Year: 2025

Geneva declaration presented by MPs Helen Pushie Manyeneng (Botswana) and Laurent Wehrli (Switzerland) © IPU / Lucien Fortunati

Parliamentarians champion humanitarian action in the birthplace of the Geneva Conventions

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has concluded its 151st IPU Assembly, with nearly 1,150 delegates, including over 600 members of parliament, from 132 countries in attendance. Notably, women MPs comprised nearly 37% of the parliamentarians at the Assembly. Meeting under the theme of parliamentary support for humanitarian action, the five-day Assembly took place in Geneva, the birthplace of […]

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong with the Speaker of the Azgayin Zhoghov (National Assembly of Armenia), Mr. Alen Simonyan, and the Speaker of the Milli Mejlis (National Assembly of Azerbaijan), Ms. Sahiba Gafarova. © IPU

Armenia and Azerbaijan Speakers pursue parliamentary dialogue as pathway to lasting peace

The IPU hosted another round of high-level parliamentary talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan this week during the 151st IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. On 21 October 2025, IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong welcomed the Speaker of the Azgayin Zhoghov (National Assembly of Armenia), Mr. Alen Simonyan, and the Speaker of the Milli Mejlis (National Assembly […]

Students at the University of Ankatso discuss their role in the future governmentfollowing Madagascar’s military takeover on 15 October 2025. © LUIS TATO / AFP

Inter-Parliamentary Union leadership statement on the situation in Madagascar

On behalf of the global parliamentary community, we wish to express our deep concern about the military takeover in Madagascar and the suspension of the Constitution. We deplore the loss of life, injuries and destruction of property resulting from the unrest. We call for immediate coordinated international action to address the ongoing crisis in Madagascar. […]

Civilians and UN officials who fled due to the clashes cross in Kigali, Rwanda, January 2025. ©Cyrile Ndegeya / Anadolu via AFP

Inter-Parliamentary Union peace drive in the Great Lakes region

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong has recently concluded a mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, as part of the IPU’s commitment to the peace process in the Great Lakes region. His visit aimed to encourage parliamentary diplomacy as a vital instrument for building trust, promoting regional stability and supporting cooperation […]

77th Armed Forces Day in the Republic of Korea 2025 (©Kim Hong-il/POOL/AFP)

IPU publication advocates for stronger parliamentary oversight amid record highs in military expenditure

With global military expenditure rising to a record estimate of USD 2.7 trillion in 2024, a new Inter-Parliamentary Union(IPU) issue brief calls for parliaments to strengthen their scrutiny of defence spending in the interests of transparency, accountability and democracy.  The IPU publication, Democratic checks, military balances: Parliamentary oversight in an era of rising military expenditure warns that […]

Watch this short explainer video produced with the support of the Global Methane Hub.

IPU asks what if parliamentary action could cut methane in just 10 years?

Methane is a major driver of global climate change, with a warming potential more than 80 times stronger than carbon dioxide over 20 years. Major sources of emissions include agriculture (40%), energy (35%) and waste (20%). However, unlike carbon dioxide, methane remains in the atmosphere for only about a decade. This short lifespan means that […]

© 11th Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20)

MPs unite in Cape Town on climate action, debt relief & just energy transitions

Against the backdrop of the climate crisis, unsustainable debt burdens and growing inequality, parliamentary leaders from the world’s largest economies agreed today on bold actions to accelerate climate resilience, ensure fairer energy transitions and unlock sustainable development. Meeting in Cape Town under the leadership of the Parliament of South Africa and with the support of […]

Gaza City, on September 25, 2025 (Hassan Jedi / Anadolu via AFP)

IPU leadership statement on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza

On behalf of the global parliamentary community, we reiterate our grave concern over the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. We are profoundly horrified by the immense suffering being inflicted upon the civilian population of Gaza, including famine, caused by the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and severe restrictions on humanitarian and other vital aid entering […]

IPU SG Chungong addresses the 149th IPU Assembly held in October 2024 at the CICG which will also host the 151st IPU Assembly

151st IPU Assembly and related meetings to take place in Geneva in mid-October

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will convene its 151st Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland from 19-23 October 2025 under the theme: Upholding humanitarian norms and supporting humanitarian action in times of crisis.  Against a backdrop of 120 ongoing conflicts and 310 million people in need of humanitarian assistance around the world – as documented by the International Committee […]