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 EPSTEIN VICTIM HOPE BERYL-GREEN | 2 SEPTEMBER 1430 | IPU ROOM
BGIPU and the Human Trafficking Foundation are hosting a roundtable with the extremely impressive Hope Beryl-Green, a Jeffrey Epstein victim turned survivor. The meeting is titled From Hell to Hope: meeting with Epstein victim Hope Berly-Green: and a discussion about accountability for victims in the UK, chaired by Rt Hon Dame Karen Bradley MP on Wednesday 2nd September 1430-1530, in the IPU Room, followed by an opportunity for networking. There will also be other Speakers talking about criminal justice response to allegations against high-profile sexual offenders in the UK. Members wishing to attend are asked to contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk.
ROUNDTABLE ON CONFLICT RELATED SEXUAL VIOLENCE | 8 SEPTEMBER 1100 | IPU ROOM
BGIPU is hosting a round table with International Bar Association Human Rights Institute on Conflict Related Sexual Violence against the Uyghurs, women in Gaza and the DRC. The meeting will take place on Tuesday 8th September 1100-1200 IPU Room. Speakers include Uyghur activist Rahima Mahmut and Dr. Muriel Volpellier, a prominent forensic physician renowned for her work documenting sexual violence and assisting in landmark trials in the DRC, with other Speakers TBC. Members wishing to attend are asked to contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk.
INWARD DELEGATION FROM CUBA | W/C 19 OCTOBER TBC
BGIPU will be hosting a visit by a parliamentary delegation from Cuba from 19 October to 23 October (dates to be confirmed). Those wishing to meet with the delegation are asked to contact Chiara De Vita at devitac@parliament.uk.
OUTWARD DELEGATION TO EGYPT | OCTOBER (DATES TBC)
BGIPU plans to send a delegation to Egypt in October. Members wishing to apply are asked to contact Henry Collison at collisonh@parliament.uk.
OUTWARD DELEGATION TO DENMARK | W/C 2 NOVEMBER
BGIPU plans to send a delegation to Denmark at some point in the week commencing 2 November. Members wishing to apply are asked to contact Chiara De Vita at devitac@parliament.uk.
OUTWARD DELEGATION TO SPAIN | 9 – 13 NOVEMBER
BGIPU plans to send a delegation to Spain from 9 – 13 November. Members wishing to express an early interest are asked to contact Maggie El Beleidi at ELBELEIDIM@parliament.uk.
DELEGATION TO COP31, ANTAYLA, TURKIYE | 16 NOVEMBER
BGIPU will be sending a delegation to COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye to the IPU Meeting which will take place on 16 November. There will be potential to attend the main COP event on other days around this meeting. Members wishing to apply are asked to contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk.
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.
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.
153rd IPU ASSEMBLY, ARUSHA, TANZANIA | 5-9 OCTOBER 2026
The 153rd IPU Assembly of the IPU will take place in Arusha 5-9 October 2026. Whilst the overall theme of the general debate for the Assembly is still TBC, the Committees on Peace and International Security will debate “Strengthening maritime security and protecting critical infrastructure in times of conflict: The role of parliaments in safeguarding international navigation and global economic stability” and the Committee on Sustainable Development will debate ” Parliamentary leadership to protect mountain and ocean ecosystems and achieve the 30% conservation goal by 2030”. The Standing Committee for Democracy and Human Rights will adopt 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 UK delegation has now been selected but for any further information you can contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk.
