Objectives

 

Core objective: The core objective of the IPU Science for Peace School project is to realize the vision of unity through science for the purpose of peace and so act as a platform for dialogue between parliaments on subjects related to the IPU’s core objectives. The Schools will serve as a launch pad for the establishment of a community of parliamentary experts from the IPU Geopolitical Groups.

 

Through a multipronged approach, the Science for Peace Schools provide, firstly, capacity-building training courses for parliamentary secretariat staff from around the world, as the technical and institutional backbone of parliaments, and secondly, empower MPs by establishing a parliamentary expert community, which can incorporate scientific methods, models of cooperation and evidence-based approaches into legislation that addresses conflict holistically as well as filling gaps in UN resolutions and global strategies.

 

Participating parliamentary staff in the Schools will be its technical graduates and will form a group of alumni to ensure the sustainability and continuity of the Schools’ and the community of parliamentary experts’ peace processes and objectives.

 

The following are the Schools' curricula:

• Dealing with water scarcity: an opportunity to rebuild peace with Science

• Climate change, sustainable development

• Science, technology, innovation and STEM education.

 

National level objective: To empower secretariats of national parliaments by establishing a focal point who will follow transboundary initiatives and participate in capacity-enhancement programmes. To empower the relevant parliamentary committees by providing them with the necessary tools to legislate and exchange good practices.

 

Regional level objective: To establish cooperation between the national focal points to enable parliaments in the region to exchange ideas, legislative and technical expertise to address common challenges through science, technology and innovation. Cooperation between national focal points will be vital in identifying and implementing joint regional projects to address regional challenges.

 

International level objective: Through the community of parliamentary experts – the Schools technical graduates and parliamentarians, the aim of the Schools is to bring together the concerns of national parliaments to international organizations and fill the gaps in implementing international agreements and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The follow-up work of the community of parliamentary experts will pave the way for the establishment of model legislation on issues of concern and the creation of environments conducive to coexistence between conflicting parties through the implementation of the neutrality of science.