On 16 November 2020, BGIPU convened a virtual bilateral meeting between UK and Israeli Parliamentarians. The meeting was moderated by Harriett Baldwin MP, Chair of the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. In attendance from the UK side was: Dame Diana Johnson MP (vice-Chair of both BGIPU and Labour friends of Israel), Lord Sarfraz, Jonathan […]
On 3 November 2020, BGIPU convened a virtual bilateral meeting between UK and Tunisian Parliamentarians. The discussion was moderated by BGIPU Executive Committee Member, Damien Moore MP, who is also the Trade Envoy to Tunisia and chairs the Tunisia APPG in the UK Parliament. The meeting was attended by Afzal Khan MP, Baroness Hodgson, Baroness […]
BGIPU co-hosted with the BBC World Service a virtual discussion on the continuing harassment of BBC Persian staff and families by Iran. The event on 5 October 2020 and was chaired by BGIPU Vice-Chair and Chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group, Dame Diana Johnson MP. The discussion followed up earlier BGIPU events and served […]
On 16 September, BGIPU Chair, Harriett Baldwin MP, had a virtual meeting with her counterpart as Head of the Israeli delegation to the IPU, Avi Dichter MK, who also chairs the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Knesset. Both former Ministers in their respective national governments had taken up the role of leading their […]
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 […]
From 2-6 September 2019, in partnership with the Chair of the APPG for Lebanon, Rt Hon John Hayes MP, BGIPU hosted a delegation of three parliamentarians from Lebanon. The delegation was led by Mr Yassine Jaber MP as chair of the British-Lebanese Friendship Croup and Chair of the Lebanese Foreign Affairs Committee. He was joined […]
Over 1600 parliamentarians, UN partners and experts from around the world will meet in Doha, Qatar, for the 140th IPU Assembly from 6 to 10 April. Under the overarching theme of education for peace, the Assembly will also consider ways in which parliaments can boost gender equality- particularly in the region, take measures to counter terrorism, promote human rights and invest in renewable energy. The Qatar Shura Council will host delegates from around 160 countries including 80 Speakers of Parliament, 40 Deputy Speakers and over 800 MPs.
At the 140th IPU Assembly in Doha, Qatar, the global parliamentary community strongly condemned human rights violations against MPs worldwide. At the Assembly, the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, the only international body with an exclusive remit to support MPs in danger, recommended action in the cases of 187 parliamentarians in a dozen countries whose human rights have been violated.
Parliamentary dialogue and diplomacy were at the forefront of 140th IPU Assembly in Doha, Qatar, as over 800 MPs from 160 countries convened in the world’s biggest platform for global parliamentary exchange. In the final Doha Declaration endorsed at the Assembly, MPs from national parliaments underlined the critical role of education to enhance peace, security and the rule of law as well as support democracy and human rights.
A UK parliamentary delegation which visited Iraq 13-16 February 2018 saw the country poised at a crossroads in which the upcoming elections will be crucial. The policy approaches and political stability of any government resulting from these elections will be a key determinant in whether a largely positive trajectory on the back of the victory over Daesh will continue. Political stability, addressing corruption and economic/social progress are pre-conditions for the full delivery of the $30 billion pledged recently to rebuild the country.
