Since 2012, Mali has been experiencing a period of instability and conflict, due to the occupation of the north of the country by armed groups, numerous terrorist attacks and inter-community violence. In addition, in August 2020, following the overthrow of those in power, a transition government and a National Transitional Council (CNT) serving as a […]
From 16 to 20 May 2022 the BGIPU hosted a delegation from Saudi Arabia, a visit that was strongly supported by the APPG for Saudi Arabia and the British Embassy in Riyadh. The delegation was led by Dr Ghazi bin Faisal bin Zaqar and his Shura Council colleagues also on the delegation were Maj General […]
On Wednesday 18 May, BGIPU held an Ambassador roundtable chaired by BGIPU Executive Committee member Wayne David MP, for members of both the House of Commons and Lords. Present at the meeting were Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, and Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Poland, Anna Clunes (virtually). They updated the members on the […]
Hosted by the Indonesian Parliament, the 144th Assembly of the IPU brought together some 110 national parliaments on the theme ‘Getting to zero: Mobilizing parliaments to act on climate change’. The Assembly concluded with the adoption of the Nusa Dua Declaration, in which the world’s parliamentarians recognized the urgent need to address the climate crisis. The Nusa Dua […]
A newly-formed IPU Task Force made up of parliamentarians from around the world met virtually on 25 April to explore possible parliamentary solutions to contribute to an end to Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. This diplomatic effort at the global parliamentary level aims to complement on-going peace efforts at the governmental and UN level. The […]
On Tuesday 26 April, BGIPU held an Ambassador roundtable chaired by BGIPU Chair Harriett Baldwin MP, to members of both the House of Commons and Lords. Present at the meeting were the Ambassador of Norway, His Excellency Wegger Chr. Strømmen, the Ambassador of Estonia, His Excellency Mr Vilja Lubi, and the German Chargé d ’Affair, […]
In 2017, as we set out on a new strategic cycle, our objective was “the advancement of democratic values, the rule of law and strong, representative institutions, and the promotion of gender equality and human rights.” Five years on, IPU Secretary General, Martin Chungong, asks what impact have we had? What difference has the IPU […]
When I took on the chairmanship of the APPG for Armenia a couple of years ago I was promised that it was a relatively inactive group, and the workload would be minimal. Within months, neighbouring Azerbaijan had invaded the disputed Armenian territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and military incursions are ongoing; claims and counter-claims about human rights […]
On 30 March, BGIPU hosted an African Ambassador Roundtable which was chaired by the Chair of BGIPU, Harriett Baldwin MP. Members received briefings from HE Sanni Aoudou, Ambassador of Gabon; HE Teferi Melesse Desta, Ambassador of Ethiopia; and Mr Tojonirina Ramarolahy, Chargé d’Affaire to Madagascar. The well attended meeting was an important opportunity for UK […]
On 27 March, IPU President, Duarte Pacheco addressed the Ninth Plenary Session of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace, hosted by the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates. With the backdrop of war in Ukraine, the President recalled the IPU’s foundational values of dialogue and political cooperation as a means of resolving […]
