General Assembly President Says United Nations Must Be Urgently ‘Reinvented', As Time for Reform Has Passed, in Closing Statement to 63rd Session
14 September 2009 General AssemblyGA/10854 Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York
Sixty-third General Assembly
Plenary
105th & 106th Meetings (AM & PM)
General Assembly President Says United Nations Must Be Urgently ‘Reinvented’, As Time for Reform Has Passed, in Closing Statement to 63rd session
Responsibility to Protect, System-Wide Coherence, Assembly Revitalization,
High-Level Dialogue on Development among Issues Addressed in Assembly Texts
With the world and its peoples facing unprecedented challenges, outgoing General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann today decried blatant inequality in the international system, and urged Member States to generate the political will to tackle poverty, provide safety nets for vulnerable countries and, even more importantly, to reinvent the United Nations and its major organs.
Describing the Assembly’s sixty-third session as “one of the most turbulent in years”, as it had taken place in the shadow of a massive global financial contraction and economic recession, deepening impact of climate change and ongoing food shortages, Mr. d’Escoto said that, while the 192-member body had successfully addressed some of those issues: “If we fail to make solidarity and a sense of social and environmental responsibility the main driving force behind our human society, then, quite simply, we will not survive.”
“I am one of those who believe that the United Nations has the potential […] to be indispensable to humanity’s efforts to survive crises,” Mr. d’Escoto said, but apparently, some of the Organization’s founding Members did not support, or even believe in its principles. The problem was that the low level of commitment of some Member States and their willingness to “do whatever they feel like with total and absolute impunity”, with no regard for others, were undermining the Organization’s effectiveness. During this year, he had come to realize that the time had passed for reforming the United Nations: “What we need to do is reinvent it, and we need to do it urgently […] for the good of the Earth and of humanity.”
The Assembly held two meetings to wrap up its work ahead of the opening tomorrow of its sixty-forth session. Mr. d’Escoto’s wide-ranging address capped a day when delegations took action on a number of outstanding issues and adopted key resolutions on matters related to system-wide coherence, “the responsibility to protect”, cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union and Assembly revitalization.
Taking stock of the Assembly’s substantive work over the past year, Mr. d’Escoto highlighted the adoption in July of the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development as an “historic milestone”. That document had established the Assembly as the most appropriate forum to address issues that affected the entire international community. It had also led to the creation of an ad hoc working group charged with follow-up on relevant issues such as reform of the current outdated and unfair global financial system, and the Bretton Woods institutions.
“It is precisely because of our failure to resolve the fundamental problems of the economic system, and the extreme poverty and inequality on which it is based, that we have had to resort to palliative measures such as the Millennium Development Goals,” he continued, stressing that no matter how necessary those targets might be, they did not address the need for indispensable international economic reforms. Right now, the most urgent issue remained the provision of resources to the most vulnerable countries, primarily in the form of donations, or rather, compensation, through a global fund or special drawing rights to finance public goods and agreed development objectives.
He went on to say that Member States were currently at a critical juncture, as the institutions that had been established nearly 65 years ago in San Francisco had undergone a natural and inevitable process of attrition, leading to the present crisis in international economic governance and policy. While noting that there now might be a “light at the end of the tunnel” since the launch earlier this year of intergovernmental negotiations on the nettlesome issue of Security Council reform, he said much remained to be done if the United Nations was to become worthy of the trust and credibility it needed to carry out its mission effectively.
Among other steps that could be taken to that end, he stressed that only a strong General Assembly, which vigorously exercised its deliberative, policy-making and decision-making role, would be capable of enhancing multilateralism as the best option for relations between States. He reminded delegations that the most significant achievement thus far in the exercise to reinvigorate the Assembly had been its capacity this year to address existential economic issues, which it had been unable to tackle for nearly three decades. “[So] revitalization is a political, rather than a technical issue,” he declared.
He expressed satisfaction that during his tenure the Assembly had been able to carry out its agenda and remain attuned to events of international relevance not on its work programme, such as the financial and economic crisis, the recent coup d’état in Honduras, and “the Israeli aggression against Gaza”, at the beginning of the year. At the same time, inertia on the Palestinian issue had been “my greatest frustration this year”, he said. Indeed, the Security Council’s apparent indifference to Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza had been “disgraceful”. With the humanitarian situation in Gaza threatening to deteriorate even further, now was the time to demonstrate “with action and not words, a true commitment to the responsibility to protect”.
Turning next to climate change, he said it was now clearer than ever that humankind’s reckless behaviour was putting the planet at risk. To be effective, the international community’s response must be immediate and forceful. In terms of economic resources, at least 1 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP) would be required to mount such a response. The “major culprits” would have to bear the costs in proportion to their responsibility for the problem, he added.
He also called for the adoption of a “universal declaration on the common good of the Earth and humanity” as a first step to reinventing the Organization, and urged Member States to use the opportunity provided by the upcoming United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen to prove its commitment to Mother Earth and to take the action necessary to defend all life on the planet.
Finally, following a moment of silent reflection, Mr. d’Escoto invited to the podium the President of the sixty-fourth session, Ali Abdussalam Treki, of Libya, and passed him the traditional gavel.
Over the course of the day, the Assembly took a number of forward-looking decisions, including approving the holding of a High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development, to be held at Headquarters on 23 and 24 November 2009. The two-day meeting aims to follow up the decisions taken by the 2002 International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, and the review Conference held last year in Doha, Qatar.
Also, the Assembly adopted, as orally amended, a resolution submitted by President d’Escoto, on system-wide coherence (document A/63/L.103). That text took up five key areas of concern: strengthening the institutional arrangements for support of gender equality and women’s empowerment; strengthening governance of operational activities for development of the United Nations system; improving the funding system of operational activities for development of the United Nations system; “delivering as one”; and harmonization of business practices.
In a section on the way forward, the Assembly decided to continue its intergovernmental work on the issues addressed in the resolution during the coming session, with a view to achieving further substantive action in all areas, and it resolves, at the conclusion of its entire process on system-wide coherence, to review and take stock of all its prior actions and deliberations in a single resolution or decision.
Among the resolution’s highlights was an expression of the Assembly’s broad support for a composite entity of a consolidated Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women, the Division for the Advancement of Women, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, led by an Under-Secretary-General who would report directly to the Secretary-General.
As for delivering as one, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to urgently undertake an independent evaluation of lessons learned from “programme country pilots” and to inform it of the modalities and terms of reference of that evaluation at its upcoming session. Concerning harmonization of business practices, the Assembly calls on the Secretary-General, in cooperation with members of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to continue to simplify and harmonize business practices within the United Nations development system. It asks him to regularly inform the Economic and Social Council about progress and challenges.
Several speakers, explaining their position after adoption of the resolution, thanked the co-facilitators ‑‑ the Permanent Representatives of Namibia and Spain ‑‑ for guiding the process forward throughout the Assembly’s consultations. Generally strong support was expressed for consolidating the four entities in the United Nations system dealing with gender issues into a composite entity, headed by an Under-Secretary-General. Several felt that that reform was a fresh start, a catalyst for bringing an important shift to the work of the United Nations in the area of gender equality and women’s empowerment; one urged that the composite gender entity become operational as soon as possible.
In addition, the issue of funding was also considered a top priority, on which many said it was vital to achieve substantive progress during the coming session, particularly in addressing the persistent imbalance between core and non-core funding. Some held that improving the governance structures and funding modalities for development work was essential for the Organization to be an effective partner for developing countries as they worked towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
The representative of the United Republic of Tanzania said that, as a “delivering as one” pilot country, his country could confirm that the reform process of system-wide coherence at the country level had been “transformative” in many development areas at the country level and had conferred national ownership of the development process in partnership with the United Nations. He underscored the need for a speedy execution of the independent evaluation of the pilot country, while stressing that the three issues of gender, governance and funding were very different and, thus, could not move at the same pace. The goal, however, should be to achieve significant results for each.
Japan’s delegate said he had joined consensus in support of reforming the gender architecture, despite “strong dissatisfaction” at the draft’s introduction less than a week before the conclusion of the sixty-third session. Furthermore, there had been no opportunity for open consultation, and he was displeased with that “opaque consultation process”. In order to avoid unnecessary bloating of the new entity, the principle of “scrap-and-build” should be strictly applied when rebuilding a “slim” entity. It was important to conserve United Nations resources by creating an effective United Nations system and investing the saved resources into developing countries. If those resources could not be secure, it would not be possible to achieve the goals of system-wide coherence.
Similarly, the speaker from the Russian Federation regretted that the resolution had been put to a vote before the Assembly had gone through the text and without substantial and open consultations. He also had reservations to certain provisions. In particular, he was not prepared to lend decisive support to creating a composite entity on gender issues before receiving information on institutional arrangements, financing mechanisms and an exhaustive list of answers to the questions that had been raised during discussions held within the framework of the system-wide coherence process. He was concerned that the Assembly made decisions on a text in a way that violated its own rules of procedure. Moreover, there was not really a consensus among Member States on the resolution’s content.
Explanations of position after action were also made by the representatives of Egypt (on behalf of the Joint Coordinating Committee of the Non-Aligned Movement and the “Group of 77” developing countries and China), Sweden (on behalf of the European Union), Iceland (on behalf of the Nordic countries), Australia (on behalf of Canada and New Zealand), United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, Ireland, Republic of Korea, Chile, Rwanda, Switzerland and Barbados.
Also generating a brief debate was the Assembly’s adoption of a resolution that took note of the report of the Secretary-General on “the responsibility to protect”, as well as the “timely and productive” debate on the issue held by the world body in late July, 2009 (document A/L.80/Rev.1). That text, introduced by the representative of Guatemala, also decided the Assembly would continue consideration of the responsibility to protect.
Several speakers took the floor to explain their position after the text’s consensus adoption, including the representatives of Venezuela, Cuba, Syria, Bolivia, Sudan, Iran, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Rwanda. Most held that the text just adopted was procedural in nature and that more time should be devoted to carefully studying the responsibility to protect concept, based on the agreement reached at the 2005 World Summit.
While there was broad agreement that States should “carefully watch over” the well-being of their citizens, concern was expressed that a responsibility to protect mechanism could devolve into interference in the affairs of sovereign and politically independent States and the use of force, thereby undermining the principles of the United Nations Charter.
Among the other reform-minded decisions taken today, delegations adopted a resolution based on recommendations contained in the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Revitalization of the General Assembly (document A/63/959), which called on the Assembly to convene the Working Group during its sixty-fourth session “to identify further ways to enhance the role, authority, effectiveness and efficiency of the Assembly”.
Following that action, the representative of Belarus praised the efforts of all those that had participated in discussions on Assembly revitalization, including members of the Security Council. He hoped the five permanent Council members would recognize their special responsibility in facilitating ‑‑ “or sometimes simply allowing” ‑‑ bold and meaningful strides of the wider membership to increase the Assembly’s role, and would regard the overall revitalization process not as an “unavoidable nuisance” but rather an indispensable way to ensure the viability and good health of the entire Organization.
Mexico’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, said the resolution laid out the various concerns raised by groups during the negotiations. The Rio Group would, therefore, call on all Member States to step up their efforts to bolster the Assembly’s work, including through rationalizing and streamlining its agenda and improving its voting procedures. Also, the Rio Group was convinced that the Assembly should play a more relevant role in selecting the Secretary-General, in line with the Charter.
The Assembly also adopted a decision based on recommendations contained in the report of its Open-Ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the membership of the Security Council and other issues related to the Security Council (document A/63/47). By that decision, the Assembly took note of that report and decided to convene the Working Group during its sixty-forth session.
Following that action, President d’Escoto noted that the intergovernmental negotiations were ongoing and the Assembly further agreed to immediately continue that exercise in an informal plenary meeting during the sixty-forth session, building on the progress achieved so far. He urged delegations to turn the negotiations into a practical outcome during the coming session, “because the issue of better Council could not be left for the future”.
The Assembly also adopted a decision on the scope and application of the principle of universal jurisdiction (document A/63/L.100), which placed a relevant item on the agenda of its sixty-fourth session and recommended that it be considered by the Sixth Committee (Legal) during that session.
That text was introduced by the representative of the United Republic of Tanzania on behalf of the African States, who recalled that universal jurisdiction was a well-established international law principle whose purpose was to ensure that individuals who committed grave offences such as piracy, slavery, torture, genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity did not do so with impunity.
However, he said the extent of its application had never been substantively discussed at the General Assembly, and thus, the African States urged its inclusion on the agenda of the sixty-fourth session for further discussions and agreement on the extent and applicability of the principle in order to create uniformity in its application by domestic courts and further ensure that the doctrine was applied justly by all States without limitations.
Speaking after the decision’s adoption, Rwanda’s representative said the African Group fully subscribed to the principle of universal jurisdiction, as enshrined in international law. However, that noble principle had been left open to abuse and often misguided political interest, as in the case of his own country. That misapplication endangered and undermined the very principles of universal jurisdiction and international law. It was imperative, therefore, that a clear universal mechanism be established to ensure the impartial and appropriate uniform application of universal jurisdiction.
Sweden’s representative, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that that discussion was first and foremost a legal subject, which rightly belonged in the Sixth Committee (Legal), and he looked forward to discussing it there.
Unanimously adopting a draft resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union (document A/63/L.101), the Assembly stressed the need for both organizations to develop close cooperation and concrete programmes aimed at addressing the problems in areas such as illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons. It emphasized the need to bolster existing cooperation in emerging areas of peace and security, and political and humanitarian affairs.
Further by that text, introduced by the representative of Algeria on behalf of the African Group, the Assembly called on the United Nations system to support the African Union and its Member States in their efforts to implement the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. The United Nations system was also encouraged to intensify efforts, in collaboration with the African Union, in combating the exploitation of natural resources, particularly in conflict areas.
