Region: Asia-Pacific

The BGIPU delegation meets counterparts from the Republic of Korea at COP29 in Baku

Global MPs commit to support governments in stronger climate action at COP29

In a year marked by record heatwaves, devastating floods and intense storms, fuelled by global heating, parliamentarians from around the world gathered on 16 and 17 November 2024 for the Parliamentary Meeting at COP29, the UN Climate Change Conference, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Organized by the IPU and the Milli Majlis, the Parliament of Azerbaijan, the Meeting brought […]

Flame Towers, Baku, Azerbaijan © Milli Majlis

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliament of Azerbaijan to host global MPs at COP29

The IPU, in partnership with the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, will convene parliamentarians from around the world for a Parliamentary Meeting on 16 and 17 November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan during COP29, the annual UN Climate Change Conference. The programme will unite parliamentarians and experts to address critical climate issues, with a focus on the role of […]

Ms. Tininiska Rivera Bryan, daughter of the missing opposition MP Mr. Brooklyn Rivera Bryan from Nicaragua.

IPU highlights alarming human rights violations against MPs worldwide

As the 149th IPU Assembly concluded this week, the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians reported on its latest caseload detailing severe human rights violations faced by hundreds of MPs worldwide. The most common violations include attacks on freedom of expression, suspension or loss of parliamentary mandate, threats, intimidation, torture, arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance. […]

A Taliban security personnel gestures as women stand in a queue outside the passport office in Herat. Mohsen KARIMI / AFP

Statement by IPU on Taliban’s repressive new law against women in Afghanistan

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), on behalf of the global parliamentary community, vehemently condemns the new “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” law issued by the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan on 21 August 2024. The law adds to the litany of unacceptable limitations to women’s rights and freedoms in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover three […]

Speaker of the Azgayin Zhogov (National Assembly of Armenia), Mr. Alen Simonyan, and the Speaker of the Milli Mejlis (National Assembly of Azerbaijan), Ms. Sahiba Gafarova meet at IPU HQ on 16 May 2024

IPU hosts 2nd round of bilateral talks between Speakers of Armenia and Azerbaijan

The IPU facilitated a second round of high-level parliamentary talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan today, offering its good offices to the delegations. IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong welcomed the Speaker of the Azgayin Zhogov (National Assembly of Armenia), Mr. Alen Simonyan, and the Speaker of the Milli Mejlis (National Assembly of Azerbaijan), Ms. Sahiba Gafarova, […]

Akmal Saidov, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Uzbekistan addresses the UN in Geneva. © UN/Jean Marc Ferré

Enhancing the IPU partnership with the Uzbek Parliament to implement the SDGs

As part of a wider strategic objective to connect parliaments with UN processes, the IPU invests in support for parliamentary implementation of the SDGs. Through our annual survey, we encourage parliaments to contribute to the preparation of voluntary national reviews, the UN process through which countries present their progress on the SDGs. While the IPU surveys show uneven parliamentary […]

Martin Chungong welcomes Alen Simonyan and Sahiba Gafarova to the IPU.

IPU offers its good offices to Armenia and Azerbaijan on eve of 148th Assembly

The IPU today hosted high-level delegations from Armenia and Azerbaijan on the eve of the IPU’s 148th Assembly, which takes place from 23-27 March in Geneva, Switzerland. IPU President Tulia Ackson and IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong welcomed to IPU headquarters the Armenian delegation, led by the Speaker of the Azgayin Zhogov (National Assembly), Mr. Alen […]

Samuelu Teo, former Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu and winner of the 2023 Cremer-Passy prize

IPU announces call for geopolitical groups to nominate for the 2024 Cremer-Passy Prize

The Cremer-Passy Prize, named after the IPU’s founders, William Randall Cremer and Frédéric Passy, is awarded every year to sitting parliamentarians who make an outstanding contribution to the defence and promotion of the IPU’s objectives, as well as those ”who contribute to a more united, peaceful, sustainable and equitable world.” In 2022, the inaugural prize was […]

IPU 2023

Human Rights of MPs: Some success stories from IPU efforts despite uptick in abuse

A few days before Human Rights Day on 10 December, the IPU has released its annual map of the number of reported cases of human rights violations suffered by parliamentarians around the world. Although the numbers continue to rise, there have been positive developments in some countries, partly due to actions by the Committee on the Human Rights […]