Participants of the 6th World Forum of the GPH © Camara do Rio de Janeiro

From 18 to 20 March 2010 Peter Götz led the 6th Global Forum of the Global Parliamentarians on Habitat. Host of the forum was Jorge Felippe, president of the Camara of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who personally welcomed the over 100 parliamentarians from over 25 countries in the opening celebration.

The theme of the forum, "Sustainable Urban Development", was discussed in three working groups focusing on Climate Change, City for All and Urban-Rural Connections.

The results of the workshops were debated in plenary and summarized in a "Declaration of Rio". Eliomar Coelho, council member of the Camara of Rio de Janeiro and member of the Board of Directors of the GPH-America, presented the declaration to the United Nations at the World Urban Forum, which took place a few days later. The Parliamentarians will carry the message of the Declaration into their national parliaments and implement it.

Peter Götz unanimously re-elected

On 20 March 2010 Götz was unanimously re-elected at the Camara of Rio de Janeiro as President of the Board of Directors of the GPH. Götz, who has held this office since April 2008, said: "It is a great pleasure for me that my fellow Parliamentarians from around the world have placed their trust in me once again. The re-election is important to me in order to develop and deepen the work already begun”.

The Presidents of Regional Councils are Vice Presidents of the GPH. The following Regional Presidents were confirmed as Vice-Presidents: Margaret Zziwa, Uganda, President of the GPH-Africa, Jose Ramon Lopez Martell, Mexico, President of the GPH-Americas, Rodolfo G. Biazon, Philippines, President of the GPH-Asia, Constantin Traian Igas, Romania, President of the GPH-Europe. Moreover, Eloy Cantu Segovia, Mexico, President of the Advisory Council and Oscar Velarde Vega, Mexico, President of the Former Parliamentarians, are members of the Board of Directors of the GPH.

Meetings of the Regional Councils of the GPH

Meetings of the Regional Councils of Africa and Asia were held within the framework of the 6th Global Forum and the World Urban Forum V. The GPH-Americas held a Regional Forum with elections.