In other business, the Assembly, at the request of the representative of Serbia, decided to reopen consideration of its item on “request for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on whether the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo is in accordance with international law”. That representative said the international community was now awaiting the Court’s decision. Therefore, the issue was open and, as such, should be maintained on the draft agenda of the Assembly’s sixty-fourth session.
Also, the Assembly deferred consideration on a number of items to its sixty-fourth session and placed them in that session’s draft agenda, including on “prevention of armed conflict”; “financing of the United Nations Mission in Timor-Leste”; “Zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic”; “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations”; and “Financing the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)”. It also deferred consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of conflict (document A/63/881).
In addition, the Assembly deferred consideration of its item on “the situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan”. Following that action, Armenia’s representative said that, as in previous years, his delegation would again dissociate itself from the consensus on that decision.
It also concluded its consideration of a number of items, including on “Observer status for the Agency for International Trade Information and Cooperation in the General Assembly”. Finally, a proposed text on a recent agreement by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Council to convene a world food security summit this coming November, was withdrawn for further consideration.
All delegations taking the floor today expressed appreciation for Mr. d’Escoto’s efforts over the past year and, just before the end of the meeting, the representatives of Iran, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Philippines and Cuba delivered separate statements of appreciation.
The General Assembly will convene the first meeting of its sixty-fourth session at 3 p.m. Tuesday, 15 September.
The Abuja Treaty of 1991 and Sirte Declaration of 1999 called for the creation of the Pan African Parliamment (PAP). The former had simply listed the PAP among the organization's bodies and stated, "In order to ensure that the peoples of Africa are fully involved in the economic development and integration of the Continent, there shall be established a Pan-African Parliament. The composition, functions, powers and organisation of the Pan-African Parliament shall be defined in a Protocol providing thereof." The Treaty on the Establishment of the African Union and a Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community relating to the Pan-African Parliament followed. Then there was the Constitutive Act of the African Union. The Protocol Establishing the Pan African Parliament was adopted in 2000 during the OAU Summit in Lomé, Togo.
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP), also known as the African Parliament, is the legislative body of the African Union. It held its inaugural session in March 2004. The Parliament exercises oversight, and has advisory and consultative powers, having lasting for the first five years. Initially the seat of the Pan-African Parliament was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but was later moved to Midrand, South Africa. The goal in establishing the parliament was creating a space where people from all states of Africa could meet, deliberate, and pass some policy on issues that affect the entire continent of Africa.
The overall goal for the parliament is to be an institution that has full legislative power whose members are elected through universal suffrage, as stated by South African President Jacob Zuma in his opening speech to the first ordinary session of the second legislature of the Pan-African Parliament on October 28, 2009.
Structure - The Pan-African Parliament is composed of three sections
The Parliament is made up of three main bodies and Committees:
1. The Plenary
2. The Bureau
3. The Secretariat
4. There are also 11 Permanent Committees, which were created to deal with different sectors in Africa.
1. Plenary - The Plenary is the main decision-making body of the Parliament. Pan-African Parliament has 275 members representing the 55 AU Member States that have ratified the Protocol establishing it.
2. Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament
I. President (North Africa): Hon. Fateh Boutbig (Algeria)
II. First Vice President (East Africa): Hon. Dr. Ashebir Woldegiorgis Gayo (Ethiopia)
III. Second Vice President (West Africa): Hon. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings (Ghana)
IV. Third Vice President (Central Africa): Hon. Djidda Mamar Mahamat (Chad)
V. Fourth Vice President (Southern Africa): Hon. Dr. Arlete Borges (Angola)
3. Secretariat of the Pan-African Parliament
I. Clerk of Parliament - Ms. Lindiwe Khumalo
II. Deputy Clerk in charge of Legislative Business and Conferences (LBC) - Mr. Gali Massa Harou
III. Acting Deputy Clerk in charge of Finance, Administration and Human Resources (FAHR) - Mr. Rodin Mayengo
IV. Acting Head of Administration and Human Resources Division – Mr. Jacob Odada
V. Acting Head of Finance and Budget Division – Ms Seble Gebrekidan
4. Permanent Committees of the Pan African Parliament
The Pan African Parliament has 11 permanent committees. The structure and functions are as follows: Alignment: Functions match the specialized technical commissions of the African Union. Membership: Most committees have up to 30 members, except the Audit and Public Accounts Committees, which has a maximum of 15 members. Designation: Members are appointed by regional caucuses with regional and gender balance.
Permanent Committees List
1. Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environment
2. Monetary and Financial Affairs
3. Trade, Customs, and Immigration Matters
4. Cooperation, International Relations, and Conflict Resolutions
5. Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science, and Technology
6. Health, Labour, and Social Affairs
7. Education, Culture, Tourism, and Human Resources
8. Gender, Family, Youths, and People with Disabilities
9. Justice and Human Rights
10. Rules, Privileges, and Discipline
11. Committee on Audit and Public Accounts (CAPA)
General Assembly President Says United Nations Must Be Urgently ‘Reinvented', As Time for Reform Has Passed, in Closing Statement to 63rd Session
14 September 2009 General AssemblyGA/10854 Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York
Sixty-third General Assembly
Plenary
105th & 106th Meetings (AM & PM)
General Assembly President Says United Nations Must Be Urgently ‘Reinvented’, As Time for Reform Has Passed, in Closing Statement to 63rd session
Responsibility to Protect, System-Wide Coherence, Assembly Revitalization,
High-Level Dialogue on Development among Issues Addressed in Assembly Texts
With the world and its peoples facing unprecedented challenges, outgoing General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann today decried blatant inequality in the international system, and urged Member States to generate the political will to tackle poverty, provide safety nets for vulnerable countries and, even more importantly, to reinvent the United Nations and its major organs.
Describing the Assembly’s sixty-third session as “one of the most turbulent in years”, as it had taken place in the shadow of a massive global financial contraction and economic recession, deepening impact of climate change and ongoing food shortages, Mr. d’Escoto said that, while the 192-member body had successfully addressed some of those issues: “If we fail to make solidarity and a sense of social and environmental responsibility the main driving force behind our human society, then, quite simply, we will not survive.”
“I am one of those who believe that the United Nations has the potential […] to be indispensable to humanity’s efforts to survive crises,” Mr. d’Escoto said, but apparently, some of the Organization’s founding Members did not support, or even believe in its principles. The problem was that the low level of commitment of some Member States and their willingness to “do whatever they feel like with total and absolute impunity”, with no regard for others, were undermining the Organization’s effectiveness. During this year, he had come to realize that the time had passed for reforming the United Nations: “What we need to do is reinvent it, and we need to do it urgently […] for the good of the Earth and of humanity.”
The Assembly held two meetings to wrap up its work ahead of the opening tomorrow of its sixty-forth session. Mr. d’Escoto’s wide-ranging address capped a day when delegations took action on a number of outstanding issues and adopted key resolutions on matters related to system-wide coherence, “the responsibility to protect”, cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union and Assembly revitalization.
Taking stock of the Assembly’s substantive work over the past year, Mr. d’Escoto highlighted the adoption in July of the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development as an “historic milestone”. That document had established the Assembly as the most appropriate forum to address issues that affected the entire international community. It had also led to the creation of an ad hoc working group charged with follow-up on relevant issues such as reform of the current outdated and unfair global financial system, and the Bretton Woods institutions.
“It is precisely because of our failure to resolve the fundamental problems of the economic system, and the extreme poverty and inequality on which it is based, that we have had to resort to palliative measures such as the Millennium Development Goals,” he continued, stressing that no matter how necessary those targets might be, they did not address the need for indispensable international economic reforms. Right now, the most urgent issue remained the provision of resources to the most vulnerable countries, primarily in the form of donations, or rather, compensation, through a global fund or special drawing rights to finance public goods and agreed development objectives.
He went on to say that Member States were currently at a critical juncture, as the institutions that had been established nearly 65 years ago in San Francisco had undergone a natural and inevitable process of attrition, leading to the present crisis in international economic governance and policy. While noting that there now might be a “light at the end of the tunnel” since the launch earlier this year of intergovernmental negotiations on the nettlesome issue of Security Council reform, he said much remained to be done if the United Nations was to become worthy of the trust and credibility it needed to carry out its mission effectively.
Among other steps that could be taken to that end, he stressed that only a strong General Assembly, which vigorously exercised its deliberative, policy-making and decision-making role, would be capable of enhancing multilateralism as the best option for relations between States. He reminded delegations that the most significant achievement thus far in the exercise to reinvigorate the Assembly had been its capacity this year to address existential economic issues, which it had been unable to tackle for nearly three decades. “[So] revitalization is a political, rather than a technical issue,” he declared.
He expressed satisfaction that during his tenure the Assembly had been able to carry out its agenda and remain attuned to events of international relevance not on its work programme, such as the financial and economic crisis, the recent coup d’état in Honduras, and “the Israeli aggression against Gaza”, at the beginning of the year. At the same time, inertia on the Palestinian issue had been “my greatest frustration this year”, he said. Indeed, the Security Council’s apparent indifference to Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza had been “disgraceful”. With the humanitarian situation in Gaza threatening to deteriorate even further, now was the time to demonstrate “with action and not words, a true commitment to the responsibility to protect”.
Turning next to climate change, he said it was now clearer than ever that humankind’s reckless behaviour was putting the planet at risk. To be effective, the international community’s response must be immediate and forceful. In terms of economic resources, at least 1 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP) would be required to mount such a response. The “major culprits” would have to bear the costs in proportion to their responsibility for the problem, he added.
He also called for the adoption of a “universal declaration on the common good of the Earth and humanity” as a first step to reinventing the Organization, and urged Member States to use the opportunity provided by the upcoming United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen to prove its commitment to Mother Earth and to take the action necessary to defend all life on the planet.
Finally, following a moment of silent reflection, Mr. d’Escoto invited to the podium the President of the sixty-fourth session, Ali Abdussalam Treki, of Libya, and passed him the traditional gavel.
Over the course of the day, the Assembly took a number of forward-looking decisions, including approving the holding of a High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development, to be held at Headquarters on 23 and 24 November 2009. The two-day meeting aims to follow up the decisions taken by the 2002 International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, and the review Conference held last year in Doha, Qatar.
Also, the Assembly adopted, as orally amended, a resolution submitted by President d’Escoto, on system-wide coherence (document A/63/L.103). That text took up five key areas of concern: strengthening the institutional arrangements for support of gender equality and women’s empowerment; strengthening governance of operational activities for development of the United Nations system; improving the funding system of operational activities for development of the United Nations system; “delivering as one”; and harmonization of business practices.
In a section on the way forward, the Assembly decided to continue its intergovernmental work on the issues addressed in the resolution during the coming session, with a view to achieving further substantive action in all areas, and it resolves, at the conclusion of its entire process on system-wide coherence, to review and take stock of all its prior actions and deliberations in a single resolution or decision.
Among the resolution’s highlights was an expression of the Assembly’s broad support for a composite entity of a consolidated Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women, the Division for the Advancement of Women, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, led by an Under-Secretary-General who would report directly to the Secretary-General.
As for delivering as one, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to urgently undertake an independent evaluation of lessons learned from “programme country pilots” and to inform it of the modalities and terms of reference of that evaluation at its upcoming session. Concerning harmonization of business practices, the Assembly calls on the Secretary-General, in cooperation with members of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to continue to simplify and harmonize business practices within the United Nations development system. It asks him to regularly inform the Economic and Social Council about progress and challenges.
Several speakers, explaining their position after adoption of the resolution, thanked the co-facilitators ‑‑ the Permanent Representatives of Namibia and Spain ‑‑ for guiding the process forward throughout the Assembly’s consultations. Generally strong support was expressed for consolidating the four entities in the United Nations system dealing with gender issues into a composite entity, headed by an Under-Secretary-General. Several felt that that reform was a fresh start, a catalyst for bringing an important shift to the work of the United Nations in the area of gender equality and women’s empowerment; one urged that the composite gender entity become operational as soon as possible.
In addition, the issue of funding was also considered a top priority, on which many said it was vital to achieve substantive progress during the coming session, particularly in addressing the persistent imbalance between core and non-core funding. Some held that improving the governance structures and funding modalities for development work was essential for the Organization to be an effective partner for developing countries as they worked towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
The representative of the United Republic of Tanzania said that, as a “delivering as one” pilot country, his country could confirm that the reform process of system-wide coherence at the country level had been “transformative” in many development areas at the country level and had conferred national ownership of the development process in partnership with the United Nations. He underscored the need for a speedy execution of the independent evaluation of the pilot country, while stressing that the three issues of gender, governance and funding were very different and, thus, could not move at the same pace. The goal, however, should be to achieve significant results for each.
Japan’s delegate said he had joined consensus in support of reforming the gender architecture, despite “strong dissatisfaction” at the draft’s introduction less than a week before the conclusion of the sixty-third session. Furthermore, there had been no opportunity for open consultation, and he was displeased with that “opaque consultation process”. In order to avoid unnecessary bloating of the new entity, the principle of “scrap-and-build” should be strictly applied when rebuilding a “slim” entity. It was important to conserve United Nations resources by creating an effective United Nations system and investing the saved resources into developing countries. If those resources could not be secure, it would not be possible to achieve the goals of system-wide coherence.
Similarly, the speaker from the Russian Federation regretted that the resolution had been put to a vote before the Assembly had gone through the text and without substantial and open consultations. He also had reservations to certain provisions. In particular, he was not prepared to lend decisive support to creating a composite entity on gender issues before receiving information on institutional arrangements, financing mechanisms and an exhaustive list of answers to the questions that had been raised during discussions held within the framework of the system-wide coherence process. He was concerned that the Assembly made decisions on a text in a way that violated its own rules of procedure. Moreover, there was not really a consensus among Member States on the resolution’s content.
Explanations of position after action were also made by the representatives of Egypt (on behalf of the Joint Coordinating Committee of the Non-Aligned Movement and the “Group of 77” developing countries and China), Sweden (on behalf of the European Union), Iceland (on behalf of the Nordic countries), Australia (on behalf of Canada and New Zealand), United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, Ireland, Republic of Korea, Chile, Rwanda, Switzerland and Barbados.
Also generating a brief debate was the Assembly’s adoption of a resolution that took note of the report of the Secretary-General on “the responsibility to protect”, as well as the “timely and productive” debate on the issue held by the world body in late July, 2009 (document A/L.80/Rev.1). That text, introduced by the representative of Guatemala, also decided the Assembly would continue consideration of the responsibility to protect.
Several speakers took the floor to explain their position after the text’s consensus adoption, including the representatives of Venezuela, Cuba, Syria, Bolivia, Sudan, Iran, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Rwanda. Most held that the text just adopted was procedural in nature and that more time should be devoted to carefully studying the responsibility to protect concept, based on the agreement reached at the 2005 World Summit.
While there was broad agreement that States should “carefully watch over” the well-being of their citizens, concern was expressed that a responsibility to protect mechanism could devolve into interference in the affairs of sovereign and politically independent States and the use of force, thereby undermining the principles of the United Nations Charter.
Among the other reform-minded decisions taken today, delegations adopted a resolution based on recommendations contained in the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Revitalization of the General Assembly (document A/63/959), which called on the Assembly to convene the Working Group during its sixty-fourth session “to identify further ways to enhance the role, authority, effectiveness and efficiency of the Assembly”.
Following that action, the representative of Belarus praised the efforts of all those that had participated in discussions on Assembly revitalization, including members of the Security Council. He hoped the five permanent Council members would recognize their special responsibility in facilitating ‑‑ “or sometimes simply allowing” ‑‑ bold and meaningful strides of the wider membership to increase the Assembly’s role, and would regard the overall revitalization process not as an “unavoidable nuisance” but rather an indispensable way to ensure the viability and good health of the entire Organization.
Mexico’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, said the resolution laid out the various concerns raised by groups during the negotiations. The Rio Group would, therefore, call on all Member States to step up their efforts to bolster the Assembly’s work, including through rationalizing and streamlining its agenda and improving its voting procedures. Also, the Rio Group was convinced that the Assembly should play a more relevant role in selecting the Secretary-General, in line with the Charter.
The Assembly also adopted a decision based on recommendations contained in the report of its Open-Ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the membership of the Security Council and other issues related to the Security Council (document A/63/47). By that decision, the Assembly took note of that report and decided to convene the Working Group during its sixty-forth session.
Following that action, President d’Escoto noted that the intergovernmental negotiations were ongoing and the Assembly further agreed to immediately continue that exercise in an informal plenary meeting during the sixty-forth session, building on the progress achieved so far. He urged delegations to turn the negotiations into a practical outcome during the coming session, “because the issue of better Council could not be left for the future”.
The Assembly also adopted a decision on the scope and application of the principle of universal jurisdiction (document A/63/L.100), which placed a relevant item on the agenda of its sixty-fourth session and recommended that it be considered by the Sixth Committee (Legal) during that session.
That text was introduced by the representative of the United Republic of Tanzania on behalf of the African States, who recalled that universal jurisdiction was a well-established international law principle whose purpose was to ensure that individuals who committed grave offences such as piracy, slavery, torture, genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity did not do so with impunity.
However, he said the extent of its application had never been substantively discussed at the General Assembly, and thus, the African States urged its inclusion on the agenda of the sixty-fourth session for further discussions and agreement on the extent and applicability of the principle in order to create uniformity in its application by domestic courts and further ensure that the doctrine was applied justly by all States without limitations.
Speaking after the decision’s adoption, Rwanda’s representative said the African Group fully subscribed to the principle of universal jurisdiction, as enshrined in international law. However, that noble principle had been left open to abuse and often misguided political interest, as in the case of his own country. That misapplication endangered and undermined the very principles of universal jurisdiction and international law. It was imperative, therefore, that a clear universal mechanism be established to ensure the impartial and appropriate uniform application of universal jurisdiction.
Sweden’s representative, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that that discussion was first and foremost a legal subject, which rightly belonged in the Sixth Committee (Legal), and he looked forward to discussing it there.
Unanimously adopting a draft resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union (document A/63/L.101), the Assembly stressed the need for both organizations to develop close cooperation and concrete programmes aimed at addressing the problems in areas such as illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons. It emphasized the need to bolster existing cooperation in emerging areas of peace and security, and political and humanitarian affairs.
Further by that text, introduced by the representative of Algeria on behalf of the African Group, the Assembly called on the United Nations system to support the African Union and its Member States in their efforts to implement the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. The United Nations system was also encouraged to intensify efforts, in collaboration with the African Union, in combating the exploitation of natural resources, particularly in conflict areas.
In other business, the Assembly, at the request of the representative of Serbia, decided to reopen consideration of its item on “request for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on whether the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo is in accordance with international law”. That representative said the international community was now awaiting the Court’s decision. Therefore, the issue was open and, as such, should be maintained on the draft agenda of the Assembly’s sixty-fourth session.
Also, the Assembly deferred consideration on a number of items to its sixty-fourth session and placed them in that session’s draft agenda, including on “prevention of armed conflict”; “financing of the United Nations Mission in Timor-Leste”; “Zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic”; “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations”; and “Financing the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)”. It also deferred consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of conflict (document A/63/881).
In addition, the Assembly deferred consideration of its item on “the situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan”. Following that action, Armenia’s representative said that, as in previous years, his delegation would again dissociate itself from the consensus on that decision.
It also concluded its consideration of a number of items, including on “Observer status for the Agency for International Trade Information and Cooperation in the General Assembly”. Finally, a proposed text on a recent agreement by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Council to convene a world food security summit this coming November, was withdrawn for further consideration.
All delegations taking the floor today expressed appreciation for Mr. d’Escoto’s efforts over the past year and, just before the end of the meeting, the representatives of Iran, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Philippines and Cuba delivered separate statements of appreciation.
The General Assembly will convene the first meeting of its sixty-fourth session at 3 p.m. Tuesday, 15 September.
The President of the European Council, António Costa, will travel to New York to represent the European Union at the 81st United Nations High-Level Week between 20 and 24 September 2026. He will address the UN General Assembly on behalf of the EU on 24 September and co-host the Partners for Multilateralism summit.
Today, more than ever, we must stand together to uphold a rules-based international order and rebuild trust in global governance. No country, however powerful, can meet today’s challenges alone. Cooperation is not an act of idealism - it is a necessity and a matter of survival.
The EU will remain a predictable and reliable partner for the United Nations and we are committed to its modernisation.
António Costa, President of the European Council
General Assembly
President Costa will address the UN General Assembly on behalf of the EU on 24 September. He will reaffirm EU’s support to an effective, inclusive and rules-based multilateral system, firmly rooted in the UN Charter and international law.
The summit, co-hosted by President Costa together with the President of Kenya, William Ruto, and the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, will aim to defend and strengthen the multilateral system, promote peace and inclusive prosperity by fostering a debate at the highest political level.
In addition to his remarks at the General Assembly on behalf of the EU, President Costa will take part in the event The Road Ahead: One Year after the New York Declaration and the Comprehensive 20-point Peace Plan for Gaza on 22 September. The president will also participate in the Sixth Summit of the International Crimea Platform and in the High-Level Side event on OceanEye International Alliance on 23 September.
President Costa will also participate in the traditional EU-UN principals meeting and the EU-UN-African Union trilateral and will take part in a series of side events and bilateral meetings. For the full list of events in which the President will participate, see announcements and updates:
21 September 2026 19:45 ET / 01:45 CEST (Brussels, 22 September) Press conference following the P4M summit (UN stake out area, livestream)
24 September 2026 TTBC President’s address to the General Assembly (livestream)
Background
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly opened on 8 September 2026. The first day of the high-level general debate will be Tuesday 22 September, under the main theme ‘Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all’.
Following the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution in May 2011, the EU has been given one of the first opportunities to speak among other major groups and can be represented by the EU’s external representatives.
The President of the European Council addresses each year the General Assembly on behalf of the EU.
As the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) progresses, activities at the UN headquarters are intensifying in anticipation of the upcoming High-Level meetings segment. Scheduled to commence on September 22nd - 26, 2026, these meetings will bring together heads of state and government, ministers, and high-ranking officials from around the globe to discuss pressing international issues. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, is expected to lead a high-level delegation to participate in the UNGA81.
Preparations have ramped up, with delegations arriving and engaging in pre-meeting consultations. The focus is on fostering collaboration to tackle critical global challenges, such as climate change, sustainable development, peace and security and global health issues.
The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres in a recent keynote address, emphasized the importance of collective action and multilateral cooperation in addressing the challenges facing humanity today. “The world is at a crossroads, and it is imperative that we come together to forge solutions that benefit all”. Stated the UNSG.
After the official opening of the UNGA on September 8, the United Nations (UN) Women Executive Board convened for its first meeting under the auspices of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly from September 9-10, 2026. The session focused on advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women globally, addressing pressing challenges and strategies for sustainable development. The Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations is actively represented in all the meetings at the UN.
The UN Women Executive Board members reviewed the progress made since the last session, examining the implementation of UN Women’s strategic plan and assessing the impact of ongoing programs aimed at promoting gender equality. Discussions centered on enhancing collaboration among member states, civil society, and the private sector to address barriers to gender equality, particularly in regions facing conflict and economic instability. The board emphasized the need for increased funding for women’s rights initiatives and programs that support gender-responsive policies, outlining priorities for the upcoming year, including initiatives focused on women's leadership, economic empowerment, education, and health. Special attention was given to the role of technology in advancing gender equality.
The UN Women Executive Board’s first meeting of UNGA 81 concluded with a renewed commitment to championing gender equality and women’s empowerment across the globe. The outcome of this meeting will set the stage for future initiatives and collaborative efforts in the pursuit of a more just and equitable world.
2nd Plenary of the 81st Session of the UNGA: Organization of Work and Adoption of the Agenda
The meeting chaired by the newly sworn in President of the General Assembly (PGA), H.E Khalilur Rahman, on September 11, 2026, focused on the organization of work and the adoption of the UNGA agenda including the highly anticipated General Debate scheduled for September 22 to 26, 2026. This session promises to address critical global issues and enhance international collaboration. The forum will allow heads of state and government to present their perspectives on pressing issues and collectively explore solutions.
A clear organizational framework was established to optimize the Assembly's functioning. This includes the scheduling of thematic discussions and time allocations for member states to share their insights and proposals. Delegates underscored the importance of multilateralism as a cornerstone for addressing global challenges. The Assembly acknowledged that cooperative efforts among nations are essential for achieving sustainable solutions.
Following the adoption of the agenda, the Assembly will prepare for the General Debate, encouraging member states to submit their statements and engage actively in discussions. The agenda adopted by the UN General Assembly typically prioritizes several key areas that address pressing global challenges such as Sustainable Development, Climate Change, Global Health, Peace and Security, Human Rights, Gender Equality, Economic Recovery, and Technological Innovation.
UNGA 81 Pre-Summit Events
Numerous side events and forums are being organized at the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations and other locations in New York City, addressing topics such as gender equality, human rights, and peacebuilding. These events provide a platform for the Representatives of the African States to the UN, AU Organs and Agencies, partner organizations, civil society, private sector, women and youth representatives to voice their perspectives.
Bilateral Meetings: Delegations including the African Union are scheduling bilateral meetings to strengthen diplomatic ties and address specific continental and international concerns. These discussions are crucial for building consensus on key agenda items.
Media Engagement: A series of press briefings and media engagements will be held at the UN headquarters to ensure transparency and keep the public informed about the discussions and outcomes of the High-Level segment.
Your Excellency, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Mr. Numan Kurtulmuş, Mr. Martin Chungong, distinguished Secretary General of the IPU, Amb. Anda Filip, Distinguished Secretary General-elect of the IPU, Honourable Speakers of Parliament, Honourable Deputy Speakers and Heads of Delegation, Ladies and gentlemen, Colleagues, friends,
As this Assembly draws to a close, I am once again struck by the immense potential of parliamentary diplomacy. We have gathered here in Istanbul, a most inspiring place, with 113 Speakers and Deputy Speakers of Parliament and over 700 parliamentarians from 129 countries.
This fact is far from trivial, especially when one takes into account the challenging political realities we faced in the run-up to this 152nd Assembly.
And yet, this Assembly happened. And it has not only happened – it has been a tremendously successful Assembly, with an inclusive emergency item adopted, a new Strategy that will guide our work for the coming years, and the election of the first woman IPU Secretary General. This has been an Assembly for the IPU’s history books!
It is often events like this that lead us to ask: what have we taken for granted? And it is events like this that put into perspective the value and significance of gathering together.
I said in my inaugural speech that we should never take Assemblies for granted. In many ways, our Assemblies embody our peoples’ common will to live in peace and harmony.
Moments like this remind us that we do not promote dialogue and democracy for the sake of it. We do so because they are the means through which differences are resolved peacefully. They are what allow equals to disagree without discord, and societies to balance the interests of the many with those of the few. At the core of IPU Assemblies lies a simple principle: inclusion. And without it, no democracy and no global society can truly stand.
