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
EVENT ON UK STRATEGIES TOWARDS CHINA AND THE INDO-PACIFIC | 28 OCTOBER 1500 | CPA ROOM
BGIPU and CPA UK are partnering with Chatham House to host an event on their recently released papers on UK strategies towards China and the Indo-Pacific. Research fellows from Chatham House will introduce these two publications, before opening up into a wider discussion on the topic. Those wishing to attend are asked to contact Joe Perry at joe.perry@parliament.uk.
ROUNDTABLE ON MASS GRAVES EVIDENCE TO COURTROOM | 28 OCTOBER 1500 | IPUROOM
BGIPU, the The International Bar Association Human Rights Institute and the APPG for International Law, Justice and Accountability will be holding a roundtable discussion on “From Mass Graves to Courtroom”. Tuesday 28 October 1500-1600 in the IPU Room. Speakers are Professor Melanie Klinkner, Professor in International Law, Bournemouth University, lead author of the Bournemouth Protocol on Mass Grave Protection and Investigation, Rt Hon Alistair Burt, International Commission on Missing People commissioner, Rupert Skillbeck, Director of Redress Chantal Joubert, MFA of the Netherlands, the Hague-Ljubljana treaty on mutual legal assistance. Members and parliamentary staff wishing to attend are asked to contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk .
BGIPU AND REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS EVENT ON PRESS FREEDOM | 29 OCTOBER 17:30 | IPU ROOM
BGIPU and Reporters Without Borders will be jointly hosting a panel event on press freedom. The panel will consider the steps Britain should be taking, including protecting journalists in the UK from transnational threats, supporting journalists in Gaza and other conflict zones, taking a lead in the Media Freedom Coalition, and advancing proposals for an emergency visa mechanism for journalists at risk. It will be chaired and moderated by Alex Sobel MP and speakers include Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale MP, Fiona O’Brien (Director, RSF London Bureau) and Can Yeğinsu (a leading barrister with expert knowledge in this field) with more TBC. Members wishing to attend are asked to contact Henry Collison at collisonh@parliament.uk.
VISIT BY JOHN SMITH TRUST ‘FUTURE OF RUSSIA’ FELLOWS | 12 NOVEMBER | IPU ROOM
BGIPU will be hosting a visit by this year’s John Smith Trust ‘Future of Russia’ Fellows on Wednesday 12 November. Those wishing to meet with the Fellows are asked to contact Joe Perry at joe.perry@parliament.uk.
VISIT BY LITHUANIAN DELEGATION | 24-26 NOVEMBER
BGIPU will be hosting a visit by a parliamentary delegation from Lithuania during 24-26 November. Those wishing to meet with the delegation are asked to contact Joe Perry at joe.perry@parliament.uk.
ELECTIONS FOR THE BRITISH GROUP INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2025-26
In advance of the 2025 Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 26 November, Members wishing to be nominated for the position of Chair (a Government post), one of the three Vice-Chairs (Government, Opposition and House of Lords), Treasurer (Opposition) or ordinary Member of the BGIPU Executive Committee are requested to contact Henry Collison for a nomination form at collisonh@parliament.uk. Apart from the post of Vice-Chair (Government) which will fall vacant due to the end of a three year term limit, all other posts are eligible for re-election of current incumbents under BGIPU Rules. The deadline for nominations will be 1730 on 12 November.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING | WEDNESDAY 26 NOVEMBER | 16:00 – 17:00 | IPU ROOM
The BGIPU AGM will take place between 16:00 and 17:00 on Wednesday 26 November in the IPU Room with Mr Speaker in the Chair. The 2025 Annual Report will be launched at the meeting and a new Executive Committee for 2025/26 will be confirmed. All Members of the BGIPU are encouraged to attend. Members wishing to attend should contact Henry Collison at collisonh@parliament.uk.
VISIT BY JOHN SMITH TRUST EXILED BELARUSIAN FELLOWS | 10 DECEMBER 2025
BGIPU will be hosting a visit by Fellows on the John Smith Trust’s Leaders in Exile: ‘Future of Belarus’ Programme on 10 December. Members wishing to meet with the Fellows are asked to contact Henry Collison at collisonh@parliament.uk.
BGIPU DELEGATION TO SWEDEN | 13 TO 16 JANUARY
BGIPU plans to send a delegation to Sweden during the week of 12 January. Members wishing to apply for this visit are asked to contact Dominique Rees at reesd@parliament.uk.
MEMBER LED TOURS OF PARLIAMENT FOR DELEGATIONS
BGIPU is seeking Members that would be interested in leading tours of parliament for our visiting parliamentary delegations. These tours are a key part of our visits, giving the delegations an insight into the rich history of the Palace and an introduction into some of the procedures of parliament. These tours are generally on a Monday or Tuesday morning and last between 45 minutes to an hour. If you are interested in volunteering to lead these tours then please contact Dominique Rees at reesd@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.
151st IPU ASSEMBLY | GENEVA, SWITZERLAND | 19-23 OCTOBER
The 151st Assembly of the IPU will take place in Geneva 19-23 October. Whilst the overall theme of the general debate for the Assembly is still to be confirmed, the Standing Committee on Peace and Security will debate 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 debate 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 adopt a resolution on the topic “Recognizing and supporting the victims of illegal international adoption and taking measures to prevent this practice”. 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 members seeking more information are asked to contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk
