Belgrade conference urges action on gender parity in parliaments
Following the success of the first IPU Global Conference of Women Parliamentarians in Mexico 2025, the Serbian Parliament hosted the second conference from 2-4 June this year. The theme of the conference was “Advancing parity: Breaking the barriers of gender stereotypes and negative social norms”.
The conference brought together 193 parliamentarians (155 women MPs and 38 men MPs) from 61 countries, alongside representatives from international and civil society organisations, to discuss and advance strategies to eliminate gender stereotypes and discriminatory social norms that continue to impede women’s full and equal participation in political and public life.
The UK delegation was led by IPU Executive Committee member and BGIPU Treasurer Rt Hon Dame Karen Bradley DBE MP, as well as Helen Maguire MP and Rosie Wrighting MP. The members were very involved in the conference. Dame Karen chaired a panel on “Advancing parity through diversity: Zoom on intersecting stereotypes and norms” where Participants discussed how gender stereotypes can intersect and impact disproportionately women of different age groups, ethnicity, indigeneity, with disabilities, migration or other status, and their access to parliament and other political leadership and decision-making roles. Rosie made a contribution during this session, talking about her experience as the youngest woman in Parliament following the recent general election.
Helen made an intervention during the session on “Gender-sensitive parliaments advancing societies free from stereotypes”, explaining about how the UK Parliament was built for men, and how they only recently added women’s bathrooms to the voting lobbies. Dame Karen intervened during the session on “Challenging online stereotypes, violence and disinformation against women in politics”, referencing the work she had done on the Online Safety Act when she was a minister.
All members also took part in the breakout sessions where different issues were discussed in small groups, such as “Men and women working together against stereotypes and negative social norms” and “Advancing equality in the law to address stereotypes and negative social norms”. Rosie was the Rapporteur on her group “Intergenerational cooperation challenging stereotypes and negative social norms”, where young parliamentarians and older parliamentarians spoke about what they can do to support each other, especially when newly elected.
At the end of the conference, all parliamentarians supported the outcome document which followed up on the Plan of Action for Gender Parity in Parliaments adopted at the 2025 IPU Global Conference of Women Parliamentarians in Mexico and endorsed by the IPU Governing Council in 2025. The conference was a great success, and BGIPU offer their warm gratitude to the Serbian Parliament and the IPU for organising it.
Delegates with IPU President, Dr Tulia Ackson
UK Delegation led by Rt Hon Dame Karen Bradley DBE MP with Helen Maguire MP and Rosie Wrighting MP
Rt Hon Dame Karen Bradley DBE MP, Helen Maguire MP and Rosie Wrighting MP at UK desk in the conference plenary
Rt Hon Dame Karen Bradley DBE MP, Helen Maguire MP and Rosie Wrighting MP stand at UK Flag
Rosie Wrighting MP acts as Rapporteur during small group discussions