There is no better place than an Assembly to realise that the challenges we face are shared across our borders. This is why the idea of turning our backs on the world and retreating into narrow national interest is a dangerous path. As history has taught us the hard way, that path leads to war, to destruction, and to the endless spiral of violence.
Multilateralism is under threat, and we must resist with conviction. But let me be clear: this is not a new test. Humanity has faced this challenge before, and humanity has prevailed. The League of Nations rose from the ruins of the First World War. The United Nations emerged from the ashes of the bloodiest conflict in human history. Each time the pendulum swung towards destruction, we found the will to come back to the table. And we must find it again. And we will find it again.
We came to Istanbul in record numbers to proclaim that we refuse to accept the immorality of war between nations.
We met in Istanbul against the backdrop of a world screaming for hope, peace and justice for present and future generations.
And parliaments must respond.
We carry the people’s will. We turn commitments into laws, and laws into real change.
In Istanbul, we have adopted a landmark Istanbul Declaration that sets the horizon we are aiming for.
Our Declaration reflects a clear-eyed assessment of the challenges we face and a commitment to act. It reaffirms our belief in multilateralism, in international law, and in long-term, inclusive and accountable governance.
Through this Declaration, we have committed to strengthening democratic representation across generations, addressing the structural drivers of instability, governing emerging technologies responsibly, and advancing parliamentary diplomacy as a force for dialogue and conflict prevention.
Above all, this Declaration is an act of solidarity: intergenerational solidarity. As leaders of today, we commit to shaping for the better the political, social and environmental conditions that future generations will inherit.
This Declaration is not an endpoint. So we must take these choices back to our parliaments, translate them into legislation, oversight and budgets, and ensure that the hope we nurtured here in Istanbul through our speeches and conversations becomes concrete action.
Dear friends and colleagues,
Hope is indeed a powerful, enduring force. And intergenerational solidarity is the choice to breathe that hope into younger generations, to protect their dreams and aspirations, and to remind them that they are not alone.
I urge you to return to your countries carrying this truth: that the challenges humanity faces cannot be faced alone. Share with the children of your countries that there are hundreds of women and men, young and old, from every corner of the world, who gather in places like this not out of habit or obligation, but out of conviction. The conviction that dialogue is stronger than conflict and that cooperation is wiser than competition.
Without doubt, another highlight of this Assembly has been the adoption of an emergency item resolution. As you know, we have not always succeeded in adopting one; nonetheless, this is another example of how parliamentary diplomacy does not wind down in moments of crisis but rises to meet them. At this very moment, when the world, and the Middle East in particular, is drowning in conflict, this Assembly chose not to look away. We chose to speak.
The resolution we adopted is a message to the world that the drums of war ought to be silenced. It is a message to the world that international humanitarian law must be respected in all conflicts without exception; that impunity, wherever it takes root, only feeds the cycles of violence we seek to end; and that parliaments bear a moral responsibility to press for peace. We are the living proof that differences can be voiced, that disagreements can be resolved, and that common ground can be found, through the patient, imperfect, yet indispensable work of talking to one another.
That is the power of this Assembly. That is the promise of Istanbul.
Dear colleagues, dear friends, at the opening of this Assembly I asked three things of you:
1) to choose inclusion,
2) to choose dialogue, 3) and to lead with foresight and a sense of duty to future generations.
Looking back at these past few days, I believe you answered that call. You chose to be here. You chose to speak. You chose to act. And in doing so, you have given meaning to every one of those requests.
Since I opened the General Debate with a proverb about encouragement, allow me to close with a Turkish proverb that captures what we have achieved together: “One hand has nothing; two hands have sound”.
Thank you for your engagement, your support and your commitment to the people you represent and serve. The IPU, now more than ever, remains a place for those who believe in dialogue, respect and solidarity.
The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments.
The IPU is inching ever closer to universal membership, with 183 Member Parliaments out of the 193 countries in the world – from huge nations like China, India and Indonesia, to the tiny States of Cabo Verde, San Marino and Palau. Our Members represent the overwhelming majority of the world’s 8 billion people .
Our Organization, created by a small group of parliamentarians in 1889, has grown into a vibrant global entity committed to promoting democracy, equality, human rights, development and peace. Our Members work together for positive change, both in their own countries and internationally.
All parliaments are welcome to join us if they are lawfully established national bodies operating in States or aspirational States recognized by the United Nations. On rare occasions, Members are suspended due to the unconstitutional dissolution of parliament, or their rights are suspended for the non-payment of assessed contributions. Decisions on admitting, readmitting and suspending Members or their rights are taken by our Governing Council.
We also have 15 Associate Members – mostly formal regional parliamentary organizations established under international law. They include the Arab Parliament, the European Parliament, the Pan-African Parliament, the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (PARLATINO), and other parliamentary organizations.
Co-hosted by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on 4 and 5 September 2026, the Conference was held under the theme Reclaiming human rights, justice and dignity for all in turbulent times.
Over the two days, the young parliamentarians examined how parliaments can protect young people affected by conflict and respond to current challenges including strengthening human rights-based governance of digital technologies, online safety, data privacy, misinformation, climate change, unemployment and political violence.
In their outcome document, the young MPs reaffirmed that human rights are the foundation of safe, dignified and empowered lives. The principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are being tested by new conflicts, emerging technologies, environmental crises and growing economic and political uncertainty. But young people should not be defined by the erosion of rights. The young MPs expressed their determination to turn these setbacks into a source of resolve, solidarity and action, committing themselves to reclaiming human rights and upholding the responsibility of parliaments to promote and protect them.
Focus on jobs and the SDGs
A special session at the Conference considered how parliaments can help implement the SDGs, with particular attention to SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth.
The discussion comes as young people face growing insecurity in the labour market and difficult prospects for finding decent employment.
The lawmakers recognized the Host Parliament’s role in promoting parliamentary engagement with the SDGs at the United Nations. Uzbekistan supported a 2022 General Assembly resolution on enhancing the role of parliaments in accelerating implementation of the SDGs, as well as a resolution this year on accelerating social development.
The resolutions reflect a growing recognition that parliaments should not simply monitor progress on the SDGs, but help turn global commitments into action.
Young MPs remain under-represented
The Conference followed the publication earlier this year of the IPU’s latest biennial report on youth participation in national parliaments.
Published in April 2026, the report found that MPs aged 30 or under accounted for just 2.8% of parliamentarians worldwide, unchanged from 2023. It was the first time since the IPU began tracking youth participation in 2014 that progress had stalled, highlighting a significant democratic deficit in the political representation of young people. The report also found that the proportion of young women MPs aged 30 or under has shrunk, from 1.4% in 2023 to 1.2%, signalling an alarming regression. Recognizing high rates of political violence against women as a key obstacle, women and men MPs received training during the Conference to build their skills to combat this, as part of the Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) Women’s Leadership Initiative, funded by the European Union.
Background
The IPU’s Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians was established in 2014 to strengthen youth participation in parliamentary work, provide a platform for young people’s perspectives, and promote networking, solidarity and capacity-building.
The Conference usually rotates around the world. Previous editions have taken place in Switzerland, (2014), Japan (2015); Zambia (2016), Canada (2017), Azerbaijan (2018), Paraguay (2019), online (2021), Egypt (2022), Viet Nam (2023), Armenia (2024) and Peru (2025).
IPU urges parliaments to act on AI-driven sexual deepfakes
Thu, 25/06/2026 - 09:57
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has published new guidance urging lawmakers to act faster and more decisively against non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including sexualized deepfakes generated by artificial intelligence (AI), a phenomenon that disproportionately targets women and girls.
The guide cites data from UN Women, which reports a surge in sexualized deepfakes, particularly affecting women and girls, with deepfake videos alone increasing by 550% between 2019 and 2023.
With little evidence that technology companies are doing enough to prevent the creation and circulation of such content – and indeed with commercial incentives pulling in the opposite direction – the guide underlines that parliaments are uniquely positioned to shape the responsible use of AI.
Five priorities for parliaments
The IPU sets out five priorities for parliamentary action:
legislate to recognize AI-generated NCII as gender-based violence;
create fast takedown mechanisms and victim-support systems;
use parliamentary oversight to track enforcement and platform compliance;
speak out publicly to build awareness and cross-party support;
cooperate internationally to address a borderless harm.
Growing political concern
According to the IPU guide, NCII is not only a technology problem but also a democratic one, with women parliamentarians, journalists, candidates and human rights defenders among those most at risk.
The IPU warns that the pace at which these technologies is advancing, and the concentration of their development among just a few global actors, together poses “one of the defining policy challenges of the moment for democratic institutions”.
Parliamentary solutions
However, the guide refers to dozens of examples of good practice from parliaments around the world that are addressing the problem, including:
The European Union’s 2022 Digital Services Act, which imposes obligations on online platforms to manage illegal and harmful content. The 2024 EU AI Act lays out the first comprehensive regulatory framework for AI, serving as inspiration for many other jurisdictions.
Following a sharp rise in exploitative content among students in 2024, the Republic of Korea’s Parliament responded rapidly. A special parliamentary committee introduced reforms that expanded criminal liability beyond production and distribution of NCII to include possession and viewing of such images.
After a campaign led by women who had experienced online abuse, the Mexican Parliament passed the “Ley Olimpia” which establishes “digital violence” as a legally recognized category and which criminalizes the non-consensual dissemination of intimate material.
These examples show that decisive parliamentary action is possible, and that the most effective responses combine parliaments’ lawmaking, oversight, representative and budgetary functions, working in coordination.
Human rights are essential to democracy and development. One of the IPU’s key roles is defending and promoting the rights of parliamentarians.
Through its Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, the IPU has a unique mechanism to defend the rights of an increasing number of parliamentarians around the world who face abuse, mistreatment or even death simply for doing their jobs.
We also provide MPs with information, knowledge and training to improve the human rights of the people they represent – especially women, children, minorities and indigenous peoples.
We help parliaments implement the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council and UN human rights treaty bodies. We also ensure that countries, through their parliaments, sign up to human rights conventions and adopt and implement relevant domestic laws.
We also collect data on parliamentary human rights committees and empower and mobilise them to make human rights a priority for parliaments.
Parliaments have a critical role in protecting people's human rights. We take action to strengthen their work protecting the rights of all citizens, as well as those of MPs themselves.
We help parliaments respect children's rights, by using their powers to pass laws; and also to allocate resources for the implementation of child-rights related programmes and policies.
PARLIAMENTS AND THE UNITED NATIONS TREATY BODIES - How can parliamentarians turn international human rights commitments into reality?
Nine committees are entrusted with monitoring how a State implements the core UN human rights treaties it has ratified, on the basis of periodic State reports.
Human rights are not abstract ideals. They are the laws that protect people from harm, the mechanisms that hold power to account, and the freedoms that make democracy meaningful.
When the public turns hostile: Political violence against parliamentarians
When the public turns hostile: Political violence against parliamentarians reveals that members of parliament (MPs) are facing a worrying rise in intimidation and harassment from the publi
Transforming parliaments: World e-Parliament Report 2026 - key findings
Dec022026
02/12/2026
The World e-Parliament Report 2026 draws on data from 118 parliaments and chambers across 89 countries, together with two supranational parliaments, making it the most comprehensive assessment of parliamentary digital transformation available.
The World e-Parliament Conference is the leading global forum on innovation and the use of digital technologies in parliament, bringing together members of parliament, Secretaries General, and senior parliamentary staff from around the world. The 2026 conference is organized by
IPU PARLIAMENTARY MEETING ON THE OCCASION OF COP31
Nov162026
16/11/2026
Antalya, Türkiye This longstanding initiative will bring together parliamentarians from around the world to turn climate commitments into concrete implementation.
Many women around the world still lack basic human rights and face discrimination and gender-based violence. The world’s parliaments are no exception. Most parliaments remain male-dominated, and women MPs are often under-represented on decision-making bodies.
The IPU has been tracking and empowering women parliamentarians for decades, convinced of the link between strong democracies and gender equality.
To achieve these objectives, the IPU has a wealth of data and tools:
We are the authority on the percentage of women in national parliaments through our monthly rankingof women in parliament, including comparative analyses between countries and annual studies that look at historical trends over decades.
Every year in March we publish an analysis of women in parliament looking at progress and setbacks following the previous year's parliamentary elections.
The IPU partners with International IDEA and Stockholm University in running a global database on gender electoral quotas, which provides country-specific data on existing mechanisms to ensure women’s participation in parliaments.
Practising what we preach, we have adopted groundbreaking practices ourselves to ensure gender equality in our assemblies, committees and staff.
Gender-sensitive parliaments are institutions that are founded on gender equality, where women and men have an equal right to participate without discrimination or recrimination.
Women account for half the world’s population, yet many face discrimination in work, health care and education, or suffer physical and sexual violence.
Addressing violence against women in politics: Institutional responses and good practices by parliaments
This publication, Addressing violence against women in politics: Institutional responses and good practices by parliaments, offers practical evidence and guidance on how parliaments addres
IPU webinar for parliaments of States recently reviewed or scheduled for review by the CEDAW Committee in 2026 and subsequent sessions.
Sep022026
02/09/2026
Following up on the series of webinars held since 2022, and the 2023 edition of the handbook for parliamentarians on CEDAW, this webinar aims to provide targeted support and practical guidance to strengthen parliamentary engagement within the CEDAW review process.
Parline is the global reference source for data on national parliaments. The Parline database contains around 600 fields on the structure, composition and functioning of parliament, as well as the results of parliamentary elections. Data in Parline is gathered from national parliaments through a network of Parline Correspondents.
Parline is:
Global: Every national parliament, big or small
Authoritative: Data comes direct from the source – parliaments themselves
Comparative: Creating possibilities for new perspectives
Open: Offering tools that allow users to access, obtain and reuse data freely
Parline is the official source of data for UN SDG indicators 5.5.1(a) on women in national parliaments and 16.7.1(a) on leadership positions held by women and youth.
