A joint proposal by Belgium and Australia calling for cooperation between parliaments in the fight against the terrorist group Boko Haram, has been added to the agenda of the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) as an emergency item.

The proposal was selected among a number of requests as emergency items on the IPU agenda after receiving a majority of votes at the IPU-132 on March 29. Under the terms of assembly rules, any IPU member may request the inclusion of an emergency item, as long as it relates to a major event of international concern and it appears necessary for the IPU to express its opinion. The motion must receive a two-thirds majority of the votes cast in order to be accepted.

Representatives from the Belgian and Australian delegations said the joint request was first proposed by Australia to counter terrorist activities against innocent women and children by Boko Haram, which is based in north-east Nigeria. They declared that the fight against terrorism should be set as a global priority.

The 132 nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) is taking place in Hanoi from March 29 to April 1.-VNA