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
PANEL AND RECEPTION WITH FORMER PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA JUAN MANUEL SANTOS | 28 OCTOBER 17:30 | IPU ROOM
BGIPU is hosting a panel event with the APPG Human Rights and APPG Latin America to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Peace Accord in Colombia: Lessons Learnt and the Way Ahead, with speakers Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and Chris Elmore MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the FCDO. The panel will be held on Wednesday 28th October 5:30 pm in the IPU Room. Other speakers taking part: Diego Martinez – key legal advisor and member of the legal commission during the 2012–2016 peace negotiations; Marcela Sanchez – Co-Founder and Executive Director of Colombia Diversa, which defends LGBT rights in Colombia; Mariela Kohon – former Director and current Vice Chair of Justice for Colombia; Louise Winstanley – Programme and Advocacy Manager of ABColombia. The event will be followed by a drinks reception. Members wishing to attend are asked to contact Henry Collison at collisonh@parliament.uk
MIDDLE EAST ROUNDTABLE| TUESDAY 24 NOVEMBER| 16:30-17:30| IPU ROOM
BGIPU is hosting a roundtable on the UK’s broader strategic engagement with the Middle East, exploring how the region is evolving politically and economically beyond the headlines. Discussions may touch on topics such as the UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement, how the UK can best position itself as a partner of choice in the region and opportunities for deeper cooperation across areas including business, academia, climate policy and bilateral and regional diplomacy. The Rt Hon Alistair Burt will be Chairing the discussion. Those wishing to attend are asked to
contact Maggie El Beleidi at elbeleidim@parliament.uk
ELECTIONS FOR THE BRITISH GROUP INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE 2026-27
In advance of the 2026 Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 2 December, 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 Current office-holders are eligible to seek re-election to any Officer position for which they are otherwise eligible, as no term limits have yet been triggered. The deadline for nominations will be 1730 on 18 November.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING | WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER | 1600 – 1700 | IPU ROOM
The BGIPU AGM will take place between 16:00 and 17:00 on Wednesday 2 December in the IPU Room with Mr Speaker in the Chair. The 2026 Annual Report will be launched at the meeting and a new Executive Committee for 2026/27 will be confirmed. All Members of the BGIPU are encouraged to attend. Members wishing to attend should contact Henry Collison at collisonh@parliament.uk
BGIPU OUTWARD DELEGATION TO EGYPT | (12-18 December TBC)
BGIPU plans to send a delegation to Egypt in December. Members wishing to apply are asked to contact Henry Collison at collisonh@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.
