Events
The full advance programme of meetings being convened globally by the Inter-Parliamentary Union can be accessed here and BGIPU will call for nominations of interested MPs/Peers to form UK delegations for such events through the All Party Whip Notice and regular all member e-mails. UK participation in IPU activities without formal approval and selection by the BGIPU Executive Committee is not permitted.
In addition, the BGIPU regularly hosts lectures and meetings within the Palace of Westminster when Parliament is sitting on current topical issues in international affairs. Details of upcoming BGIPU events will be listed below and members’ nominations for participating in delegations will be sought through the All Party Notice circulated by the Government Whips Office during sitting times.
As a fully-funded parliamentary body, we can only reply to queries on how to participate in official BGIPU activities from MPs and Peers or parliamentary staff using internal parliamentary e-mail addresses. More general enquiries about our work can be directed to bgipu@parliament.uk
VISIT BY JOHN SMITH TRUST WIDER EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA FELLOWS | 4 FEBRUARY 2026
BGIPU will be hosting a visit by Fellows on the John Smith Trust’s Wider Europe and Central Asia Programme on 4 February. Members wishing to meet with the Fellows are asked to contact Chiara De Vita at devitac@parliament.uk.
ROUNDTABLE ON THE SAHEL | 10 FEBRUARY 1700-1830 | IPU ROOM
BGIPU is hosting a roundtable on the current situation in the Sahel, with a particular focus on Sudan. The meeting will take place on Tuesday 10 February 17:00-18:30 in the IPU Room and will be chaired by Anneliese Dodds MP. Dr Sara Pantuliano, Chief Executive of ODI Global, will be speaking. More speakers are to be announced. Members wishing to attend are asked to contact Chiara De Vita at devitac@parliament.uk.
BGIPU DELEGATION FROM UKRAINE | 16-19 MARCH 2026
BGIPU will be hosting a visit by a parliamentary delegation from Ukraine from 16 to 19 March. Those wishing to meet with the delegation are asked to contact Joe Perry at joe.perry@parliament.uk
CALLING ALL MEMBERS AND STAFF WITH FOREIGN LANGUAGES
To help us welcome our visiting delegations it would be incredibly useful to know if Members and staff have any foreign languages – please contact Dominique Rees at reesd@parliament.uk to register any language skill.
152nd IPU ASSEMBLY ISTANBUL, TURKIYE | 15-19 APRIL 2026
The 152nd Assembly of the IPU will take place in Istanbul 15-19 April 2026. Whilst the overall theme of the general debate for the Assembly is still to be confirmed, the Standing Committee on Peace and Security will adopt a resolution on “The role of parliaments in establishing robust post-conflict management mechanisms and restoring a just and lasting peace”, and the Committee for Sustainable Development will adopt a resolution on ” Building a fair and sustainable global economy: The role of parliaments in combating protectionism, reducing tariffs and preventing corporate tax evasion”. The Standing Committee for Democracy and Human Rights will debate a resolution on the topic “Inclusive social development for all: Parliamentary strategies to promote the rights and empowerment of people living with disabilities”. As well as this, The United Nations Affairs and other IPU bodies will also convene for discussions on a wide range of issues and BGIPU will undertake a busy programme of bilateral meetings. Nominations closed 23 January but for further information please contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk
