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
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
ROUNDTABLE ON SECURING JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE YEZIDIS | 25 MARCH 1100 | IPU ROOM
BGIPU is hosting a round table with IBAHRI, the APPG for International Law, Justice and Accountability, the APPG for Women, Peace and Security and Free Yezidi Foundation. The meeting will take place on Wednesday 25th March 1100-1200, followed by refreshments in the IPU Room. Speakers will include Pari Ibrahim- founder of Free Yezidi Foundation and Sareta Ashraph-a barrister from Garden Court Chambers. Members wishing to attend are asked to contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk
BGIPU DELEGATION FROM ITALY | 18-20 MAY 2026
BGIPU will be hosting a visit by a parliamentary delegation from Italy from 18 to 20 May 2026. Those wishing to meet with the delegation are asked to contact Chiara De Vita at devitac@parliament.uk
4th MEETING OF THE ALLIANCE OF PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS FOR A DEMOCRATIC BELARUS | ATTLEE SUITE | 4 JUNE
BGIPU is planning to host the 4th meeting of the Alliance of Parliamentary Groups for a Democratic Belarus in the Attlee Suite on Thursday 4 June, with delegations expected from parliaments across Europe as well as the Belarusian democratic movement. Those wishing to express an early interest in participating in the conference are asked to contact Joe Perry at joe.perry@parliament.uk
BGIPU 2026/2027 BILATERAL PROGRAMME
On 1 April BGIPU’s 2026/2027 bilateral programme will begin. The BGIPU Executive Committee has approved a list of priority bilateral visits to Cuba, Denmark, Ethiopia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea and Spain; and inward visits from Cote d’Ivoire, Guatemala, Italy, Mongolia, Qatar and Romania. To express an early interest in any of these visits please contact Dominique Rees at reesd@parliament.uk and please also do check future all party notices for confirmation of the visit dates so you can apply to take part.
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. The delegation has been selected but for further information please contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk
2ND IPU GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS | BELGRADE, SERBIA | 2-4 JUNE 2026
The second IPU Global Conference on Women Parliamentarians conference will take place in Serbia Belgrade the 2-4 June 2026. The theme for this meeting is Advancing parity: Breaking the barriers of gender stereotypes and negative social norms. Members wishing to apply should contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk
