Region: Global Issues

BGIPU hosted a roundtable discussion chaired by Tim Loughton MP with Dr Ewelina Ochab from the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute and Alkan Akad from Amnesty International speaking about human rights in China against the backdrop of the Beijing Olympics,

UK Members concerned China human rights being “sports-washed” by Beijing Olympics

On 9 February, BGIPU hosted a roundtable discussion on human rights in China against the backdrop of the Beijing Olympics, with particular focus on the Uyghur crisis. The meeting was chaired by Tim Loughton MP and heard from Dr Ewelina Ochab from the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute and Alkan Akad from Amnesty International […]

SERGEY BOBOK / AFP

IPU statement in respect of current developments on borders of Ukraine

We, the IPU President and the IPU Secretary General, call for renewed dialogue between the Russian Federation and Ukraine to ease tensions in the region. We call for respect of internationally (UN) recognized borders and territorial integrity and sovereignty of all States. The IPU was founded by parliamentarians who believed in the power of dialogue […]

IPU SG Martin Chungong hosted a dozen MPs visiting from Denmark, Finland and Sweden on 27-28 January to learn more about the IPU’s work led by Ms. Cecilia Widegren, Head of the Swedish Delegation of the IPU.

IPU facilitates discussions between Nordic MPs and World Health Organisation

The IPU opened its doors to its first 2022 in-person delegation of parliamentarians with a dozen MPs visiting from Denmark, Finland and Sweden on 27-28 January to learn more about the IPU’s work.  Led by Ms. Cecilia Widegren, Head of the Swedish Delegation, Mr. Søren Søndergaard, Chair of the Danish delegation and Ms. Heli Järvinen, Head […]

Named after the two IPU founders, Frédéric Passy and Sir William Randal Cremer, this annual award will be given to a parliamentarian who has made an exceptional contribution as an MP.

IPU announces prize for MP of the year: The new Cremer-Passy Award

The IPU is pleased to announce a new prize: the Cremer-Passy prize. The prize will be awarded annually to an MP or MPs whose exceptional actions contributes to a more united, fair, secure, sustainable and equitable future. Named after the two IPU founders, Frédéric Passy and Sir William Randal Cremer, this annual award will be given to a parliamentarian […]

As President and Secretary General, we reiterate our commitment to mobilizing parliaments worldwide toward a fairer, more inclusive and egalitarian future.

IPU’s end of year statement on 2021: A year when attacks on democracy intensified

End-of-year statement by President Duarte Pacheco and Secretary General Martin Chungong. 2021 bore witness to several assaults on democracy, starting with what many saw as one of its bastions – the US Congress. Then Myanmar suffered a bloody military coup which unravelled in an instant nearly a decade of democratic progress led by its elected […]

In Spring 2021, the IPU launched the I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament! campaign. It calls for action in and through parliaments to have more young women and men MPs.

IPU’s “I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament!” campaign goes global

Just over ten years ago, IPU Member Parliaments adopted a landmark resolution on youth participation to encourage the rejuvenation of parliaments. Since then, parliaments from around the world have made some limited progress in its implementation. However, the level of youth representation in parliament, as measured regularly by the IPU, remains low. Half the world’s population is […]

Aung San Suu Kyi and Win Myint. © EyePress via AFP

Political instability accounts for record number of persecuted MPs worldwide

The IPU has recorded another all-time high number of parliamentarians suffering from alleged human rights violations according to its annual figures released on the eve of Human Rights Day. The data reveal that at least 673 parliamentarians from 44 countries are under threat, most of them in countries experiencing political instability. The 2021 numbers confirm a consistent increase since 2014 […]

Martin Chungong is the eighth Secretary General of the IPU since its foundation in 1889. He was first elected in 2014. Of Cameroonian nationality, he is the first non-European and the first African to be IPU Secretary General.

Martin Chungong re-elected Secretary General of the IPU at 143rd IPU Assembly

At the 143rd IPU Assembly in Madrid, Spain, last week, Martin Chungong was unanimously re-elected for a third four-year term as Secretary General of the IPU. Martin Chungong is the eighth Secretary General of the IPU since its foundation in 1889. He was first elected in 2014. Of Cameroonian nationality, he is the first non-European and the first African […]

IPU143 ©IPU

Global parliamentary solidarity for vaccine equity in the fight against COVID-19

At the 143rd IPU Assembly in Madrid, Spain, parliamentarians from around the world have rallied around an emergency resolution to support equitable access to vaccines, particularly in the developing world. Against the backdrop of the emergence of the omicron variant and renewed border closures, IPU Member Parliaments unanimously backed the IPU African Group’s proposal: Harnessing global parliamentary […]