Activities: BGIPU Seminars & Events

BGIPU pleased to confirm that Alex Sobel MP has been selected by its Executive Committee as its COP26 Rapporteur.

Alex Sobel MP selected as Rapporteur to advance IPU engagement in COP26

BGIPU is very pleased to confirm that Alex Sobel MP has been selected by its Executive Committee as its COP26 Rapporteur. Given the joint UK-Italy presidency, he will work closely with the IPU President, Duarte Pacheco, the IPU Secretariat and the Italian Parliament-appointed Rapporteur Alessia Rotta, Chair of the Environment, Territory and Public Works Standing […]

There are sufficient laws to protect the rainforest but neither the Government, nor Facebook are doing enough to ensure that they are upheld. Once 25% of the Amazon Rainforest has been deforested, it becomes unable to sustain itself.

MPs/Peers hear of Illegal sale of Amazon rainforest plots from BBC World Service

On 16 April, BGIPU and the BBC World Service co-hosted a virtual discussion on the illegal sale of Amazon Rainforest plots. The meeting was co-chaired by BGIPU Executive Committee and International Development Committee Member, Kate Osamor MP, and Climate Committee Chair, Lord Deben, and was well-attended by a group of MPs and Peers with an […]

The discussion moderated by BGIPU Chair Harriett Baldwin MP, who was joined by John Penrose MP, the Prime Minister’s Anti-Corruption Champion, IPU/UN hearing participant, Owen Thompson MP, as well as Daniel Bruce and Alex Runswick from Transparency International UK

Virtual follow-up discussion on IPU Hearing on fighting corruption

In partnership with Transparency International UK, BGIPU arranged on 14 April a virtual follow-up event to take up the key themes of the IPU’s Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations “Fighting corruption to restore trust in government and improve development prospects” where the Chair of the global board of Transparency International had delivered the keynote […]

BGIPU Chair Harriett Baldwin MP sits in a socially distanced hybrid House of Commons during a debate in May 2020

BGIPU remains extremely active and engaged despite marking one year under lockdown

With UK Parliamentary travel suspended since March 2020 and all IPU meetings cancelled or being held virtually online, the COVID-19 global pandemic represents the most serious disruption to the work of BGIPU since the two World Wars of the 20th century.  Over the last year, as the global pandemic spread to an estimated 120 million […]

On 11 March, BGIPU hosted a virtual parliamentary briefing with British Ambassadors to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, and the Chargé d’Affaires to Kuwait. The event was chaired by BGIPU Executive Committee member and Chair of the Saudi Arabia and Oman APPG, Mr Mark Menzies MP.

British Ambassadors in Gulf region brief parliamentarians on UK relations & regional trends

On 11 March, BGIPU hosted a virtual parliamentary briefing with British Ambassadors to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, and the Chargé d’Affaires to Kuwait. The event was chaired by BGIPU Executive Committee member and Chair of the Saudi Arabia and Oman APPG, Mr Mark Menzies MP. It was well-attended by MPs and Peers from […]

On 11 March, BGIPU held a bilateral meeting between UK and Danish Parliamentarians led by Co-Chair of the Denmark APPG Baroness McIntosh of Pickering.

Many common interests between UK and Danish counterparts discussed

On 11 March, BGIPU held a bilateral meeting between UK and Danish Parliamentarians. The discussion was led by Co-Chair of the Denmark APPG Baroness McIntosh of Pickering, and she was joined by fellow APPG members Andrew Rosindell MP, Lord Mountevans and Viscount Craigavon.  Also in attendance was the BGIPU Chair Harriett Baldwin MP, plus Dr […]

Marking IWD 2021, the meeting had a timely focus on the importance of inclusive parliaments in the response to the gender impacts of the global pandemic, not least with the recent release of the Centenary Action Group’s report on the Remotely Representative Parliament: Lesson Learning from the Hybrid Parliament written by Dr Jess Smith with Professor Sarah Childs. Copyright UK Parliament/ Jessica Taylor

BGIPU Chair leads parliamentary event marking International Women’s Day 2021

On Tuesday 9th March, in association with the Women in Parliament APPG, BGIPU hosted an event to celebrate International Women’s Day. BGIPU Chair Harriett Baldwin MP moderated the esteemed panel which included academics Dr Jessica Smith and Professor Sarah Childs who were joined by Clerk Assistant, Sarah Davies, Chair of the Procedure Committee, The Rt […]

UK parliamentary launch of ‘Assuring our Common Future: Parliamentary Handbook on Disarmament for Security and Sustainable Development’ was chaired by BGIPU Vice-Chair, Rt Hon Baroness D’Souza.

UK launch of Handbook on Disarmament for Security & Sustainable Development

On 9th March, BGIPU co-hosted with Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) and the APPG for Future Generations, the UK parliamentary launch of ‘Assuring our Common Future: Parliamentary Handbook on Disarmament for Security and Sustainable Development’. The meeting was chaired by BGIPU Vice-Chair, Rt Hon Baroness D’Souza and presentations were provided by Lord Hannay […]

Mothers and children receiving UNICEF support after being displaced by the conflict in Tigray: Picture Credit: UNICEF Ethiopia

MSF reports to MPs/Peers on humanitarian crisis in Tigray

On 4th March, BGIPU co-hosted a briefing with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and other humanitarian players on the Humanitarian Situation in Tigray. Four months into the crisis, the worst violence may be over, but there is a tangible risk that without political stability Tigray could turn into another protracted humanitarian crisis. The meeting was chaired […]