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
ROUNDTABLE ON ARTICLE 109 | 19 JANAURY 1500 | IPU ROOM
BGIPU will be co-hosting an event with the Article 109 organisation and UNA-UK on Monday 19th January 1500-1600 in the IPU Room chaired by Fabian Hamilton MP. The Article 109 Coalition is a new Coalition that is mobilising UN Member States to update the UN Charter such that it more equitably distributes power and better addresses today’s challenges – using the review mechanism provided for in the Charter’s own Article 109. Heba Aly from Article 109 will be briefing members on their work and ideas for reform, and there will also be a speaker from UNA-UK. Members wishing to attend are asked to contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk
PROTECTION NOT PERMISSION: UPHOLDING THE LAWS OF WAR IN A VOLATILE WORLD | 19 JANUARY 1800-2000 | CPA AND IPU ROOMS
BGIPU, along with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Development Committee (IDC) will be hosting an hour-long discussion focussing on the role parliamentarians can play in ensuring the laws of war are promoted and upheld, followed by a networking reception. Speakers include ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric – who will address UK Parliamentarians for the very first time – and IDC Chair Sarah Champion MP. Members wishing to attend are asked to contact Chiara De Vita at devitac@parliament.uk
ROUNDTABLE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE | 21 JANUARY 1500 | IPU ROOM
BGIPU is hosting a round table on Violence Against Women in Public Life, discussing harassment of women MPs and journalists. The meeting will take place on Wednesday 21st January 1500-1600 in the IPU Room chaired by Pam Cox MP. Speakers will include Bénite Dibateza from CPAHQ to discuss the harassment of women MPs in Asia-Pacific, Penny East, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society will touch on the impact on British women MPs, with a Journalist from BBC Persian. Members wishing to attend are asked to contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk
VISIT BY POLISH DELEGATION | 26-28 JANUARY
BGIPU will be hosting a visit by a parliamentary delegation from Poland during 26-29 January. Those wishing to meet with the delegation are asked to contact Henry Collison at collisonh@parliament.uk
MEETING ON RUSSIA’S CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN OCCUPIED UKRAINE | 28 JANUARY 1500-1600 | IPU ROOM
BGIPU is hosting a roundtable on the systematic nature of Russia’s crimes against humanity in occupied Ukraine and what the UK can do in response. The speakers are Dr Jade McGlynn, head of the Ukraine-Russia programme at King’s College London’s Centre for Statecraft and National Security, and Scott Martin, a Kyiv-based expert on international criminal law and international humanitarian law. Members wishing to attend are asked to contact Joe Perry at joe.perry@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. Speakers are yet to be announced. Members wishing to attend are asked to contact Chiara De Vita at devitac@parliament.uk
BGIPU DELEGATION TO MOLDOVA AND ROMANIA | 22-26 FEBRUARY 2026
BGIPU plans to send a delegation to Moldova and Romania on 22-26 February 2026. Members wishing to express an interest in this visit are asked to contact Joe Perry at joe.perry@parliament.uk before the deadline of Monday 19 January.
BGIPU DELEGATION TO BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA | W/C 16 MARCH 2026
BGIPU plans to send a delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina during the week of 16 March 2026. Members wishing to apply for this visit are asked to contact Henry Collison at collisonh@parliament.uk before the deadline of Monday 19 January.
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
CSW70 | NEW YORK | W/C 9 MARCH 2026
The 70th Conference on the Commission on the Status of Women IPU meeting will take place during the week of the 9th March 2026 at the UN in New York. Members wishing to apply should contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk noting the deadline is 12th January.
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. Members wishing to express early interest should contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk noting the deadline is 23rd January.
