2020 has been a year unlike any other. The coronavirus pandemic has thrown the world into turmoil, with the resulting lockdowns, quarantines and border closures bringing economies to a standstill. It has been endless; as societies sacrifice freedoms to subdue one wave, on comes another. And another. Of course, the other challenges facing the world […]
As the pandemic threw most of the world into turmoil, the IPU remained open for business to support its Members and continue its work of empowering parliaments and parliamentarians for democracy. Discover our end-of-year animation here.
On 15 December, BGIPU hosted a bilateral meeting between parliamentarians from the UK and Uzbekistan. The meeting was co-chaired by Alex Sobel MP, BGIPU Treasurer, and Andrew Bridgen MP, Uzbekistan APPG Chair. They were joined by The Lord Bowness CBE DL, Catherine West MP, Nigel Mills MP, The Lord Balfe, The Lord Sheikh, The Baroness […]
On 14 December, BGIPU hosted a European Ambassador Roundtable which was moderated by BGIPU Vice-Chair Ian Liddell-Grainger MP. This virtual roundtable was a great opportunity for UK Parliamentarians to hear from Ambassadors and ask about recent developments in their countries. The presentations were given by HE Mr Raffaele Trombetta, Ambassador of Italy to the UK […]
On 10 December, BGIPU hosted a African Ambassador Roundtable which was moderated by BGIPU Chair, Harriett Baldwin. The roundtable was an opportunity for Ambassadors to brief MPs and Peers of the situation in their country and an opportunity for the Members to ask questions. The briefings were given by HE Teferi Melesse Desta, Ambassador of […]
Mr Duarte Pacheco, a Portuguese Member of Parliament since 1991, was elected to the IPU Presidency in an historic virtual vote in November, winning 56 per cent of the votes in the first round. In his first video interview for the IPU, the new President sets out his vision and his priorities for the three […]
In the lead-up to Human Rights Day on 10 December, the IPU has released its yearly figures on the human rights abuses experienced by parliamentarians around the world. The numbers confirm an upward trend of reported violations against parliamentarians. They also reveal an uptick in acts of intimidation and violence, with women MPs suffering more […]
On 3 December, BGIPU hosted an Asia-Pacific London Ambassadors Roundtable event which featured presentations from H.E. Ms Enna Park, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, and H.E. Mr Tran Ngoc An, Ambassador of Vietnam. The event was chaired by BGIPU Executive Committee Member and Vietnam APPG Chair, Wayne David MP, and was well-attended by a […]
On 30 November, BGIPU hosted a Central America Roundtable which was chaired by BGIPU Executive Committee Member and Chair of the APPG for Central America, Andrew Rosindell MP. Members received briefings from HE Rafael Ortiz Fábrega, Ambassador of Costa Rica; Ms Gabriela María Ramírez Lazo, Deputy Ambassador of El Salvador; Ms Olga Maria Pérez Tuna, […]
On 26 November, BGIPU co-hosted an event with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on the Humanitarian Impact of the Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. The meeting was chaired by The Lord Bowness CBE DL, Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and attended by a range of MPs and Peers, all with a keen interest […]
