support for youth empowerment in political life, saying youth were educated politically and legally so as to channel their energies in the right track and enable them to play an active role in their community and decision-making process. She noted that youth accounted for 37% of the total electoral colleges in the 2011 FNC elections. International appreciation The approval by Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) of an emergency item submitted by the UAE and other member states regarding the situation in Syria is further proof to the international community's appreciation of the leading humanitarian role the UAE plays around the world, according to member of the Federal National Council (FNC) Dr Mohammed Musallam Bin Ham. "Thanks to the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Their Highnesses, members of the Supreme Council member and rulers of the emirates and the follow up by General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Parliamentary Division of FNC was able to make the success at the IPU's General Assembly," Bin Ham told WAM in an interview. The proposal made by the Federal National Council's delegation to the international parliamentary forum was submitted after being merged with requests by Egypt, France, the United Kingdom and Canada and focuses on immediately stopping the bloodshed and human- rights violations in Syria and finding a secure passage of humanitarian assistance to all Syrians was backed by all IPU member states. The motion urges IPU members to support UN, Arab League and GCC efforts to end Syria's bloodshed, plus a plan that adheres to international law and human rights laws by the IPU. Another success is credited to the Division as its proposal to hold an international conference and setting up a committee on youth parliamentarians as one of the IPU organs, the FNC member noted. The FNC delegation participated in the 126th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly and the 190th Session of the Governing Council, held between 31 March - 5 April to focus on the overall theme "Parliaments and People: Bridging the Gap."