27/11/2011
Special Envoy to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Scotland Branch and UN AIDS Ambassador Annie Lennox OBE will deliver the closing address to a gathering of international parliamentarians this week.
Speaking on World AIDS Day, Thursday 1 December, Ms Lennox will outline her work with the Scottish Parliament and across the globe in supporting the fight against the epidemic.
Ms Lennox is addressing the conference that has been organised to examine how politicians can ensure countries are meeting their commitments to the UN’s Millennium Development Goals for 2015. It is hosted by the CPA UK in London from 28 November to 1 December and brings together politicians from across the globe, including the world’s newest country, South Sudan.
Speaking ahead of the conference in the UK Houses of Parliament, Ms Lennox said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be addressing politicians at this conference. As a Special Envoy for the CPA Scotland Branch with regard to the issue of HIV/AIDS, I have been striving to contribute to the long-standing Scottish tradition of standing up for human rights and justice, with special regard to women and children in the developing world. This conference offers the opportunity to promote this cause to a wider range of decision makers.”
Other keynote speakers will include among others:
- Mr Charles Abugre, Regional Director for Africa, UN Millennium Campaign
- Mr Ignacio Saez, Director, Centre for Economic and Social Rights
- Rt Hon. The Lord Howell of Guildford, Minister of State for the Commonwealth
- Rt Hon. Alan Duncan MP, Minister of State, Department for International Development
- H. E. Karmalesh Sharma, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
- Dr Flavia Bustreo, Assistant Director-General for Family, Women and Children’s Health at the World Health Organisation
CPA Scotland will be represented at the conference by MSPs Sarah Boyack and Margaret Mitchell.
CPA Scotland Branch Executive Committee member Margaret Mitchell MSP said: “The Millennium Goals are important commitments that we as politicians have a duty to help deliver. This conference will help us explore how others are tackling the issues, as well as share the work underway here in Scotland.”
Background
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organisations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015. They include eradicating extreme poverty, reducing child mortality rates, fighting disease epidemics such as AIDS, and developing a global partnership for development.
The CPA is an Association of Commonwealth Parliamentarians who, irrespective of gender, race, religion or culture, are united by community of interest, respect for the rule of law and individual rights and freedoms, and by pursuit of the positive ideals of parliamentary democracy. The Association's mission is to promote the advancement of parliamentary democracy by enhancing knowledge and understanding of democratic governance.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch (CPA UK) membership consists of Members from all parties and both Houses of the United Kingdom Parliament. Through dialogue, CPA UK undertakes international parliamentary outreach on behalf of the Houses of Parliament and the wider CPA.
Active CPA Branches exist in 175 national, state, provincial and territorial Parliaments, with a total membership of approximately 17,000 parliamentarians.
The President of the CPA Scotland Branch is the Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick MSP. Vice Presidents are the Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP and Iain Gray MSP.
The CPA Scotland Branch Executive Committee was elected at the AGM on Wednesday 22 June. The CPA Executive Committee Members are:
- Patricia Ferguson MSP
- Margaret Mitchell MSP
- Tavish Scott MSP
- Sandra White MSP