News:
March 14, 2023
The 146th Assembly of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) which ends today in Manama, Bahrain welcomes back into its fold Liberia’s Parliament to its global Parliamentary Community. IPU’s membership now stands at one hundred and seventy-nine (179) with all African countries now represented.
Liberia was one of the nine founding members of the IPU along with Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy, Spain, and the United States of America.
In 1889, Mr. Leopold Carrance, an MP from Liberia, joined 94 other parliamentarians attending the first Inter-Parliamentary Conference in Paris, France.
Ms. Jewel Howard-Taylor, President of the Senate, addressing the IPU Assembly, said “It is a humbling duty for me; on behalf of my nation Liberia and the Liberian Legislature; to accept the call for my Nation Liberia to return to the fold of the IPU; after a long absence.
This return to the IPU is of significance, especially taking note of the historical fact that Liberia was one of the original founding member Parliaments of the Organisation in October 1889; at a time when there were no established means for Governments or parliaments to work together internationally.”
The Liberian Parliament is made up of two chambers: the House of Representatives with 73 directly elected members (of which 11% are women) and the Senate with 30 directly elected members (of which 6.7% of women).
Ghanamps.com/IPU