The Standing Delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in the Inter-Parliamentary Union, headed by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Oliver Dulic, will participate at the 117^th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

More than 1000 parliamentarians, among them about 40 Speakers of parliament, from over 130 countries of the world will convene at the assembly that will be held in Geneva from 8 to 10 October. During three days of activities the participants will debate major issues of international concern, with a special focus on the United Nations.

During the Assembly, the newly established Committee on United Nations Affairs will meet for the first time. The question of the democracy deficit in international relations will figure high on the agenda, and the parliamentarians will also debate how best to provide input to and oversight of the UN system.

The issue of the latest initiatives of the UN to respond to the increasing threats to the environment will also be on the agenda. The participants will also consider the progress in the parliamentary campaign on climate change, as well as the issues of national and human security, migrant workers, trafficking and human rights. There will be a special event to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the IPU Universal Declaration on Democracy.

The Assembly will also discuss the new United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, followed by the launch of a parliamentary handbook on the subject.

The Serbian Delegation comprising the Head of the Standing Delegation, Dr Oliver Dulic and Members of Parliament Nebojsa Stefanovic, Jelena Markovic, Zeljko Tomic and Vesna Pesic, will establish numerous contacts with the representatives of other parliaments during the Assembly.

A meeting of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments will be held at the same time in Geneva. The Secretary of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Tamara Stojcevic, will participate in its activities.