A major new study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in partnership with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), has exposed the pervasive nature of sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments across the Asia-Pacific region. The report, Sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments in the Asia-Pacific region, is […]
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will hold its 150th Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 5 to 9 April 2025, hosted by the Parliament of Uzbekistan. The overall theme Parliamentary action for social development and justice will cover topics such as eradicating poverty, promoting decent work, fostering social inclusion, and increasing the participation of marginalized groups in decision-making. Key […]
A BGIPU cross party delegation visit to Indonesia took place during the February recess between 15 and 21 February with representatives from both Houses of Parliament. As delegation leader I was joined by John Slinger MP, Chris Webb MP, Graham Stuart MP, Baroness Northover, Lord Rennard and Joe Perry from the BGIPU secretariat. The key […]
In the lead-up to Human Rights Day, the IPU continue to express grave concerns over the ever growing number of human rights violations against parliamentarians worldwide. The number of cases brought before the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians has more than tripled in the last decade, from 311 in 2014 to 956 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