1. The 46th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), hereafter called “Summit” was held on 17th August 2026, in Durban, Republic of South Africa and chaired by His Excellency Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa.
2. Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government, or their representatives:
- Botswana: President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko.
- Eswatini: His Majesty King Mswati III. - Lesotho: The Right Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane.
- Madagascar: H.E. Colonel Michael Randrianirina - Mauritius: Honourable Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP. - Mozambique: H.E. President Mr. Daniel Francisco Chapo. - Namibia: Her Excellency President Dr. Netumbo NandiNdaitwah. - Seychelles: H.E. President Dr. Mathew Antonio Patrick Herminie. - South Africa: H.E. President Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa.
- Zimbabwe: H.E. President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. - Malawi: The Right Honourable Mr. Enoch Kanzingeni Chihana, Second Vice President. - Democratic Republic of Congo: H.E. Mr. Guy Muadiamvita Kabombo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs. - Angola: H.E. Ambassador Téte António, Minister of External Relations. - United Republic of Tanzania: Honourable Dr. Rhimo Nyansaho, Minister of Defence and National Service. - Zambia: H.E. Ms. Pamela Chisanga, High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia to the Republic of Botswana and Representative to SADC.
3. Summit was also attended by Ministers from the SADC Member States, and the Executive Secretary of SADC.
4. Summit elected His Excellency Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, the Chairperson of SADC, and the President of the Republic of Zambia, the Incoming Chairperson.
5. Summit also elected His Majesty King Mswati III, of the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
6. Summit acknowledged the commitment expressed by His Excellency Dr. Mathew Antonio Patrick Herminie, President of the Republic of Seychelles, in his maiden address to the Summit, and welcomed his Government’s commitment to advancing the ideals upon which SADC was founded; solidarity, regional integration and a shared prosperity for the people of the SADC region.
7. Summit received the report of the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi, and commended him for his leadership, commitment, and valuable contributions to promoting peace, security, stability, and democratic governance in the SADC region throughout his tenure.
8. Summit reiterated its solidarity with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and reaffirmed SADC's support for coordinated regional and international efforts to restore peace and security, protect civilians, strengthen humanitarian and public health responses, promote inclusive dialogue, and enhance resilience to ongoing challenges.
9. Summit welcomed constructive engagement in the Republic of Madagascar through the efforts of the SADC Panel of Elders, supported by the SADC Mediation Reference Group and the SADC Secretariat and reaffirmed SADC's commitment to supporting Madagascar's reform process and development agenda, including the promotion of inclusive governance, democratic institutions, accountability, human rights, and citizen participation and return to constitutional normalcy.
10. Summit urged the stakeholders in Madagascar to maintain the relative calm that prevails in the country and choose the path of dialogue to address their grievances.
11. Summit commended the Government of the Republic of Mozambique for the ongoing inclusive national dialogue process and its continued efforts to combat terrorism and maintain peace and security in some districts of Cabo Delgado Province.
12. Summit commended His Excellency Mr Daniel Francisco Chapo, President of the Republic of Mozambique, for inaugurating the SADC Regional Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC) in June 2026 in Maputo with the mandate to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
13. Summit congratulated the Republic of Zimbabwe on its election as a NonPermanent Member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for 2027-2028 term and expressed confidence in Zimbabwe’s ability to advance multilateral cooperation, promote international peace and security, and effectively represent the interests of the SADC region, Africa, and the Global South within the UNSC.
14. Summit reiterated its long-standing call for the removal of sanctions imposed on the Republic of Zimbabwe, highlighting that the sanctions continue to limit the Republic of Zimbabwe from attaining its full economic potential.
15. Summit noted the evolving global geopolitical and economic landscape and urged Member States to leverage emerging opportunities to deepen regional integration, strengthen trade and investment, mobilise domestic resources, and strengthen collective resilience to advance sustainable development and the regional agenda.
16. Summit received an update from the Republic of South Africa on migration governance and called for the coordinated and multidimensional dialogue at both regional level to address the underlying drivers of migration and develop comprehensive, sustainable, and effective responses. Protocol
17. Summit urged Member States to strengthen disease surveillance and preparedness to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks and pandemics, including through timely information sharing and coordinated regional action and called for continued support to the Democratic Republic of Congo in responding to the Ebola (Bundibugyo Virus Disease) Outbreak.
18. Summit commended the Republics of Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe as well as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and other partners for providing financial and technical assistance in support of the response to the Ebola Outbreak.
19. Summit noted regional efforts to control and prevent the Foot and Mouth (FMD) outbreak and designated Botswana Vaccine Institute to be a regional FMD Antigen/Vaccine Bank to strengthen regional efforts for prevention and control of FMD outbreaks.
20. Summit commended Member States that have ratified the Agreement on the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund and urged those that have not yet ratified the Agreement to facilitate its entry into force to expedite the process in order to enhance resource mobilisation and accelerate the implementation of regional infrastructure, industrialisation, and socio-economic development programmes and projects.
21. Summit commended Member States that have made significant progress in promoting women to leadership and decision-making positions and urged those that have not yet attained the targets set out in the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, as well as other relevant continental and global instruments, to accelerate the advancement of women in leadership and decision-making positions, while also implementing targeted legislative frameworks and policies to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) and protect human rights.
22. Summit urged Member States to mainstream youth programmes across all sectors in national and regional development plans and to dedicate adequate resources to youth-centred initiatives that promote meaningful participation, skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation, employment creation, and leadership opportunities, thereby enhancing socio-economic transformation, resilience, and sustainable development of the SADC region.
23. Summit urged Member States to increase regional trade in agricultural products by removing non-tariff barriers, harmonising standards, and improving crossborder logistics to ensure efficient movement of food commodities from surplus to deficit areas, thereby stabilising supply and prices across the region.
24. Summit urged Member States to enhance preparedness in view of the anticipated El Niño-induced climate shocks by implementing early warning systems, drought preparedness measures, and promoting climate-smart agriculture, including irrigation development and adoption of drought-tolerant crop varieties.
25. Summit noted the progress made in implementing the theme of the 45th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government titled, “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC,” and commended His Excellency President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa for his exemplary leadership and strategic guidance in advancing the key priorities of the theme during his tenure as Interim Chairperson of SADC.
26. Summit commended the Republic of South Africa for convening a Retreat of the SADC Ministers of Foreign Affairs on geo-political developments during the interim chairship which produced an Implementation Plan and Roadmap.
27. Summit received the report of the Mid-term Review of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030 containing firm recommendations to identify few high-impact priorities including industrialisation, resource mobilisation framework, regional value chains, agro-processing, critical minerals and just energy transition, economic corridors, one-stop border posts, health financing
28. Summit commended His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Outgoing Chairperson of SADC for his unwavering support and commitment towards advancing regional integration and economic development in the SADC region during the interim period as a member of the SADC Troika.
29. Summit endorsed the theme of the 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government titled, “Resilient, Sustainable, and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World,” highlighting infrastructure, agriculture, and critical minerals as key drivers of industrialisation for a competitive, climate-resilient, inclusive, and prosperous SADC region.
30. Summit approved the Agreement Establishing the SADC Tourism UNIVISA and called for its signature by Member States, recognising its importance in facilitating seamless travel across the region, enhancing tourism growth, promoting regional integration, and boosting economic development through increased visitor arrivals and investment.
31. Summit urged Member States to accede to SADC legal instruments, already in force and to expedite the signature and ratification of adopted SADC instruments that are yet to enter into force in order to accelerate regional integration and enhance cooperation amongst the Member States to, amongst others, support infrastructure development, and advance harmonised economic growth.
32. Summit approved the appointment of His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, former President of the Republic of Botswana, and His Excellency Dr. Joaquim Alberto Chissano, former President of the Republic of Mozambique as members of the SADC Panel of Elders to support Mediation, Conflict Prevention and Preventative Diplomacy efforts in the SADC region.
33. Summit welcomed the invitation from the Republic of Angola to the SADC Heads of State and Government to participate in the Extraordinary Summit of the African Union on Strengthening Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa, to be hosted by the Republic of Angola in Luanda from 29 to 30 August 2026.
34. Summit commended the Government of the Republic of South Africa for the successful organisation and hosting of the 9 th Annual SADC Industrialisation Week and Exhibition, held in Durban, South Africa, from 26 to 31 July 2026, and welcomed its Declaration, urging Member States to strengthen regional industrial value chains to increase production, value addition, intra-SADC trade and industrial competitiveness.
35. Summit commended His Excellency Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa for his inspiring SADC Public Lecture delivered at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on 14 August 2026 under the theme titled, “Translating SADC Vision 2050 into Action: Pathways Towards Solidarity, Equality and Shared Prosperity,” and welcomed his call for the SADC region to advance regional integration, industrialisation, infrastructure development, peace, security and inclusive development for the peoples of the SADC region to achieve the aspirations of the SADC Vision 2050
36. Summit expressed its appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of South Africa for the successful hosting of the 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government and congratulated the country on the launch of a documentary showcasing the progress of regional integration and South Africa’s role in advancing the objectives of SADC since joining the Community in 1994.
37. The Chairperson of SADC, His Excellency Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, expressed gratitude to all Heads of State and Government for attending the 46th Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, and for the honour of electing him to lead the SADC region.
38. Summit noted that the 47th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held in the Republic of Zambia.
Done on 17th August 2026 Durban, Republic of South Africa.
Opening Ceremony Conference of Speakers on National and Regional Parliaments 31 July to 1 August 2026
Theme: "The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in Strengthening Relation with National and Regional Parliaments and Contributing to the Achievement of the Objectives of Agenda 2063"
Your Ecellencies,
Hounarable Speakers of Parliaments
Distinguised Colleagues
Ladies and Gentlement
It is a great honour and pleasure to join you today at this important Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments. Allow me to express my sincere appreciation to H.E. Dr. Fateh Boutbig, President of the Pan African Parliament and the Honourable Ms Thokozile Didiza, Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa for invitation, warm hospitality and for bringing together the leaders of national and regional parliaments from across Africa. I am delighted to join such a distinghuised gathering of parliamentary colleagues whose welcome means an essential contribution to peace, democracy, regional cooperation and sustainable development throughout the continent.
Ladies and gentlemen, I address you first and foremost as a Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan. I also have honour of serving as a chair of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network which today brings together parliaments from more than 70 countries, many of them from Africa. These responsibilities have strengthen my conviction that parliamentary solidarity is not an abstract principle. It is a practical necessity.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we live in a period of profound international change, conflicts continue to affect millions of people. economic inequality remains deep, climate change places an increasing burden on developning countries while trust in international institutions is under growing pressure. In such circumstances, parliaments cannot remain on the margins of global decision making. They give a voice to citizens, bring national realities into international debate, and transform political commotments into laws, budgets and practicle action. This is precisely why the work of the Pan African Parliament is so important. It gives parliamentary expression to Africa's vision of unity, development, and greater influence in world affairs.
It also advances the aspirations embodied in Agenda 2063, a peaceful, prosperous and integrated Africa driven by its own people and playing its rightful role in the international community. Azerbaijan deeply respects this vision, our country attraches great importance to its relation with African states and believes in cooperation based on equally mutual respect and shared benefit. We also believe that Africa should be represented nor only through its numbers but through its ideas, its priorities and its leadership. Africa is no longer simply a subject of global discussion. It is increasingly helping to shape that discussion and this growing role should be fully reflected in international institutions including the world's parliamentary institutions.
Dear colleagues, in this regard, the Inter-Parliamentary UnioN (IPU) has a unique responsibility. At the oldest and most inclusive global organization of national parliaments, it provides a platform where different political systems, regions, and traditions can meet on equal terms. Yet, representation must mean more than participation in meetings. A region may be fully represented statistically while still remaining insuffiently represented strategically. True inclusiveness means giving every region a meaningful opportunity not only to participate but also to share priorities, contribute ideas and exercise leadership. For that reason I believe the partnership between the IPU and the Regional Parliamentary Organizations such as the Pan African Parliament should become even stronger. These institutions should not work in parallel, they should reinforce one another.
The IPO benefits from the regional experience and political understanding of organizations such as Pan African Parliament while the PAP can use the global platform of the IPU to advance Africa's priorities and strengthen its voice in international parliamentary diplomacy. This is the kind of parliamentary multilateralism we need today, more representatives, more connected and more responsive to the realities of every region.
Distinguished colleagues, these reflections occure particular significance this year. In October during the 153rd Assembly of the Inter Parliamentary Union in Tanzania, the governing council will elect the next president of our organization. This will be an important decision not only for the coming three years but aslo for the future direction of the IPU, it is therefore both a great honor and a profound responsibility for me to have been nominated by the Eurasia Geopolitical Group as its candidate for the presidency of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) for the 2026-2029 term. The Eurasia, Geopolitical Group has made a consistent contribution to the work of the IPU but since the establishment of the current system of geopolitical groups within the IPU, no candidate by this group has ever been elected president of our organization.
In June this year , the secretariate of the IPU sent a note on the election of the president of the IPU and this situation is clearly expressed there. I do not mention this aas a matter of entitlement. I mention it because I believe that inclusiveness should be reflected not only in our declarations but also in the way our organization in lead. The election of a president niminated by a Geopolitica Group that has never before held this office would send a powerful institutional message that leadership within the IPU is genuinely open to every region and every geopolitical group.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the same time I wish to be absolutely clear, my nomination has a geopolitical origin, my responsibility if elected would have no geographical limits. Every candidature begins within one geopolitical group, a presidency however belongs equally to all geopilitical groups. The presidency of the Inter Parliamentary Union doen not represent one region or one geopolitical group, the presidency represents the institution and serves the entire parliamentary community with impartiality, independance and respect. If interested with this responsibility, I would work to strenhthen parliamnetary multilateralism, promote greater inclusiveness, support economic solidarity and the right to development, advance fair and accessible climate finance, and deepen cooperation between the IPU and regional parliamentary organizations, including the Pan African Parliament as an essencial partner in shaping the future of global parliaamentary cooperation.
Honourable Speakers, the purpose of a solidarity message is not simply to express support, it is to affirm that our challenges are shared, our responsibilities are connected, and our progress depends on cooperation. That is the spirit in which I address you today.
Dear friends, I stand in solidarity with the Pan African Parliament with the parliaments represented in this hall and with Africa's aspiration for a stronger voice and a greater role in international affairs and I respectively place before you my vision of an Inter Parliamentary Union in which every feels represented, every region has an equal opportunity to contribute and leadership is understood not as a privilege but a service to the entire parliamentary community.
Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments 31 July to 1 August 2026
Theme: The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in Strengthening Relations with National and Regional Parliaments and Contributing to the Achievements of the Objectives of Agenda 2063
Your Excellency Dr Fateh Boutbig, President of the Pan African Parliament
Honourable Thokozile Didiza, Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa
Honourable Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republick of Azerbaijan
Your Excellencies
Honourable Speakers
Presiding Officers of National and Regional Parliaments
Honourable Members of the Pan African Parliament
Excellencies
Ambassadors and Heads of Diplomatic Missions
Representatives of African Union Organs and Institutions
Distinguised Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Morning
It is my singular honour as a Clerk of the Pan African Parliament and privilege to on behalf of the Pan African Parliament to welcome to the Pan African Parliament in Midrand, the Republic of South Africa for the 25th Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments.
It's my pleasure to welcome you to the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments gathered under the theme, "The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in Strengthening Relations with National and Regional Parliaments and Contributing to the Achievement of the Objectives of Agenda 2063.
Your Excellencies, this conference provides an important platform for parliamentary leaders from across our continent to strengthen cooperation, exchange experiences and chart a common path towards achieving Africa's development aspirations through enhanced parliamentary engagement and diplomacy.
We are privileged to be joined by distinguised leaders from national, regional and continental institutions whose presence underscores the importance of this conference and our shared commitment to advancing African unity, good governance, peace and democracy and sustainable development.
We shall now proceed with the opening ceremony in accordance with the adopted program.
First, we will receive the opening remarksby H.E. the President of the Pan African Parliament, H.E. Dr Fatch Boutbig.
Next we shall receive the welcome remarks by the Representative of the host country Honourable Thokozile Didiza. Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa.
Next we shall receive a solidarity message by the Speaker of Milli Majlis of the Republick of Azerbaijan, Honourable Sahiba Gafarova.
And finally, we shall have the installation of the Bureau of this conference which will install five honourable speakers representing the five African regions and this installation ceremony will be led by the President of the Pan African Parliament H.H Dr Fatch Boutbig.
It is now my honour to invite his excellency the president of the Pan African Parliament Dr. Fatch Bourbig to deliver his opening remarks.
General Assembly President Says Dialogue through United Nations, Revitalized Assembly, ‘Is the Way to a Better Future’, as Sixty-Fourth Session Opens
15 September 2009 General AssemblyGA/10857 Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York
Sixty-fourth General Assembly
Plenary
1st Meeting (PM)
General Assembly President Says Dialogue through United Nations, Revitalized Assembly, ‘Is the Way to a Better Future’, as Sixty-Fourth Session Opens
Says Session Will Focus on Realizing Peace and Security,
Dialogue of Civilizations, Responsibility for Development
Opening the General Assembly’s sixty-fourth session today, incoming President Ali Abdussalam Treki of Libya underscored that the United Nations and, in particular, the Assembly, “is the way to a better future”, and called on people of all colours, religions and origin to engage in dialogue through the Organization and its most representative body.
Because of advances in information and communication technology, what affected some, affected others, he explained, and while dialogue was the only solution, one should not make light of existing problems. “Dialogue and mutual understanding are the way to resolve our problems,” he said, stressing that embargoes and blockades were fruitless, as they undermined respect for international will.
Continuing, he said everyone believed the United Nations was in need of reform and democratization, and that the Assembly had been hampered by obstacles that prevented it from enforcing its resolutions. The 192-member body must be reformed to regain its international legitimacy, he declared.
He said reform of the Security Council, the expansion of its membership and the realization of equitable geographic representation were also of utmost importance. Africa was comprised of 53 States, none of which was a permanent member. The same was true of Latin America and countries represented by the Forum of Small States, which accounted for over half of the world’s inhabitants. It was vital to reform the Council and revitalize the Assembly so they could comprehensively fulfil their roles.
Turning to other crucial issues, he said the gap between rich and poor had been steadily growing, most often at the expense of the poor and by exploiting resources with which they were endowed. Terrorism had been condemned by all, yet it continued to grow and spread. The international community had to address its roots, whether carried out by individuals, groups or States, which was the harshest form of terrorism.
He said the Middle East situation, unresolved for more than 60 years, was another threat to the global community despite numerous Assembly and Council resolutions. Through the Assembly, the United Nations needed to assume a new, serious role and the many resolutions needed to be respected and implemented. Realizing Palestinians’ aspirations towards independence and the right to return to their land were fundamental conditions for achieving peace and security in that part of the world. Ending settlement activities and removing illegal settlements would also help, he added.
“We are faced with many momentous issues whose resolutions require dialogue, cooperation and community spirit,” he asserted. As such, the theme of the sixty-fourth session encompassed joint responsibility for development, the realization of peace and security, and the dialogue of civilizations. In addition, the summit on climate change, convened by the Secretary-General and set to be held next Tuesday, would be a chance for the Assembly to prepare recommendations ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark in December.
During the upcoming session, he said the Assembly would address the development goals for the third millennium as it prepared for a high-level meeting in September 2010. He looked forward to the Assembly’s joint consultations within the framework of resolution 63/302.
Regarding the global economic crisis, he noted that the Assembly’s relevant resolution had established a working group to follow up on that issue and promote any recommendations that could be undertaken jointly to alleviate the crisis. He called on all States to consider the issue and search for solutions.
The goal of disarmament and non-proliferation was shared by all, particularly with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He urged the Assembly to work not only towards non-proliferation and elimination of nuclear weapons, but also the elimination of other weapons of mass destruction.
In closing, Mr. Treki said he would work to ensure the Assembly gave sustained, serious and responsible efforts to reach consensus on ‑‑ and resolve ‑‑ issues brought before the body. He also commended United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon for his support, saying that he and the United Nations chief would be working closely together to achieve their goals of development, stability and security.
In other business today, the Assembly also appointed nine members of the Credentials Committee: Brazil; China; Jamaica; Philippines; Russian Federation; Spain; United Republic of Tanzania; United States; and Zambia.
The Assembly authorized (document A/64/348) the following United Nations programmes and bodies would meet during the sixty-fourth session on the strict understanding meetings be accommodated within available facilities and services: Committee on Relations with the Host Country; the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; Disarmament Commission; Executive Board of the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW); Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); United Nations Dispute Tribunal; and the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Finally, delegations took note of a letter from the Secretary-General to the Assembly President (document A/64/345), informing the Assembly that six Member States were in arrears in payment of their financial contributions to the United Nations, under Article 19 of the United Nations Charter.
[According to Article 19 of the Charter, a Member State in arrears in the payment of its financial contributions to the Organization will have no vote in the Assembly, if the amount of those arrears exceeds the amount of the contributions due from the preceding two years.]
The General Assembly will reconvene at a date and time to be announced.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week, Secretary-General António Guterres today (16 Sep) made a call to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewables for economic and security reasons, “because the wind will always blow and the sun will always shine, there are no limitations. There are no Straits of Hormuz or problems in the Black Sea that will impact on the origins of renewable energy.”
Noting that this will be his last General Assembly as Secretary-General, Guterres said the world had entered “an era of deep uncertainty” and urged governments to embrace international cooperation to address global threats.
He said, “the world is changing. And our institutions must change with it. But updating our structures can never mean abandoning our principles. It must mean applying those principles with even greater determination.”
On the Middle East crises, the Secretary-General said, “de-escalation must be priority one, priority two and priority three. All parties must cease any actions that harm civilians and ensure that humanitarian operations can proceed safely and without obstruction.”
He stressed that “navigational rights and freedoms in and around the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab must be fully restored and respected by all, in accordance with international law,” adding that “the only path forward is de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue.”
Guterres said, “the peace plan for Gaza must be fully implemented with unrestricted humanitarian aid, and the creeping annexation of the West Bank must stop.”
“Well into the fifth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” he said, “it is time for an immediate ceasefire as a first step towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.”
The Secretary-General dedicated nearly half his remarks to what should be done about the rapid advancement of AI technology.
He recognised AI’s “enormous potential” on issues surrounding health, education and climate, but added that the world “cannot afford to ignore concerns” that AI development is progressing faster than human understanding of its risks.
Taking questions from journalists, Guterres regretted that China’s President XI Jinping will not attend the GA High-level week but noted that he had met with Xi “twice last month, “and added that “he has been a staunch defender of a world order based on multilateralism, with the UN at its centre.”
Asked about the escalator failure last year during United States President Donald Trump’s arrival, he said, “we had an enquiry made last year. That inquiry, I will not I am not going to enter into details but left me relieved, and I can tell you that we took additional measures in order to make sure that whoever goes around does not interact, negatively with the escalator.”
The Secretary-General repeated his condemnation of the attacks by the Houthis on civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and to the obstacles to navigation in the Bab el Mandeb. He asked, “both sides to be able to establish a dialogue in order to end this dramatic aggravation of the conflict in the Middle East.”
Turning to the West Bank, Guterres said, “it's time to stop this creeping annexation. It’s time to stop any actions that might lead to this ethnic cleansing that you referred. And it's time to create the conditions for the two-state solution to be, again, put seriously on the table.”
He said, “there will be no peace in the Middle East without solution of the Palestinian-Israeli crisis,” and also added that “there will be no peace in the Horn of Africa if the Sudan crisis is not solved.”
On the situation of women in Afghanistan, the Secretary-General said, “it is absolutely intolerable that women, first of all, are not allowed even to work in our premises. It is absolutely intolerable that, the access of girls to education is limited, and it's absolutely intolerable that women are not allowed to work except in very specific circumstances. This is, one of the biggest concerns, and we have been very active, mobilising as much as we can the international community and putting pressure on the Taliban and making them understand that what they are doing is in undermining the capacity of the country to move ahead, is undermining humanitarian aid and is putting severe limitations to the development of the country.”
The IPU on air Podcast Series features conversations with MPs and parliamentary experts from around the world on issues that impact citizens and democracies.
Click on the episodes below to find out what parliamentarians think on a plethora of global issues.
When AI makes decisions that affect your life, who is accountable ?
AI has permeated across society and the economy. It can now help decide who gets a loan, who is shortlisted for a job, and who is eligible for a public service. But when those decisions go wrong, can people understand them, challenge them and put them right? That is a democratic governance question, and it is one for parliaments.
In IPU on air #17, the IPU speaks with Lord Nagaraju of Bloomsbury, a member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom and founder of the think tank AI Policy Labs and Dr Andrei Baciu, a Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania with a specialisation in AI policy. They were speaking on the sidelines of AI governance events in Geneva in July 2026. The discussion was moderated by Alex Read, IPU expert on AI.
Interview with outgoing Secretary General Martin Chungong
IPU on air #16 features an interview with Secretary General Martin Chungong as he concludes his 12-year tenure. In 2014, Martin Chungong made history as the first African and first non-European to be elected Secretary General of the IPU, and he was subsequently re-elected twice. In this special edition, Thomas Fitzsimons, IPU Director of Communications, interviews Martin Chungong on 24 February 2026, using photographs as prompts for the conversation.
Championing sexual and reproductive health and rights
In IPU on air #15, Ms. Petra Bayr, a Member of Parliament from Austria, and Ms. Catherine Mumma, Kenyan Senator and Member of the IPU Committee on Health member, discuss strategies for parliamentarians to shape legislation, allocate budgets and mobilize support for sexual and reproductive rights amid challenges to these rights in some countries. Moderated by Miriam Sangiorgio, IPU health expert.
The IPU gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) in the production of this podcast.
Championing democracy: A Dialogue with MPs M E Blanc (France) and Ms. L. Fehlmann Rielle (Switzerland) on protecting parliamentarians
In IPU on air #14, on the eve of the 151st Assembly and 216th session of the Governing Council held in Geneva from October 19-24, 2025, representatives from the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, President Blanc and Madam Fehlmann Rielle spoke to Rogier Huizenga, Head of the IPU Human Rights Programme. The discussion explores the importance of protecting MPs for the sake of safeguarding the institution of parliament and democracy, and how the CHRP continue to support parliamentarians worldwide.
From parliament to people: Pathways to fund health and the SDGs
In IPU on air #13, on the eve of the 151st Assembly held in Geneva from October 19-24, 2025, Paddy Torsney, IPU Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York, discusses the current global financing landscape for health, how it is impacting countries, and health taxes as an emerging policy option with Kalipso Chalkidou, Director of Performance, Financing and Delivery at WHO, and Jacqueline Sabao, Zambian Member of Parliament and vice-Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee.
Holding the Gavel: Behind the role of the speaker with Australia’s Milton Dick
In IPU on air #12, on the eve of the 151st Assembly held in Geneva from October 19-24, 2025, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick spoke to IPU’s Kate Brooks on how he approaches the role of Speaker in Australia. The conversation explores the surprises he encountered on taking up the gavel, why the Speakership matters to democracy, what he gains from interacting with the IPU and how he hopes to encourage youth’s excitement about politics.
Holding the Gavel: Behind the role of the speaker with Sweden’s Andreas Norlen
In IPU on air #11, on the eve of the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Geneva from July 29-31, Speaker of the Parliament of Sweden, Andreas Norlen spoke to IPU’s Kate Brooks on the significant role of the speaker. The conversation explores the multifaceted responsibilities of a Speaker, the challenges they face, and the opportunities they seize to enhance legislative processes.
Holding the Gavel: Behind the role of the speaker with Namibia’s Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
In IPU on air #10, on the eve of the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Geneva from July 29-31, Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila spoke to IPU’s Kate Brooks on the significant role of the speaker. The conversation explores the multifaceted responsibilities of a Speaker, the challenges they face, and the opportunities they seize to enhance legislative processes.
Holding the Gavel: Behind the role of the speaker with Malta’s Dr Angelo Farrugia
In IPU on air #9, on the eve of the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Geneva from July 29-31, Speaker of the Parliament of Malta, Dr Angelo Farrugia spoke to IPU’s Kate Brooks on the significant role of the speaker. The conversation explores the multifaceted responsibilities of a Speaker, the challenges they face, and the opportunities they seize to enhance legislative processes
The Power of Interfaith Dialogue
In IPU on air #8, British MP, Dame Karen Bradley, and UAE parliamentarian, Dr. Ali Al-Nuaimi are hosted by IPU’s Interfaith Dialogue expert, Sarah Markiewicz to discuss the importance of religion and belief in promoting global peace and understanding, and the role MPs and the Inter-Parliamentary Union can play.
Confronting discrimination for health equity
In IPU on air #7 Irish Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee, Chair of IPU’s Committee on Health, hosts Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara of the National Assembly of Malawi, and Claire Somerville, Executive Director of the Graduate Institute’s International and Development Studies Gender Centre to explore legislative frameworks affecting access to health services for women, girls and marginalized populations, and strategies to address harmful social norms.
The IPU gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the National People’s Congress of China in the production of this podcast.
Climate change and health: Bridging policy for a resilient future
In IPU on air #6, Irish Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee, Chair of the IPU Committee on Health, discusses the multi-faceted health impacts of climate change and the need for integrated responses with Mr Soltan Mammadov, Azerbaijan Member of Parliament and rapporteur of COP29’s Parliamentary Meeting and Dr Maria Neira, Director of the Department of Public Health and Environment, WHO.
The IPU gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the National People’s Congress of China in the production of this podcast.
Good practice in climate legislation
In IPU on air #5, Ms. Amanda Ellis, Senior Director at Arizona State University’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, discusses good practice in climate legislation with Dr. Michal Nachmany, founder of Climate Policy Radar and developer of the London School of Economics’ Grantham Research Institute Climate Change Laws of the World database, of which the IPU is a partner.
The IPU gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the National People’s Congress of China in the production of this podcast.
Orphanage trafficking: The hidden crisis aided by good intentions
In IPU on air #4, Communications Director, Thomas Fitzsimons discusses the role of parliaments in addressing orphanage trafficking with Australian Senator Linda Reynolds and Dr. Kate van Doore, International child rights lawyer.
Health: A moving target for migrants and refugees?
In IPU on air #3, our host, Irish Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee, Chair of the IPU Advisory Group on Health, discusses the role of parliaments in addressing the health of migrants with Ms. Yvonne Apiyo Brändle-Amolo, Delegate for Migration, Swiss Socialist Party; and Prof. Patrick Taran, President of Global Migration Policy Associates.
Access to health: Are parliaments redressing inequalities for women and girls?
IPU on air #2 features a dialogue between host Irish Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee, Chair of the IPU Advisory Group on Health, and Rt.Hon. Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Chair of the Board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
Sexual and reproductive health rights: what role for parliamentarians?
In this first IPU podcast, IPU on air #1, Irish Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee, Chair of the IPU Advisory Group on Health, hosts Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, a fellow MP from the United Republic of Tanzania and Vice-Chair of the IPU Advisory Group on Health; and Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at the World Health Organization.
The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments.
The IPU is inching ever closer to universal membership, with 183 Member Parliaments out of the 193 countries in the world – from huge nations like China, India and Indonesia, to the tiny States of Cabo Verde, San Marino and Palau. Our Members represent the overwhelming majority of the world’s 8 billion people .
Our Organization, created by a small group of parliamentarians in 1889, has grown into a vibrant global entity committed to promoting democracy, equality, human rights, development and peace. Our Members work together for positive change, both in their own countries and internationally.
All parliaments are welcome to join us if they are lawfully established national bodies operating in States or aspirational States recognized by the United Nations. On rare occasions, Members are suspended due to the unconstitutional dissolution of parliament, or their rights are suspended for the non-payment of assessed contributions. Decisions on admitting, readmitting and suspending Members or their rights are taken by our Governing Council.
We also have 15 Associate Members – mostly formal regional parliamentary organizations established under international law. They include the Arab Parliament, the European Parliament, the Pan-African Parliament, the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (PARLATINO), and other parliamentary organizations.
Non-participating Associate Members (all rights suspended): Andean Parliament, Parliament of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC)
The rights of the Andean Parliament and the Parliament of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) are currently suspended due to arrears of three or more years of contributions (non-participating Associate Members).
The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments.
What began in 1889 as a small group of parliamentarians, dedicated to promoting peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue, has since grown into a truly global organization with 183 Member Parliaments and 15 Associate Members.
The IPU facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world.
Our slogan is: For democracy. For everyone.
Our vision is: We want a world where every voice counts, where democracy and parliaments are at the service of the people for peace and development.
Our mission is: The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. We promote democratic governance, institutions and values, working with parliaments and parliamentarians to articulate and respond to the needs and aspirations of the people. We work for peace, democracy, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment, climate action and sustainable development through political dialogue, cooperation and parliamentary action.
We are financed primarily by our Members out of public funds. Our headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. We also have offices in New York, United States of America and Vienna, Austria.
The 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will be held in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, from 5 to 9 October 2026, bringing together hundreds of lawmakers from around the world for a week of high-level parliamentary diplomacy.
Hosted by Bunge la Tanzania, the National Assembly of Tanzania, the focus of the Assembly will be on Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all.
Highlights of the Assembly will include:
The expected affiliation of Naoero, growing the IPU to 184 Member Parliaments.
An expected resolution on parliamentary strategies to promote the rights and empowerment of people living with disabilities.
Meetings of all the IPU’s parliamentary bodies, including its four Standing Committees, the Forums of Women and Young Parliamentarians, the Committee on Middle East Questions and the Task Force for the peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine.
Panel discussions and workshops for parliamentarians on a wide range of subjects including: military artificial intelligence, oversight of extractive industries, mental health, AI and children’s rights, AI and the future of work, healthy food in a changing climate, protecting mountain and ocean ecosystems, reviewing the Charter of the United Nations, and strengthening maritime security in times of conflict.
The award of the 2026 Cremer-Passy Prize, the MP of the year award, to a legislator with an exceptional record on human rights.
The Assembly will end with the election of a new IPU President, the political head of the IPU, to replace Dr. Tulia Ackson of the United Republic of Tanzania, whose three-year term comes to an end in October.
At the time of writing, there are three candidates on the ballot:
Ms. Sahiba Gafarova, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan;
Mr. Milton Dick, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia;
Mr. Rojo Edwards Silva, a Senator from Chile.
Practical details:
Venue: Arusha International Conference Centre, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania Registration: Media representatives are invited to register here: https://153ipuassembly.vfairs.com/
*****
The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 183 national Member Parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development. It helps parliaments become stronger, younger, greener and more gender-balanced. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.
For more information about the IPU, contact: press@ipu.org.
Human rights are not abstract ideals. They are the laws that protect people from harm, the mechanisms that hold power to account, and the freedoms that make democracy meaningful.
Around the world, however, those rights are under pressure. Hard-won protections are being rolled back. The space for rights is narrowing – slowly, but unmistakably. And parliamentarians are being silenced.
Yet human rights are only as strong as the parliaments that defend them. That is why this campaign exists. Bring human rights into focus is a call to action for parliamentarians everywhere. Because rights don’t defend themselves. They require people with the power to act being willing to use it. In parliament, that power is yours.
This booklet sets out 10 concrete actions across two pillars, all serving one mission. Some of those actions will take an afternoon. Others will take years of sustained commitment. All of them will make a difference.
The future of rights is written in parliaments. Start writing!
The 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament (15SWSP), convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in close cooperation with the Swiss Parliament, will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday, 28 July 2025. The Summit will precede the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (6WCSP), which will also take place in Geneva, from 29 to 31 July 2025.
The 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament will be held at the premises of the International Labour Organization.
The Summit is intended to bring together women in the highest parliamentary decision-making positions to shape the parliamentary agenda based on emerging political, economic, environmental and social changes that require united and gender-responsive global governance solutions. It offers a platform for women leaders to network and exchange views and experiences.
The 15th Summit is taking place during a year of many milestones for the women and girls of the world. 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as the ten-year milestone of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The women, peace and security agenda is marking 25 years of existence, and is needed even more today than when it was established.
At this critical juncture, the 15th Summit will be the meeting point for women Speakers from around the world to network, exchange views and experiences, and to build on the milestones being marked in 2025 to craft the next chapter for gender equality and women’s empowerment and leadership.
With this in mind, the Summit will focus on the role of women speakers in Leading for inclusive and lasting peace.
As the Summit will immediately precede the 6WCSP, the results of its deliberations will feed into the proceedings of the 6WCSP, thus offering an opportunity to prioritize gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls on the agenda of all parliaments.
The Summit is open to women Speakers or Presidents of Member Parliaments of the IPU or national parliaments of countries that are recognized by the United Nations. In the case of bicameral parliaments, the Summit is open to women Speakers of both chambers.
Women Speakers who are unable to attend the Summit may only be replaced by women deputy Speakers.
The Summit is also open to the regional and international parliamentary assemblies and organizations that are Associate Members or permanent observers of the IPU and that are presided over by a woman President.
A limited number of high-level international experts will be invited to attend the Summit and contribute to its key focus areas as special guests.
Global and regional percentages of women presiding officers in national parliaments is automatically updated every-time there is a change. Figures correspond to the number of positions filled at the given time. See the full list of women Speakers and regional groupings of countries used to make the regional percentages for more information.
Out of a total of 189 Parliaments, 81 of which are bicameral, there exist 278 posts of Presiding Officers of Parliament or of one of its Houses. The posts are comprised as follows:
265 parliamentary chambers with one presiding officer each;
Three chambers with two presiding officers each (San Marino’s single chamber, the US Senate and the Liberian Senate);
Two chambers with three presiding officers each (Bosnia-Herzegovina’s lower and upper chambers).
Parline is the global reference source for data on national parliaments. The Parline database contains around 600 fields on the structure, composition and functioning of parliament, as well as the results of parliamentary elections. Data in Parline is gathered from national parliaments through a network of Parline Correspondents.
Parline is:
Global: Every national parliament, big or small
Authoritative: Data comes direct from the source – parliaments themselves
Comparative: Creating possibilities for new perspectives
Open: Offering tools that allow users to access, obtain and reuse data freely
Parline is the official source of data for UN SDG indicators 5.5.1(a) on women in national parliaments and 16.7.1(a) on leadership positions held by women and youth.
Here are some of the ways to access data in Parline. For a full list of fields in Parline, see the Data dictionary.
Parliamentary chambers: Every parliamentary chamber has its own page, which contains all data available for that chamber, organized into groups of fields:
Basic information
Elections
Parliamentary mandate
Law-making, oversight and budget
Working methods
Administration
Specialized bodies
Reports: There are different types of reports that bring together data in one place:
The IPU data catalogue provides access to other IPU datasets that are not included as fields in the Parline database
Who uses Parline?
The Parline database is widely used and referenced by parliaments, policymakers and researchers. It is the official source of data for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators 5.5.1 and 16.7.1(a).
Parline users fall into various categories with differing requirements. Broadly, they include:
Parliaments – International relations departments use Parline for up-to-date contact information and changes to parliamentary leadership (Speakers, Secretaries General), and for preparing background information and briefings for bilateral and parliamentary visits. Libraries and research services or staff of parliamentary committees use Parline to conduct topical research to inform their work or draw comparisons between the functions and working methods of other parliaments.
Researchers, students, academics – are big consumers of comparative data and often utilize specific data points from Parline to draw a correlation between larger trends, outcomes or behaviors. For example, a comparison of electoral systems, special measures for women’s representation in parliament, or the percentage of women in parliaments.
International organizations – The United Nations uses Parline data as part of the global SDG indicators to monitor the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A variety of other international organsations also use Parline data. For example, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) uses Parline data in their annual “Government at a Glance” report and Social Institutions and Gender Index, while the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and the World Bank integrate Parline data into their Index of African Governance (IIAG) and World Development Indicators, respectively. Bodies such as the UN Electoral Affairs Division (DPPA), among others, use Parline data to prepare their missions and reports.
Global companies – use Parline data in, for example, their political risk analysis reports.
Journalists – use Parline data to support stories that they are preparing on, for example, salaries of parliamentarians, size of parliamentary staff, etc., or to provide statistical snapshots of given information, derived from aggregated data and maps and charts generated in the Compare data on parliaments section.
The IPU always wants to learn more about how, what and where Parline data is used. This supports our efforts to improve the database to meet the needs of users, and to better understand the impact of Parline. Feel free to contact parline@ipu.org to share feedback on data points and/or past, ongoing or current research that utilizes Parline data. In the future, there may be an opportunity for the IPU to feature select work.
