Activity Reports

Through its programme of activities, the BGIPU seeks to engage Parliamentarians in key global issues and works to expand awareness and understanding of foreign relations and the contribution to be made by the UK Parliament to consolidate parliamentary democracy worldwide.

Here you can read the reports of our activities, including our Outward Delegations, IPU conferences and events and inward visits to Westminster.

You can search for specific reports by using keywords, themes, categories or date using the fields on the right.

 

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 […]

2020 elections in New Zealand saw an unprecedented increase in the numbers of women and traditionally under-represented groups. © Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images via AFP

Proportion of women MPs globally inches up but gender parity still far off

Following elections in 2020, the global proportion of women in parliament reached a record 25.5 per cent, representing an increase of 0.6 points compared with 2019, according to the IPU’s latest Women in Parliament report. The IPU has tracked women’s participation in parliament for decades, allowing it to measure progress and setbacks. Every year, the IPU […]

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 […]