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.

 

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Meeting between senior members of the Syrian National Coalition and UK Parliamentarians

The BGIPU in conjunction with the FCO, facilitated a meeting between senior members of the Syrian National Coalition of Opposition and Revolutionary Forces and UK Parliamentarians on Thursday 5th September. The visit of the delegation from the Syrian National Coalition followed just a week after the vote in the Commons on UK responses to the situation in Syria. 

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Capacity Building programme with Members of the Somali House of People

The BGIPU hosted a visit of Somali Parliamentarians to the UK for a capacity building and parliamentary strengthening programme. The 5 Members of the House of People met with Members, senior officials and clerks to learn about the functioning and procedures of the Westminster system. The visit formed part of the support offered by HMG to the Somali government and Parliament in establishing and strengthening the Somali parliamentary institution, since its re-establishment in August 2012.

John Mann MP, Lord Fowler, Baroness Meacher, H.E. Rodríguez Múnera

Current trends in Global Drug Policy Reform & the Organization of American States

To mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on the 26th of June, and ahead of the international parliamentary seminar on Drug Policy Reform it will host inOctober, the British Group of the IPU, offered an evening lecture in which the Ambassador of Colombia presented the recent Organization of American States report on the Drug Problem in the Americas to Parliamentarians and Baroness Meacher and John Mann MP, UK Parliamentary envoys to the 43rd General Assembly of the OAS, discussed the role parliamentarians can play in addressing illicit drugs and related transnational crime issues.

Bolivian Delegation tour Parliament with Chris Bryant MP

Bolivian parliamentarians seek greater understanding from UK counterparts

A delegation from the Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia undertook an inter-parliamentary visit to the UK Parliament from 17-21 June 2013. In their exchanges with UK parliamentarians, the delegation highlighted the significant changes which had occurred in Bolivia in recent years and discussed economic and social issues, criminal justice issues, human rights, environmental issues and developments in Latin America.

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Seizing the Opportunity: Enhancing UK engagement with Emerging Powers

BGIPU and the FCO co-hosted a roundtable discussion between parliamentarians and visiting UK Heads of Mission on 16 May under the chairmanship of FCO Minister, Hugo Swire MP. The discussion focused on efforts by the UK Government to strengthen bilateral relationships with key emerging powers in order to expand opportunities for the UK. There was detailed consideration of the important role parliamentarians could play in ensuring the UK was well-positioned to take better advantage of the opportunities such fast growing economies present.

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Protecting every child everywhere: Tackling sexual exploitation of children in tourism

Gavin Shuker MP highlighted the importance of strong political leadership in ensuring adequate protection of children from sexual exploitation abroad by British tourists when he chaired a lunchtime lecture hosted by the British Group of the IPU and ECPAT UK on the 9th of May.  A key focus of the discussion was on raising awareness among parliamentarians, including the practical steps they could take in tackling the sexual abuse of children overseas by British sex offenders.