Buenos Aires, Argentina—Nineteen parliamentarians attended the launch of the Argentina chapter of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP). The event, which took place on November 30, 2017 at Arturo Illia Hall in the Argentine Senate, focused on the theme, “Facing the Critical Challenges of Our Time to Achieve Peace.” Also among the guests were representatives from civil society organizations, faith groups and the private sector.
Upon arriving at the venue, the guests were greeted by UPF representatives and with music, performed by singer Damián Rovner.
The program began with the singing of the Argentine national anthem. Ambassador for Peace Mrs. María Teresa Narváez was the master of ceremonies, and Mrs. Silvia del Rosario Giacoppo, a senator of Jujuy province in northwest Argentina, gave the welcoming remarks.
The deputy of Buenos Aires province, Ms. Rosío Antinori, and Mercosur parliamentarians Hon. Fernanda Gil Lozano and Hon. Humberto Benedetto, spoke on the theme of the event.
In his remarks, UPF-South America president, Rev. Dong Mo Shin, said that “Parliamentarians for Peace forums are emerging as key to action-oriented peace initiatives.” UPF-Latin America regional chair, Dr. Sang Seuk Kim, in his message, talked about the nuclear threat from North Korea and the lack of dialogue between the North and the South.
UPF-North America regional secretary general, Mr. Ricardo de Sena, explained the principles that sustain peace: we are one family under the same Creator, the family is the school of love and peace and “living for the sake of others” is universal law. Religious and international cooperation is essential to achieving peace, he also said.
Letters of support from national and international parliamentarians were read by Ms. Narváez. Among those who sent letters were Hon. Jhovana Jordán Antonio, president of the Social Policy Commission of the Chamber of Deputies of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia; Hon. Guillermo Osorno Molina, deputy of the Central American Parliament, Sub-office of Nicaragua; and Hon. Dan Burton, member of the House of Representatives of the United States from 1993-2013. Mrs. Carolina Estebarena, a Buenos Aires city legislator, who was able to attend part of the program, gave a few words.
The parliamentarians and government leaders who attended the event were national deputies Hon. María Clara Del Valle Vega, Hon. Silvina Frana, and Hon. Martín Maquieyra; Mercosur parliamentarians Hon. María Luisa Storani, Hon. Julia Perié, Hon. María Teresa del Valle González Fernández, Hon. Rubén Brizuela, Hon. Eduardo Valdés, Hon. Alejandro Karlen and Hon. Osvaldo Mercuri; provincial legislator Hon. Adolfo Somoza; and councillors Mrs. Adriana Boccalandro, Mrs. Mónica Lannutti and Mrs. Marianela López.
All the parliamentarians present signed the declaration launching the IAPP in Argentina. The declaration focuses on five key action areas: education and values, dignity and human rights, public management and transparency, development and cooperation, and environment and sustainability.
The program closed with Youth Ambassadors for Peace Kotoe Ainai, Hitomi Kageyama, Miki Sebata and Motomi Hirai singing “Aleluya” (“Hallelujah) and the presentation of certificates to all the parliamentarians.
Local media, including news sites Gaceta Mercantil, Jujuy al dia, Las 24 Horas de Jujuy and Parliamentario, featured a news release about the event:
Gaceta Mercantil: www.gacetamercantil.com/notas/132098
Jujuy al dia: www.jujuyaldia.com.ar/2017/12/01/se-lanzo-en-el-senado-el-capitulo-argentino-de-la-asociacion-de-parlamentarios-por-la-paz
Las 24 Horas de Jujy: www.las24horasdejujuy.com.ar/index.php/more/nacionales/18724-se-lanzo-en-el-senado-el-capitulo-argentino-de-la-asociacion-de-parlamentarios-por-la-paz
Parliamentario: www.parlamentario.com/noticia-106139.html
To view a video summary of the launch of the IAPP-Argentina, please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=waucafmGi4M.
The global “Parliamentarians for Peace” initiative was launched in 2001 centered on the Ambassadors for Peace, and was a point of focus of the 2005 UPF Inaugural Tour to 120 nations, and has brought together many parliamentarians from around the world through diverse programs. In 2016, UPF, with more than 150 parliamentarians, representing more than 40 nations, launched the IAPP as a worldwide association of parliamentarians at the International Leadership Conference held in Seoul, Korea. Chapters of the association have been launched in every region and dozens of countries since then.
For more information about the IAPP, please visit www.upf.org/iapp.
