Poland
Mise à jour le Mercredi, 15 Mai 2013 15:33 Écrit par Communications Intern Mercredi, 14 Juillet 2010 09:14
The AWEPA section in the Polish Parliament, headed by Hon. Tadeusz Iwínski, includes MPs from all political parties and is represented in both chambers of parliament, the Sejm and the Senate.
Head of Section- Dr. Tadeusz Iwinski
Activities
Meeting of Parliamentary Group Poland - Republic of South Africa (RSA) with the RSA Ambassador Mr Lehlohonolo Shadrack Ted Pekane in the Sejm, Warsaw
On 9 May, the Parliamentary Group Poland-South Africa, held a meeting with His Excellency Mr. Lehlohonolo Shadrack Ted Pekane, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa in Warsaw. The Group was established in March this year and aims to develop the parliamentary friendship between the parliaments of the two countries. The Group is chaired by AWEPA member Hon. Leszek Jastrzębski from the ruling party (Civic Platform), with 12 more members of the Sejm in the Group, mostly also AWEPA members. According to the tradition to build the special links by the parliamentarians, the Group Poland-RSA addressed the request to establish a similar group in the parliaments of RSA because the existence of such a counterpart group/equivalent could help strengthen the contacts by holding a set of meetings with the representatives of the Polish and RSA Parliaments.
The speakers overviewed the condition of the cooperation between Poland and RSA. Ambassador Pekane emphasized the impact of the position of RSA in the African Union and therefore on its policy in the entire region. He underlined how important is the stabilization in the neighbouring countries as RSA receives a growing number of emigration form Zimbabwe or Nigeria which has been estimated recently to reach 3 million people. Ambassador Pekane said that despite of resource development deals in RSA, the country needs most of all the investments not the exploitation and introduction the new technologies towards the innovating economy. The participants discussed the prospects of further development of the commercial contacts and the opportunities which will occur after the official visit of the Polish Prime Minister Mr. Donald Tusk to RSA scheduled for October this year. Polish entrepreneurs pay regularly study visits to RSA to develop the business opportunities and to attract the RSA investors to Poland. Additionally, Poland can give lessons on the development of the education sector basing on the Polish experience form the transition process when during the last 20 years the number of university degrees was doubled as a response to rapidly growing economy. The authorities of the two countries should find the financial resources or ask for the engagement the private companies to cover the costs of the studies at the Polish universities.
Conference: 'Preventing Food Crises'
On 15 October, on the eve of the World Food Day, a conference under the title „Preventing Food Crises” was held at the Sejm of Poland accompanied by a photo exhibition “World without Hunger”. The event’s organiser was the Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH). Honorary patronage over the event was assumed by Ewa Kopacz, Speaker of the Sejm. The organisation of the conference was supported by the Polish Committee for Foreign Affairs and the Polish AWEPA Section. Ms. Miet Smet, President of AWEPA, has come to Poland especially for the conference. To view the program of this conference click here.
Where there is hunger, there is no hope; there is only desolation and pain. Hunger nurtures violence and fanaticism. A world where people starve will never be safe.
Address by Luiz Inácio da Silva „Lula”, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil 2003-2010, at the UN General Assembly Session in New York, 2006
16 October was established the International Food Day in 1979, on the 34th anniversary of founding the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisations (UNFAO). Observing the Food Day was endorsed in 1980 by the UN General Assembly which stressed that "food is a requisite for human survival and well-being and a fundamental human necessity”. The purpose of observing the International Food Day is to deepen the public awareness of global foot problems and strengthening the feeling of solidarity in the fight against hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
The participants of the conference held at the Sejm discussed long-term and systemic solutions to the problem of hunger. The debate pertained, among others, to the possibility of Poland’s greater involvement in preventing crises, prospects of necessary international and intersectoral cooperation in this field as well as constructing permanent food security through investments and changes in the agricultural system. Current situation in the Horn of Africa and Poland’s actions in this region were also the subject of discussion. During the conference, PAH representatives submitted to the Sejm and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a petition for Poland to adopt the Charter to End Extreme Hunger, a document describing five key fields of action necessary for combating food crises.
The conference was attended by the representatives of the Sejm, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as the representatives of academic circles and NGOs.
View 'Charter to End Extreme Hunger' by Oxfam
Seminar on the Developent of the Humanitarian Cooperation
On 26 November 2011 in Warsaw, at the Academy of Young Diplomats, with the participation of about 500 persons, the ceremony of 7th edition’s graduation and 8th edition’s commencement took place. Several honourable personalities were present, among them: Prof. Jerzy Buzek- President of the European Parlament, Tadeusz Mazowiecki- former Prime Minister of Poland (1989-1990) and Dr Bernard Kouchner- Minister of Foreign Affairs of France (2007-2010).
Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU Seminar, 26 July 2011, Warsaw
Solidarity with Africa, 19 March 2009, Warsaw
