Latin American Parliament

Latin American Parliament Parlamento Latinoamericano (Spanish) Parlamento Latino-americano (Portuguese) Latijns-Amerikaanse parlement (Dutch)
Parlatino flag
Type
Type	Unicameral
History
Founded	December 10, 1964 (1964-12-10)
Leadership
President of the Latin American Parliament	Elías Castillo, PRD Since 30 November 2012
Alternate President of the Latin American Parliament	Fernando Cordero Cueva, PAIS Since 30 November 2012
General-Secretary of the Latin American Parliament	Blanca Alcalá, PRI Since 30 November 2012
Alternate General-Secretary of the Latin American Parliament	Leonardo Cabezas, PCC Since 30 November 2012
Committees Secretary of the Latin American Parliament	Daisy Tourné, PSU Since 30 November 2012
Inter-Parliamentary Relations Secretary of the Latin American Parliament	Walter Gavidia, PSUV Since 30 November 2012
Inter-Institutional Relations Secretary of the Latin American Parliament	Nancy Susana González, PJ Since 30 November 2012
Structure
Seats	276
Committees	13 Committee on Cattle-raising and fisheries Committee on Citizen safety, combat and prevention of narcotraffic, terrorism and organized crime Committee on Economic affairs, social debt and regional development Committee on Education, culture, science, technology and communication Committee on Energy and mines Committee on Environment and tourism Committee on Gender equity, childhood and youth Committee on Health Committee on Human rights, justice and prison policies Committee on Indigenous peoples and ethnic groups Committee on Labour, social security and legal affairs Committee on Political, municipal and integration affairs Committee on Utilities and defence of users and consumers
Meeting place
Latin American Parliament building, Amador, Panama City,  Panama
Website
parlatino.org

The Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) is a regional, permanent organization composed by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. It is a consultative assembly similar to the early European Parliament.^[1] Currently the institution is being considered to become the legislative organ of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.^[2]

Origins, mandate, principles and purpose

The Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) was created in 1964. Its current mandate is derived from the Treaty of Institutionalization which was ratified on 16 November 1987. Situated in Panama City, Panama,^[3] the Parlatino has 23 member parliaments, each of which sends to it 12 nominated plenipotentiaries. The plenipotentiaries must represent the views of their parent parliament, and take into consideration the principles of the Parliament which include the defence of democracy and the further intergeneration of Latin America. The purposes of the Parlatino are:^[1]

• To promote, human rights, and economic and social development;
• To maintain and foster relations with other geographic parliaments (such as the European Parliament, as well as international organisations);
• To promote self-determination and defence against imperialism and colonialism.

Institutions

The main institutions of the Parlatino are:^[1]

• The unicameral Plenary Assembly which meets annually;
• The Board of Directors of the Plenary Assembly which is chaired by the President of the Assembly and oversees the work of the Parlatino between the Assembly's sessions.
• In 2009 there were thirteen permanent committees:^[1]
  • Cattle-raising and fisheries;
  • Citizen safety, combat and prevention of narcotraffic, terrorism and organized crime;
  • Economic affairs, social debt and regional development;
  • Education, culture, science, technology and communication;
  • Energy and mines;
  • Environment and tourism;
  • Gender equity, childhood and youth;
  • Health;
  • Human rights, justice and prison policies;
  • Indigenous peoples and ethnic groups;
  • Labour, social security and legal affairs;
  • Political, municipal and integration affairs;
  • Utilities and defence of users and consumers.

Members

Member countries of the Latin American Parliament

As of 2013, the following countries are members of the Latin American Parliament:^[4]

See also

• Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)
• Union of South American Nations
• Latin American and Caribbean Congress in Solidarity with Puerto Rico’s Independence
• Latin America Memorial

Notes

References

• acn (26 May 2011), Havana Hosts Meeting of Latin American Parliament, Radio Cadena Agramonte  External link in |publisher= (help)
• Evans, Paul; Silk, Paul, eds. (2009), The Parliamentary Assembly: practice and procedure, Council of Europe, p. 350, ISBN 978-92-871-6485-8 
• Pearson, Tamara (26 September 2010), National Assembly Election Results - 95 Legislators for PSUV, Venezuelanalysis.com 

External links

• Latin American Parliament  official site in Portuguese and Spanish