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
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
ROUNDTABLE ON AFGHANISTAN | 16 JUNE 1100 | IPU ROOM
BGIPU is hosting a round table with International Bar Association Human Rights Institute on Afghanistan, where are we now? The meeting will take place on Tuesday 16th June 1100-1200 IPU Room. Speakers will include Afghan Journalist Zahra Joya to talk about women’s rights and gender apartheid, and Meetra Qutb to discuss online recruitment tactics of the Taliban. Members wishing to attend are asked to contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk
BGIPU OUTWARD DELEGATION TO LITHUANIA | 24-26 JUNE
BGIPU plans to send a delegation to Vilnius from 24 to 26 June. Members wishing to apply are asked to contact Joe Perry at joe.perry@parliament.uk.
BGIPU INWARD DELEGATION FROM GUATEMALA | 29 JUNE TO 3 JULY
BGIPU will be hosting a visit by a parliamentary delegation from Guatemala from 29 June to 3 July. Those wishing to meet with the delegation are asked to contact Henry Collison at collisonh@parliament.uk.
BGIPU OUTWARD DELEGATION TO KAZAKHSTAN | 21-25 SEPTEMBER
BGIPU plans to send a delegation to Kazakhstan from 21 to 25 September. Members wishing to apply are asked to contact Dominique Rees at reesd@parliament.uk.
BGIPU 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 Dominique Rees at reesd@parliament.uk.
OTHER VISITS – LATER IN THE YEAR
Please note we have also confirmed a delegation to Republic of Korea, Denmark and Ethiopia but are waiting for confirmed dates. We are also working on a delegation from Romania and are again just waiting to confirm the date. Finally, we will also be sending a small delegation to COP31 in Antalya but again need to wait for the date of the parliamentary meeting.
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. Members wishing to express early interest should contact Rhiannon Edwards at edwardsrl@parliament.uk.
