World Parliamentarians to hold Tibet convention in April/ENG

2012. április 18./Phayul.com/TibetPress

DHARAMSHALA, April 18: The 6th World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet is scheduled to be held in Ottawa, Canada from April 27 – 29, 2012.

The announcement for the global convention of parliamentarians in support of Tibet was made by the Tibetan parliamentary secretariat in a release Tuesday.

Over 50 parliamentarians representing 30 countries from around the world are expected to take part in the three-day meeting.

A 60-member strong Tibetan delegation, including Tibetan Members of Parliament from India are also expected to take part in the convention being hosted by Canada for the maiden time.

The 6th WPCT, besides the inaugural and concluding sessions, will hold six plenary sessions on topics, including; Tibet – The Third Pole: Importance of Environmental Stewardship, Challenges before the Tibetan People Today, Discussion on China’s Policies in Tibet and Future Prospects in view of the upcoming Change in Chinese Leadership, and the Interdependence between Cultural and Religious Freedom and Social Stability.

The convention will also hold sessions to review parliamentary initiatives on Tibet since its last convention in Rome 2009 and also take proposals to strengthen the International Network of Parliamentarians on Tibet, which aims to facilitate coordination among parliamentarians and parliamentary groups in order to effectively advance Tibet issues in a concerted manner.

The convention is expected to adopt the Ottawa Declaration and 6th WPCT Action Plan.

The World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet aims to promote the cause of Tibet through a unified network of Parliamentarians for Tibet, and to facilitate meaningful negotiation between His Holiness the Dalai Lama or his representatives with the People's Republic of China.

Earlier conventions were held in 1994 in New Delhi; 1995 in Vilnius; 1997 in Washington DC, 2005 in Edinburgh, and 2009 in Rome.

The 6th WPCT is being jointly organised by the International Network of Parliamentarians on Tibet, Parliamentary Friends of Tibet, Canada and the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.