SDG indicators 5.5.1(a) and 16.7.1(a)
Parline is the official source of data for the parliamentary aspects of two UN SDG indicators:
5.5.1 Proportion of seats held by women in (a) national parliaments and (b) local governments
16.7.1 Proportions of positions in national and local institutions, including (a) the legislatures; (b) the public service; and (c) the judiciary, compared to national distributions, by sex, age, persons with disabilities and population groups
SDG indicator 5.5.1(a) reports on number of seats held by women members in single or lower chambers of national parliaments, expressed as a percentage of all occupied seats. It contributes to measuring progress on SDG target 5.5, to “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.”
SDG indicator 16.7.1(a) aims to measure how representative of the general population are the individuals occupying key decision-making positions in national legislatures. More specifically, this indicator measures the proportional representation of various demographic groups (women, age groups) in the national population amongst individuals occupying the following positions in national legislatures: (1) Members, (2) Speakers and (3) Chairs of permanent committees in charge of the following portfolios: Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance, Human Rights and Gender Equality.
The IPU has been publishing comparative data on parliaments since at least the 1960s. Initially this data was published in print format. The last print edition of Parliaments of the world: a comparative reference compendium was produced in 1986. An annual record of the results of all elections was published in the Chronicle of Parliamentary Elections between 1967 and 2010.
Since the 1990s, this data has published in the Parline database. The name “Parline” is derived from the words “PARliaments onLINE”. Over the years, the scope of the database has changed, while maintaining the core focus on reference data on the structure, composition and working methods of parliaments. The latest major revision of the fields included in the database took place in 2018. At this time, new fields were added to track data for SDG indicators 5.5.1(a) and 16.7.1(a) on parliamentarians in leadership positions by sex and by age.
IPU has a rich set of data on the number and percentage of women in parliament from 1945 to the current day. Since 1997, IPU has published a monthly ranking of the percentage of women in parliament. Since 2018, these rankings are now updated in Parline every month. Data on the age of parliamentarians was also incorporated into Parline at that time.
The technical architecture has also evolved over time, with the introduction of new features to view, export and reuse data from Parline. Historical time series were introduced to the database in the 2010s, and time series data is available for certain fields since 2013. Since the redevelopment of the technical platform for Parline in 2024, historical records are now kept for almost all fields, so changes over time can be tracked and reported. The 2024 redevelopment also advanced the concept of Parline data as ‘open data’, with the launch of a Parline API and the adoption of a Creative Commons license for the reuse of Parline data.
Parline continues to evolve, in close connection with Parline Correspondents in national parliaments and the Parline user community in parliaments, universities, international organizations and other institutions around the world. We always welcome feedback and suggestions – please do not hesitate to contact us.
Installation of the Bureau of the Speakers Conference lead by H.E. Dr. Fatech Boutbig, President of Pan African Parliment on 31 July 2026, Midrand South Africa
Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments on 31 July to 1 August 2026
Theme: The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in Strengthening Relations with National and Regional Parliaments and Contributing to the Achievements of the Objectives of Agenda 2063
The Bureau of the Conference comprising 5 Honourable Speakers is designated among the Speakers of National Assemblies or Senate or Regional Parliaments representing the 5 African Regions led by a President of the Conference
The Clerk of the Pan African Parliament
Your Excellencies
Honourable Ladies and Gentlemen
Speakers of the National Parliaments
Presidents of Senates in the African Continent and all Excellencies
Honourable members of the Bureau of the Pan African Parliament,
Honourable Members and Excellencies
Representatives,
Ambassadors
Representatives of the Organs
Allow me first on your behalf, I would like to thank Madam Didiza, the Speaker of the parliament of South Africa as well as the strong message delivered by Madam Sahiba, the Speaker of the Milli Majlisof the Republic of Azerbaijan. Everything here is coming within that context of building a strong future and fruitful cooperation between our institutions, and as we are starting this conference we have a colleague of ours who passed on the 30th July, that is late Donali Mukapalisa the former president of the National Assembly of Rwanda. She passed on ont he 30th of July 2026. It is now our duty to stand a minute of silence for her passing on. Please let us stand for aone minute of silence morning the passing of one of the colleagues.
Thank you. Her soul rest in eternal peace. As I said, she was the former Speaker of the National Assembly of Rwanda and very active with us here in the African Group in the Pan African Parliament. Once again let me say as we at the beginning of this conference that we normally form a bureau to steer the work of the conference that is in accordance with the standing procedures. Your Excellencies, honourable speakers of the national and regional parliaments, allow me to call upon you all to handle this matter for the meeting that's convened annually at the seat of the Pan African Parliament.
On my behalf as a president of the Pan African Parliament elected in the recent elections, I am looking forward for a parliament that is smart or characterized by cooperation, openness between the Pan African Parliament and national parliaments and looking forward for a relations that is more effective that is helping us to achieve what we want to realize in the future. So we want to have stronger relation with the national parliaments and we are always here open for you and ready to work with the same transparency and desire to realize the objectives of the African Union and to strengthen the African Parliamentary Diplomacy. We are ready, we are open to cooperate and to work with any African parliament or international group that we are part to and we will be ambassadors to each other.
We have to look forward for that reform and to improve the work of our parliament and your parliament to work together to try to resolve all the challenges and to built real bridges on confidence between the people and the leaders of Africa and to work with the same spirit of love and appreciation of the African Union. Starting with the African Uinion Commission and within the rules that organizing our work with these bodies. Withour further ado and as I said this conference of Speakers is the tool that bring us together on a regular basis. It will be very important that we have to establish or to form a bureau or a body that can stear the work. I hereby peopose for you that since we have five regions in the African continent that every region should have a representative. I propose that we have to nominate five members from the five regions of Africa to steer the work of this conference. And allow me also to take this opportunity to express my gratitutde and thanks to Madam Didiza, the Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa to express my appreciation for the participation of H.E. Ramaphosa in the opening of our conference sitting after he came here to deliver a stong message within that context of the strategy of our opening of Pan African Parliament.
His presence here was a great honour for us all and also I would like to thank the Speaker of the National Parliament of South Africa and other speakers of national parliaments who are presnt here. This is a very strong message to all African countries who want this forum to continue being an active tool in the African strategy for parliamentary diplomacy based on love and integration to face the challenges in the different cases. Let me thank you for this kind response and let me also call upon you to noominate five persons from the five regions to come and steer this conference and if you want me to take five minute to discuss between you otherwise you can just raise your hand to give us five members from the five regions to take the responsibility of steering the work of this conference. The conference that will handle a lot of matters in differenct issues with regard to issues relate to our continent.
Welcome Remarks by Hon Thokozile Didiza at the Speakers Conference of National and Regional Parliaments on 31 August 2026, Speaker of the National Parliament of South Africa
Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments 31 July to 1 August 2026
Theme: The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in Strengthening Relations with National and Regional Parliaments and Contributing to the Achievements of the Objectives of Agenda 2063
Your Excellency President of the Pan African Parliament, Dr Fateh Boutbig
Honourable Vice Presidents of the Pan African Parliament who are here among us, four of you are here indeed representing gender equality in your representation. Two men and two women.That's most welcome.
I also want to recognise those who went before us as the leaders of the PAP honourable Roger Nkondo Dang and honourable Chief Fortune Charumbira, you may stand so that those who dont't know some of our ancestors can see you.
Thank you very much and most welcome. Id also like to recognise our sister, the President of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network and the Speaker of Azerbaijan. You are most welcome my sister and it is indeed a pleasure to have you here.
I also want to welcome our Excellencies and Speakers of the National and Regional Parliaments who are here because this is your conference. We also recognise the representatives of the Speakers who may not be here with us today.
Honourable Members of the Pan African Parliament who are here, Heads of African Union Organs and Agencies and I know we have here our Ambassador of the African Peer Review Mechanism. You're most welcome my sister, the members of the Diplomatic Core who are here. We also want to recognise you distinguised guests, ladies and gentlemen, sanbonani, good morning, bonjoir.
Honourable members, it is indeed my privilege and honour to welcome you to South Africa here, which is the home of the Pan African Parliament. It is also an honour and privilege that on behalf of the National Assembly and the Parliament of South Africa, we welcome you in our shores.It is indeed an important meeting marking the official opening of the Conference of Speakers of the National and Regional Parliaments.
Your Excellency, honourable President and your collective leadership of Pan African Parliament, please allow me to convey my warm congratulation on behalf of the Parliament of South Africa on your recent election when you have taken new office. Indeed it takes courage to step into public service to serve the people and I have no doubt that you will serve the people of our continent as this Bureau.
You can actually take leave also from your previous bureau and understand how sometimes it can be very difficult to lead the Pan African Parliament. You will always try your best to make sure that you balance the interst and needs of all members and also the original parliaments where they come from. The Pan African Parliament occupies a special place in the history of our continent. Not only as the legislative organ of the African Union, but as the voice of the voiceless and the epicentre of accountability for African parliaments and naational legislatures.
Your Excellency, Mr President, this important conference take place a day after the succesful conclusion of the First Ordinary Session of the Seventh Pan African Parliament. I'm aware that this important organ of the African Union used this First Ordinary Session to discuss and adopt many recommendations and resolutions on various issues affecting our continent. Indeed, as indicated by H.E. President Ciryl Ramaphosa, the President of the Republic of South Africa during his opening address on Monday, that the Pan African Parliament is an enduring symbol of unity and diversity, a unity encchored in the conviction that Africa's future must be shared not only by its government but by its people.
I also know that during your First Ordinary Session, you have been able to discuss some of the critical issues that also impact on my own country. I know that in latest months the issue of migration has been uppermost and has touched us in differenct ways but also it has called us to reflect on how we have to manage this challenging issue in order to also manage the cohersion of our continent. and I want to say difficult the debate as it may have been yesterday where we exchange views but what is important is that we are condid and open with one another about tthe challenges that we face.
And I would like to pause it and say Mr. President and to my Speakers who are here that as we also deal with these critical issues, It's important to appreciate that the challenge that is facing us now maybe in South Africa is the challenge that some of our members states in the continent have faced before. Maybe the question is how do we learn from each other? How best some of those countries who face the similar challenges on migration were able to manage those issues and also not only for the sake of reflection and engagement but for learning from one another but also ensuring that in the future we're able to manage such issues differently, because as a union we committed to make sure that the objectives of Agenda 2063 and of The Africa We Want indeed must be built on how we act to intervene on challenges that our continent face but also how we ensure that we utilize the resources that our continent has not just in terms of natural resources but also our human capability.
This conference is held under important theme , I quote "The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in Strengthening Relations with National and Regional Parliaments and Contributing to the Achievement of the Objectives of Agenda 2063" This is very important as it calls upon all parliaments to play an active role in finding solutions to diplomatic engagement, global challenges and multilateralism. Parliamentary diplomacy is an essential tool for building trust, sharing laws, and keeping peace between countries when normal governments take slow or sometimes fail.It serves as an important democratic platform for members of parliament to talk directly to solve big challenges affecting member states, our countries, but also on global issues.
Your Excellencies, parliamentary diplomacy gives nations a safe place to talk and share ideas when standard executives channels fail. It is stabilizing force that enhances solidarity, dialogue and multilateralism even as the global system becomes more polarized. It enables lawmakers to use direct visits and friendship groups to lower regional tensions and build long-term respect through parliamentary diplomacy, members of parliament can share good legislative ideas to handle complex issues affecting their countries. I hope as we reflect on these issues, we also need to look at how we embed the role of women of our continent, particularly women parliamentarians in building our continent.
Similarly, we are a young continent, we've got young people who have the energy, the capability, and the agility to contribute to building our countries. And I do think that within the African continent, working with our young parliamentary caucus, we need to look at how we can work with them in strengthening parliamentary diplomacy as well as strengthening relations within national and regional parliaments and contributing to achievement of our objectives of Agenda 2063.
Mr. President, during the opening session on Monday, there were issues that President Ramaphosa reflected on which arose out of your discussions, particularly lobbying for the ultimate legislative power of the Pan African Parliament and i know that he made the commitment that he will do his best to engage his peers and his brothers within the African Union, but I would want to make some suggestion on that issue honourable president that here amongst this house you've got parliaments who form part of regional community such as ECOWAS in West Africa, SADC in Southern Africa, Central Africa, East Africa as well as North Africa. And all of the se regional parliaments have evolved some of them from being forum to a state where they became fullyfledged parliamentary structures that are recognised in the region but also in other fora in the African Union.
Maybe one of the things that we might need to do is to create a representative structure that will form membership from these regions so that we can look at how strategically we actually advance this objective of coming up with a fullyfledged African parliament. You have also correctly said Mr. President, that one of the roles of the Pan African Parliament is to coordinate the work of our national parliaments as well as our regional parliaments. Again here, Honourable President and honourable Speakers particularly some of you who are part of the Inter Parlemantary Union, you know the important role of that Assembly but one of the things that in my view as an African region we'll need to find h way in which we have alignment.
You have got the Pan African Parliament which is now having an observer status within the IPU but also have at the same time the African Geopolitical Group which is part of the IPU as well. The question is how do these two bodies work together so that the objectives of what we want to do even in terms of parliamentary diplomacy in these multilateral agenda if there is no alignment. I do trust that under your leadership president and your bureau you'll be able to find a way in which there can be dialogue between the African Parliamentary Union and the African Geopolitical Group through PAP's coordination to strengthen the work we do. I do want to say as the parliament of South Africa would like to welcome you once again and trust that the engagements that we will have today and tomorrow will help to advance the objectives that we have agreed to as part of Africa Agenda 2063.
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