FOPREL's 30th Extraordinary Session Kicks Off in Rabat

The 30th Extraordinary Session of the Forum of Presidents of Legislative Powers of Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico (FOPREL) opened on Wednesday in Rabat.

This two-day event, held at the Moroccan Parliament, provides an opportunity to address a range of issues, particularly security challenges in Central America and beyond, parliamentary action in response to the social and economic impacts of climate change, integrated development, and a common regional parliamentary action plan.

The session will also focus on a draft regional framework law aimed at combating human trafficking, especially of women and children.

The opening session featured speeches by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi Alami; the Speaker of the House of Councillors, Mohamed Ould Errachid; the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica, which holds the rotating presidency of FOPREL, Rodrigo Arias Sánchez; and the Vice President of the Forum, President of the National Congress of Honduras, Luis Rolando Redondo.

On the sidelines of this extraordinary session, held to tackle issues such as security, climate change and economic development, the presidents of legislative powers and parliamentary delegations from Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico will hold a series of meetings with Moroccan officials.

Established in 1994, FOPREL aims to strengthen the implementation and harmonization of legislation among member countries and to develop mechanisms for consultation between the presidents of their legislative institutions to tackle regional challenges, as well as to support legislative studies at the regional level.

FOPREL includes the presidents of the parliaments of nine member countries: Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, in addition to observer members such as Parlatino, Palacen, the Chilean Parliament, and the Moroccan Parliament.