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.
On 17 July 2017, on behalf of the BGIPU, Lord McConnell attended the IPU Parliamentary event at the UN High Level Political Forum on the SDGs. This coincided with a visit by members of the APPG on the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development. In addition to the obvious scrutiny role of MPs to hold governments to account for delivery, the Global Goals provide real momentum for parliamentarians everywhere to insist upon accountability and pressurise governments for specific legislation and budgetary commitments.
Taking advantage of the presence in London of British Ambassadors for the annual FCO Leadership Week, BGIPU arranged roundtable meetings on 12 July 2017 for MPs and Peers to discuss recent developments in key African and Latin American countries on our forward programme. This was a unique opportunity for parliamentarians to engage directly with the UK’s senior diplomatic representatives to receive updates on national priorities, hear recent developments in bilateral engagement and learn more about key regional trends.
On 23 June, the UN Human Rights Council adopted without a vote a resolution in support of stronger cooperation with parliaments. The resolution encourages States to involve parliaments in all stages of the Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), under which the Council examines the human rights situation of each UN Member State. Welcoming this, the IPU said it looks forward to working ever more closely with UN human rights bodies in support of stronger ties between the Council and parliaments.
The BGIPU Chair, Nigel Evans MP, speaking to members of the diplomatic corps following the State Opening of Parliament on 21 June, expressed appreciation for the work Ambassadors and their embassies do in support of inter-parliamentary dialogue and highlighted the importance in finding mutual understanding among nations in an increasingly uncertain international landscape.
Vital to our survival and providing livelihoods for millions of people, the Ocean is severely threatened by climate change, pollution and unsustainable practices. The UN held a Conference on the Ocean from 5-9 June to address these issues with Member States adopting a Call for Action to protect the ocean. In February, the IPU and the UN held an Annual Parliamentary Hearing that focused on the ocean and provide a parliamentary component to the preparatory process for the conference; several of its recommendations were included in the Call to Action.
As part of its work on health and development, the IPU participated in the World Health Assembly (WHA) with the IPU Secretary General addressing the WHA plenary debate on 24 May on the contribution of MPs to the global health agenda and their key role in achieving the health-related SDGs. Additionally, on 29 May, the IPU organized a parliamentary side event at the WHA, “Bridging the Gap between Evidence and Policy: The Role of Parliamentarians in Advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
The IPU held an information seminar for senior parliamentary staff from 16 to 19 May at the IPU headquarters in Geneva to provide more in-depth understanding of ther IPU, its functioning and main activities. Parliamentary staff from a total of 27 countries attended including from the UK with sessions on the IPU’s history and key developments, the Organization’s main bodies and areas of work, the communications strategy and budget.
A study entitled “Global trends in climate change legislation and litigation” launched on 9 May during the Conference on Climate Change in Bonn finds countries across the globe have adopted more than 1,200 laws to limit climate change—an impressive rise from only 60 laws two decades ago. Courts are complementing the actions of legislators through rulings on the implementation of existing climate laws, and two-thirds of their rulings have either strengthened or maintained climate change regulation.
The IPU Annual Report offers a summary of the salient events and meetings. Richly illustrated with photographs, this publication provides a vital overview of the activities of the world organization of parliaments. The final section covers more institutional aspects such as financial records, the composition of the standing committees and the list of members.
Taking decisive actions to end economic, political and social inequality will be the focus of deliberations for the more than 650 MPs from 132 countries meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 1-5 April 2017. Parliamentarians, including 53 Speakers of Parliament, will make concrete proposals on a range of issues, from ending rising inequality to promoting women’s access to financing, during the 136th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) (#IPU136) hosted by the Bangladesh Parliament.
