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.

 

Young people debate some of the key barriers facing young women and girls. © UK House of Lords / Roger Harris

IPU works with UN on breaking gender barriers for young women parliamentarians

Twenty-five years after the Beijing Declaration to advance women’s rights, young women are still one of the most under-represented groups in political leadership positions. IPU figures show that only 2.2 per cent of MPs worldwide are under 30, of which women only make up a small proportion. On 18 November 2020, the IPU and the […]

BGIPU hosted a parliamentary briefing with Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Lebanon, HE Chris Rampling MBE requested by Rt Hon Sir John Hayes, Chair of the Lebanon APPG.

UK Ambassador to Lebanon briefs MPs/Peers on current developments in the country

On 17 November, BGIPU hosted a parliamentary briefing with Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Lebanon, HE Chris Rampling MBE. This meeting had been requested by Rt Hon Sir John Hayes, Chair of the Lebanon APPG. The event gave UK MPs and Peers the opportunity to hear first-hand updates on the political, economic and social situations in […]

On 16 November 2020, BGIPU convened a virtual bilateral meeting between UK and Israeli Parliamentarians.

Valuable exchange with Israeli counterparts on key developments and events

On 16 November 2020, BGIPU convened a virtual bilateral meeting between UK and Israeli Parliamentarians. The meeting was moderated by Harriett Baldwin MP, Chair of the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. In attendance from the UK side was: Dame Diana Johnson MP (vice-Chair of both BGIPU and Labour friends of Israel), Lord Sarfraz, Jonathan […]

On 9 November, BGIPU and the BBC World Service co-hosted a webinar on the ‘Rising Influence of China in Global Media, providing participants with an overview of the ways in which China has increased its influence on global broadcasting

Webinar with BBC World Service on Rising Influence of China in Global Media

On 9 November, BGIPU and the BBC World Service co-hosted a webinar on the ‘Rising Influence of China in Global Media’. The event provided participants with an overview of the ways in which China has increased its influence on global broadcasting through investment in television infrastructure, technology, journalist training programmes and its use of Western […]

New parliamentary guide on disarmament for security & sustainable development.

Assuring our Common Future is a new guide for parliaments to support disarmament for security and sustainable development. The IPU contributed to the guide in partnership with the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Parliamentarians for Global Action, Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the World Future Council, […]

On 3 November 2020, BGIPU convened a virtual bilateral meeting between UK and Tunisian Parliamentarians. The discussion was moderated by BGIPU Executive Committee Member, Damien Moore MP, who is also the Trade Envoy to Tunisia and chairs the Tunisia APPG.

UK members hail bilateral relations in virtual exchange with Tunisian counterparts

On 3 November 2020, BGIPU convened a virtual bilateral meeting between UK and Tunisian Parliamentarians. The discussion was moderated by BGIPU Executive Committee Member, Damien Moore MP, who is also the Trade Envoy to Tunisia and chairs the Tunisia APPG in the UK Parliament. The meeting was attended by Afzal Khan MP, Baroness Hodgson, Baroness […]

In its most recent virtual session, the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians examined and made recommendations to the IPU Governing Council regarding the cases of some 300 MPs from 19 countries.

Opposition MPs suffer human rights violations against backdrop of elections

New allegations of human rights violations against parliamentarians in countries holding elections have recently been brought to the attention of the IPU. The cases involve opposition MPs whose basic rights to freedom of expression, assembly and movement have reportedly been severely curtailed in the context of elections, particularly in Venezuela, Côte d’Ivoire and Tanzania. In […]

Mr. Duarte Pacheco has been elected as the 30th President of the IPU after an unprecedented online election during an extraordinary virtual session of the IPU’s Governing Council, its main decision-making body made up of parliamentarians from around the world.

Duarte Pacheco of Portugal elected new IPU President in historic virtual vote

Mr. Duarte Pacheco has been elected as the 30th President of the IPU after an unprecedented online election during an extraordinary virtual session of the IPU’s Governing Council, its main decision-making body made up of parliamentarians from around the world. Mr. Pacheco takes over from Ms. Gabriela Cuevas Barron, a Mexican parliamentarian, who has just […]

On the opening day of the virtual Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on 1 November 2020, the outgoing President Gabriel Cuevas reported key achievements and events during the term of her three-year Presidency to the IPU membership, pictured here with UN SG Antonio Guterres in September 2019

Outgoing President reports to IPU Governing Council on key outcomes of her 3-year term

On the opening day of the virtual Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on 1 November 2020, the outgoing President Gabriel Cuevas reported key achievements and events during the term of her three-year Presidency to the IPU membership. Addressing many of the 412 registered delegates from 145 of the IPU’s 179 members parliaments participating, the […]

Although all three countries face significant challenges, there was continuing value being placed on the future development of bilateral relations between the UK and the nations of South-East Asia.

South East Asian Ambassadors brief MPs/Peers on developments

On 29 October, BGIPU hosted a parliamentary briefing featuring Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Thailand, His Excellency Brian Davidson; to HMA to Cambodia, Her Excellency Tina Redshaw; and HMA to the Philippines, His Excellency Daniel Pruce. Several Select Committees and APPGs were represented by UK participants, with BGIPU Executive Committee member, The Rt Hon Alun Cairns […]