The EastWest Institute's International Task Force on Preventive Diplomacy launched the Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention and Human Security, a new initiative to link parliamentarians from around the world using diplomacy to prevent conflict.

Ortwin Hennig, Chair of the Task Force, opened a meeting of more than 40 parliamentarians that officially launched the network. President Hans-Gert Pöttering of the European Parliament also addressed the meeting, pledging his – and the European Parliament’s – full support to the network.

Gareth Evans, a member of the Task Force High-Level Advisory Board, delivered the keynote speech and spoke of the important role that parliamentarians can and should play in advancing the cause of conflict prevention. In particular, he encouraged parliamentarians to continue their norm-setting role, influencing legislation and holding governments accountable. He drew attention to the need for them to advocate for greater resources to preventive diplomatic initiatives and to support the development of the Responsibility to Protect principle in their parliaments.

Members agreed to focus the network's initial efforts on supporting prevention activities in Africa and Eastern Europe, and on greater capacity building.

Ms. Angelika Beer, Member of the European Parliament from Germany, and Mr. Kabwe Zitto, a Member of Parliament from Tanzania, were elected as the first co-chairs of the network on an interim basis. Both parliamentarians are long-term advocates for conflict prevention efforts.

In a statement to the press, the co-chairs said that network members are committed to reframing traditional thought on security. They went on to say that the network will “use the members’ combined experience and capacity to influence governmental policy and resources towards early and effective actions to prevent violent conflict. As individuals and as a network, we will support our colleagues in countries across the world in their efforts to bring peace and stability to their region, whether they are directly involved in peace processes or in need of the networks support to bring attention to a particular conflict.”

The network, which was initially proposed and since developed by the EastWest Institute’s International Task Force on Preventive Diplomacy in December 2007, links more than 45 parliamentarians from 20 countries around the world. Network members work at national and international levels to gear legislative mechanisms and procedures to direct political will and resources towards preventive action and human security.

For more information on the Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention and Human Security and its Members, please visit the task force web site or contact the network’s Secretariat.