British Group
Inter-Parliamentary Union
Advancing the parliamentary dimension
of Britain's foreign relations
UK General Election
12 December 2019
Defend Media Freedom
Seminar Outcomes
130th Anniversary
1889-2019
Upcoming Events
Key BGIPU meetings and visits
UK Parliament is dissolved for 2019 General Election
A new Parliament will sit from 17 December 2019
International Parliamentary Seminar on Media Freedom
Report on Seminar Proceedings and Outcomes now published
The world's oldest international political body
Founded by UK & French parliamentarians in 1889, now numbering 179 member Parliaments
Latest Updates
13 October 2019
Over 1,800 participants, including MPs from some 150 parliaments, UN and civil society partners from around the world met in Belgrade from 13 to 17 October. A landmark resolution calling for parliaments to take all legal and policy measures to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030 was adopted by the world’s parliaments gathered in Serbia for the 141st IPU Assembly. The resolution urges parliaments to put in place effective UHC legislation to ensure that the right to public health and medical care is guaranteed for all in law and in practice, without discrimination. The resolution is designed to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage for up to 5 billion people who are projected to lack access to essential health services by 2030.
13 October 2019
Over 1700 parliamentarians and UN and civil society partners from around the world will meet in Belgrade, Serbia, from 13 to 17 October for the 141st IPU Assembly. Under the overarching theme of Strengthening international law: Parliamentary roles and mechanisms, and the contribution of regional cooperation, MPs will also discuss the latest developments to improve gender equality, empower young people, defend MPs’ human rights, and achieve universal health coverage. The Serbian National Assembly will host delegates from some 140 countries, with over 70 Speakers of Parliament attending – one of the IPU’s records – as well as 40 Deputy Speakers and over 700 MPs, of whom 30 per cent are women and 17 per cent are young MPs under 45.
23 September 2019
Following a successful visit by Lithuanian parliamentarians to the UK parliament last year, a BGIPU delegation visited Lithuania from 23rd to 27th September. The delegation was led by BGIPU and Lithuania APPG Chair, Rt Hon John Whittingdale OBE MP. The visit coincided with the centenary celebrations of the establishment of UK-Lithuanian diplomatic relations, and the visit marked the movement towards a new chapter in these strong bilateral ties. The UK delegation was able to meet Government Ministers, parliamentary counterparts, senior officials and leading experts across a wide range of issues including post-Brexit relations, defence and security issues, foreign relations matters, key energy and transport challenges and music and cultural exchange activities.