IPU strengthens global parliamentary ties with new cooperation agreements
On the sidelines of the 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament and the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held last week in Geneva, the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Martin Chungong, signed a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Parliaments of Zambia, Chad and Mongolia, reinforcing the IPU’s commitment to building stronger, more inclusive and future-ready legislatures around the world.
Supporting research and evidence-based policymaking in Zambia
On 28 July, the IPU Secretary General signed an MoU with the Clerk of the National Assembly of Zambia to support the 2025 edition of the Assembly’s Research Fair, scheduled for September. The Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti, witnessed the ceremony.
This agreement marks a continuation of a partnership that began in 2019, aimed at strengthening the role and visibility of the parliamentary Research Department.
The Research Fair, first held in 2022, has become a cornerstone event to promote evidence-based decision-making in parliament. The 2026 edition will focus on the theme Remaining relevant in the face of artificial intelligence, featuring a round table on how parliamentary research services can adapt to the age of AI, as well as feedback sessions with MPs and engagement with civil society, academia and international partners.
Advancing parliamentary development in Chad
On 31 July, the IPU Secretary General and the Speaker of the National Assembly of Chad Ali Kolotou Tchaïmi signed an MoU under which the IPU undertakes to support Chad’s efforts to modernize and strengthen its parliament. The agreement outlines joint actions to build legislative and oversight capacities, promote digital transformation, and advance gender equality and youth participation in politics.
The MoU which covers both Houses of the Chadian Parliament will facilitate professional development for members of parliament and enhance civic engagement, all aligned with the IPU’s 2022–2026 Strategic Objectives. The cooperation will be carried out through jointly defined and resourced activities, with a strong emphasis on transparency, mutual respect and technical support.
Mongolia and the IPU deepen cooperation on human rights and gender equality
Also on 31 July, the Secretary General of the IPU and the Speaker of the State Great Hural of Mongolia Dashzegve Amarbayasgalan renewed and expanded the institutions’ ongoing partnership. Since the initial MoU in 2022, Mongolia has worked to integrate human rights and gender considerations into parliamentary work, notably conducting the world’s first parliamentary human rights self-assessment.
In 2025, the IPU and Mongolia continued cooperation on human rights and gender equality, IPU’s focus theme for 2025. A national workshop was held in June 2025 on international human rights treaties in commemoration of the International Day of Parliamentarism. Activities also helped strengthen Mongolia’s parliamentary Women’s Caucus.
Türkiye to Host 152nd IPU Assembly in 2026
Looking ahead, the IPU has confirmed that its 152nd Assembly will take place in Istanbul in 2026. This decision follows the signing of an agreement between the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Numan Kurtulmuş, IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong, and IPU President Tulia Ackson at last month’s Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva.
These agreements are testament to the IPU’s commitment to act and support parliaments in fulfilling their own obligations to their people and the global community.
The IPU Secretary General signs agreements with Mongolia and Zambia.
