The Amazon Parliament (Parlamaz) is an international parliamentary body that brings together members of the lower and upper houses of parliament from the eight countries that comprise the Amazon region: Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
It was established for the first time on April 17, 1989, in the city of Lima, Peru, at the initiative of the Congress of the Republic of Peru. Delegates from the legislative bodies of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela participated in its establishment. Its first President was Dr. Héctor Vargas Haya, who, at the time, served as President of the Congress of the Republic of Peru.
The Joint Declaration establishing Parlamaz defines it as a regional, permanent, and unicameral body, composed of the parliaments of the States Parties to the 1978 Amazon Cooperation Treaty, with the objective of establishing integrated policies and strengthening relations among the member countries for the discussion of Amazon-related issues, promoting cooperation and the sustainable development of the region.
Until 2011, Parlamaz operated with intermittent periods of inactivity, with two notable attempts at reactivation in 2004 and 2008, when Brazil hosted meetings of the Board of Directors and revived the body’s activities.
In 2019, the ambassadors of the Amazonian countries accredited to Brazil requested Senator Nelsinho Trad, then President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defense of the Federal Senate, to assess the possibility of reactivating the body once again. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative was postponed.
Plaque referring to Parlamaz, located at the headquarters of the Congress of the Republic of Peru, in the city of Lima.
The first strategic meeting to discuss the reactivation of the Amazon Parliament (Parlamaz)
Convened by Senator Nelsinho Trad on November 30, 2020, during which it was decided that the eight countries with territories in the Amazon should appoint their delegates to discuss the establishment of the new Parlamaz body and develop a work plan for the coming years.
On December 21, in a virtual format, the meeting to establish the new Parlamaz was held with the following composition:
Brazil – Senators Nelsinho Trad, Eduardo Braga, Plínio Valério, Paulo Rocha, and Telmário Mota; Representatives Marcelo Ramos, Léo Moraes, Perpétua Almeida, and José Ricardo.
Bolivia – Representative Marta Ruiz Flores, Supranational Representative Sara Kattya Condori, Supranational Representative Carlos Hernán Arrien, Supranational Representative Aleiza Alcira Rodríguez, Supranational Representative Ana Meriles Genaro, and Senator Adolfo Mendoza.
Colombia – Senator Germán Alcides Blanco Álvares, Representative Harry Gonzalez, Representative Henry Correal, Juan David Velez, Senator Maritza Martinez, Representative Harold Valencia, Representative Carlos Cuenca, and Senator Jorge Guevara.
Ecuador – Fernando Flores (President of the Committee on Sovereignty, Integration, International Relations and Comprehensive Security) and Carlos Cambala.
Guyana – Manzoor Nadir.
Peru – Gilmer Trujillo Zegarra (President of the Committee on Foreign Relations).
Suriname – Representative Marinus Bee (President of the National Assembly).
Venezuela – Congresswoman María Gabriela Hernández Del Castillo (Chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources) and Representative Romel Guzamana.
The parliamentarians in attendance elected Senator Nelsinho Trad of Brazil as President.
Delegations from the member countries alongside the Plaque Commemorating the Establishment of the Amazon Parliament. Headquarters of the Congress of the Republic of Peru, June 5, 2024.
