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Sen. Moore participates in Inter-American Legislative event in Mexico September 18, 2008...Debates about solutions to global warming, energy, food prices, immigration, and the spread of HIV/AIDS are heard often in the chambers of state legislatures throughout the United States. However, concern among policy makers on such critical issues does not stop at the nation's borders. Indeed, legislators serving other countries in the Western Hemisphere are actively discussing many of the same concerns shared by their U.S. counterparts. COPA also sponsors the Network of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas. Established in 1999, the Network's purpose is to foster dialogue on issues related to the advancement of women in order to promote gender equality, peace, and human development as well as the involvement of women in the decision-making process of societies in the Western Hemisphere. More information about the Women's Network can be obtained through their website at www.feminamericas.org. One of the highlights of the session of COPA's Women's Network was the presentation of an extensive report entitled, "TRAFICAS - Human Trafficking in the Americas." The issue of human trafficking, "which primarily affects women, teenage girls and children, represents a serious offense against safety, well-being and basic rights of its victims," according to the in-depth study. The report is a valuable document databank that inventories the main standard-setting and legal instruments that deal with human trafficking at the international and inter-American levels, as well as various reports on this subject. Legislators from Argentina, Haiti and Mexico provided expert testimony on the serious nature and need for international cooperation to target the elimination of this scourge during the session. In addition to the Women's Network session, COPA committees held pre-conference working sessions on issues of education, health, the environment, campaign financing, the food crisis, and immigration to finalize resolutions for consideration of the General Assembly. Sen. Moore, as Senate Chairman of the Health Care Financing Committee in Massachusetts, attended the meetings focused on health issues. Among the issues discussed, debated, and highlighted through the adoption of resolutions at the 8th General Assembly of COPA, were the alarming spread of HIV/AIDS throughout the Western Hemisphere; concerns regarding migration among the countries of the Western Hemisphere; the problem of global warming and climate change; promotion of diversity in cultural expressions; standards governing political party financing and electoral spending controls in the Americas; and concerns regarding internal or external threats that could undermine democratic governments in Bolivia and Venezuela. Perhaps the most hotly debated issue was a resolution offered by the Venezuelan delegation denouncing an alleged "coup d'etat conspiracy" in Venezuela, which the Chavez government claimed was "orchestrated by national and foreign agents." "Although not specifically stated, the underlying intent was to charge the Bush Administration with trying to destabilize the governments of Venezuela and Bolivia," Sen. Moore explained. However, delegates from Canada (Quebec) and Colombia expressed concern with the lack of definitive confirmation of the allegations and that the resolution, as drafted, could divide, rather than unite COPA member nations and states. Following lengthy, and at times passionate debate, the Venezuelan delegation agreed to a consensus resolution expressing concern with any internal or external attempts by any nations to weaken democratically-elected governments in the Western Hemisphere. Sen. Moore's participation in the COPA meeting was not paid at taxpayer's expense, but was funded by the National Conference of State Legislatures. For more information on Sen. Moore's work in the legislature and NCSL, please visit www.senatormoore.com. |
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