BGIPU convened on 9 July a roundtable in collaboration with ICRC on “The Impact of COVID-19 on existing conflict areas in Africa”. On the panel were four very knowledgeable speakers: Mr Ben Fender OBE, HM Ambassador to Somalia; Ms Emily Maltman, HM Ambassador to DRC; Mr Rowan Laxton, HM High Commissioner to Cameroon; and Mamadou […]
On Friday 19 June, BGIPU hosted a virtual parliamentary discussion on COVID-19: The Increased Risks and Vulnerabilities to Refugees and Migrant Populations with The British Red Cross (BRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The proceedings were chaired by BGIPU Executive Committee member, Chris Law MP, with panellists from both BRC and MSF. The event was […]
The IPU is increasingly concerned about parliamentarians in detention during the COVID-19 pandemic due to greater risks of infection in overcrowded and confined spaces. In its first virtual sitting, the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians paid particular attention to the 43 Members of Parliament (MPs) currently in detention in the world, especially […]
From 2nd to 6th March, a BGIPU delegation visited Liberia with the aim of enhancing interparliamentary relations and reciprocating an inward visit to London by the Liberian Group of the IPU in 2018. The delegation comprised of Lord Hannay of Chiswick and Adam Holloway. The hospitality we received from the Liberian Group of the IPU […]
The IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians has released new evidence of human rights violations against 509 parliamentarians from 39 countries, a significant increase compared with the 468 cases that were recorded in October 2019. Most of the cases involve governments putting pressure on MPs from opposition parties. In its latest decisions, the […]
From 18 to 21 February, a BGIPU delegation visited Ethiopia as part of a scoping mission with the aim of boosting interparliamentary relations, including through inviting a parliamentary delegation from Ethiopia to visit London. The delegation, comprised Rt Hon Baroness Anelay DBE, Baroness Barker and Pauline Latham OBE MP, who saw that the UK continues to be a trusted partner for the country as Ethiopia undergoes profound political transition alongside economic and social transformation under the reform policies of Prime Minister Abiy.
Preceding the Intergovernmental Conference on Migration taking place in Marrakech from 10 to 11 December 2018, MPs met at a parliamentary conference in Rabat, organized by the IPU and the Moroccan Parliament, from 6 to 7 December. The parliamentary conference follows the Declaration on Strengthening the Global Regime for Migrants and Refugees adopted by MPs during the IPU’s 138th Assembly in March 2018. The IPU has been actively involved with the Compact, ensuring that it incorporates a parliamentary dimension.
A parliamentary delegation from Angola visited the UK for a five-day visit from 29 October to 2 November 2018. This inter-parliamentary visit was a success in consolidating the strong relationship enjoyed between the UK and Angola and followed a UK Delegation visit to Luanda in 2015. An extensive programme allowed for exchanges with UK counterparts on economic progress in Angola, Brexit developments, bilateral issues, energy including wind farming and parliamentary practices.
The Parliament of the Kingdom of Morocco, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, invited the British All-Party Parliamentary Group on Morocco to send a Delegation during the week commencing 17th September 2018 aimed at promoting bilateral links between the two parliaments and furthering good relations between the Kingdoms.
From 16-20 September, a delegation coordinated by the APPG for Sudan and South Sudan visted Sudan with support from the UK Embassy in Khartoum and the Sudanese Parliament. The aim of the visit was to renew the unique and enduring relationship between the UK and Sudan and reiterate our commitment to peace and prosperity for the Sudanese people. The delegation met with the Sudanese Government, parliament and civil society to get a full picture of what it’s like to live in Sudan today, including visiting the conflict-affected region of Darfur.
