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 WITH AMBASSADORS FROM LATIN AMERICA | 3 SEPTEMBER | IPU ROOM
BGIPU will host a roundtable meeting with Ambassadors from Costa Rica, Cuba and Panama at 1600 on Wednesday 3 September. Members wishing to attend are asked to contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk.
BGIPU AND REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS EVENT ON MEDIA FREEDOM | 9 SEPTEMBER | IPU ROOM
BGIPU and Reporters Without Borders will be jointly hosting an event on media freedom. The event will focus on journalists in exile and transnational oppression. Speakers are TBC. Members wishing to attend are asked to contact Henry Collison at collisonh@parliament.uk.
BGIPU DELEGATION TO COLOMBIA | 17-21 NOVEMBER
BGIPU will send a delegation to Colombia during the week of 17 November (travel details are not yet confirmed but you will likely need to be available during both weekends on either side of the visit). Members interested in expressing an early interest should contact Henry Collison at collisonh@parliament.uk.
CONFERENCE ON SHAPING THE FUTURE OF AI | 28-30 NOVEMBER | KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
Together with the CPA UK, BGIPU hopes to send a small delegation to a conference in Malaysia on The Role of Parliament in Shaping the Future of AI. The programme will be divided into two sessions; the first on AI Policy-Making: Focusing on the legislative and oversight role of parliaments and the broader societal dimensions of AI and the second on AI in Parliaments: Focusing on the internal governance, strategy, and practical applications of AI within parliamentary processes. Members keen to express an interest in this conference are asked to contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@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 – AND THOSE KEEN TO LEARN!
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.
For those who are keen to practice their language skills we also offer informal lunchtime foreign language conversation sessions. We invite Members and staff to meet in the IPU room and divide into groups depending on level of fluency for a very non-intimidating, relaxed and fun language practice!
We are currently holding French sessions. If you wish to join these, please contact Mathilde Ollivo at ollivom@parliament.uk.
11TH IPU GLOBAL CONFERENCE OF YOUNG PARLIAMENTARIANS | LIMA, PERU | 11-13 SEPTEMBER
BGIPU will send a delegation to Lima in September to attend this global conference of young MPs with a focus on ‘Uniting generations for gender equality’. The delegation has been selected but members seeking more information are asked to contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk
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
