Region: Global Issues

The overall theme was Parliamentary leadership for more effective multilateralism that delivers peace and sustainable development for the people and planet.

Speakers of parliament join forces to tackle health, economic and climate crises

Press release by the IPU See highlight video Over 100 of the world’s top legislators took part in the virtual Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament on 19 and 20 August 2020, under the overall theme of Parliamentary leadership for more effective multilateralism that delivers peace and sustainable development for the people and planet. […]

Young MPs at an IPU Assembly © IPU

IPU celebrates 10 years of action to give priority to empowering youth

On 12 August, International Youth Day 2020, the IPU celebrates the 10th anniversary of its resolution, Youth participation in the democratic process. Adopted by IPU Member Parliaments in 2010 in Thailand, the resolution is a call to action to include more young people in political decision-making. It also led to the creation of the Forum […]

The IPU and the parliamentary community express their shock and sadness at the devastation and loss of life caused by the blasts in Beirut.

IPU expresses shock and sadness at the destruction caused by the Beirut explosion

The IPU and the parliamentary community express their shock and sadness at the devastation and loss of life caused by the blasts in Beirut, Lebanon on Tuesday 4 August. We convey our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones, wish a speedy recovery to those who have been injured, and express our solidarity […]

The 13th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament will precede the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (5WCSP) and is being organized in close cooperation with the Parliament of Austria and the United Nations.

Women Speakers’ Summit to stress gender-based response to pandemic

The 13th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament will take place as a virtual conference on 17 and 18 August and will precede the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (5WCSP).  It is being organised in close cooperation with the Parliament of Austria and the United Nations. The Summit provides women in the highest […]

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial in Hiroshima. © Cory Denton (Dyroc)

IPU calls to eliminate nuclear weapons on 75th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

On the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (6 and 9 August), the IPU renews its calls for parliamentary action to ban the 14,000 nuclear weapons in the world today. In a letter co-signed with the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the IPU encourages all […]

A community worker raises awareness about COVID-19 in Dhaka. © UN Women Asia and the Pacific

IPU Health Advisory Group calls for parliamentary action in response to pandemic

The IPU Advisory Group on Health has issued a statement on the current COVID-19 pandemic, calling on parliaments to cooperate with stakeholders to build capacity to manage health emergencies, including preparedness, prevention and response. The pandemic has placed demands on decision-makers to act quickly to stem its spread. These decision-makers include parliaments, which are crucial […]

The first part of the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament will take place virtually on 19 and 20 August 2020, organized by the IPU in partnership with the Parliament of Austria and the United Nations.

IPU Speakers’ Conference to focus on multilateralism in COVID-19 context

The first part of the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament will take place virtually on 19 and 20 August 2020, organized by the IPU in partnership with the Parliament of Austria and the United Nations. Over 250 Speakers of parliament have been invited to join other parliamentarians, experts and United Nations representatives to […]

Public health worker in Mandalay, Myanmar. © USAID Asia

IPU urges Speakers of Parliament to commit to universal health coverage

The IPU is calling on Speakers of Parliaments to promote national action and investment to advance universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The IPU has partnered with UHC2030, a multi-stakeholder movement whose mission is to accelerate progress towards access to health for all. In a letter co-signed […]

A guard watchtower rises along a perimeter fence of what is officially known as a vocational skills education centre in Dabancheng in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region © Thomas Peter (Reuters)

BHRC report on responsibility under international law regarding Uyghurs in China

In cooperation with the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC), our partner body, the Parliamentary Human Rights Group and the APPG on Uyghurs, BGIPU Executive Committee members participated in the launch of BHRC’s new report, ‘Responsibility of  States under International Law to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, China’, on 22 […]