The Governing Council received a report of the first meeting of the Preparatory Committee established by the President of the IPU to assist with organizing the 3rd World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. The South African delegation noted that Mr Sisulu formed part of this preparatory committee. The 3rd World Conference of Speakers was scheduled to take place in Geneva from 19 to 21 July 2010. The main theme of the conference was "Parliaments in a world in crisis: securing global democratic accountability for the common good." The theme would permit the Speakers' conference to address a large number of issues relating to peace, democracy, development and cooperation. This included gender equality and action to stem violence against women, as proposed during the 2009 meeting of Women Speakers. The conference would also give Speakers an opportunity to focus on the role of parliaments in furthering the objectives of the conference at national level and in relation to multilateral processes and institutions. The conference would formulate recommendations relating to the relationship between parliament, the IPU and the United Nations. Speakers of all national parliaments of sovereign states (including both Speakers in bicameral parliaments) would be invited to participate in the conference. The next meeting of the Preparatory Committee would take place in New York on 16 and 17 November.