News in brief

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong has held talks with the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Dr Dubravka Šimonović, on possible cooperation in supporting parliaments to safeguard the lives and well-being of women and girls. During the talks at

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong has received a high number of visits from new permanent representatives to the United Nations in Geneva over recent weeks. The ambassadors have included Ma Zhaoxu of China, Vaqif Sadiqov of Azerbaijan, Kinga Singye of

IPU is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic killing of British MP Jo Cox, who was attacked last week in her constituency. Secretary General Martin Chungong said: “Like many MPs around the world, Jo Cox has worked tirelessly for

The Vice-President of Viet Nam has stressed IPU’s critical role in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), during talks in Geneva with Secretary General Martin Chungong on 13 June. Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh also highlighted IPU’s part in ensuring

IPU's Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Paddy Torsney, has stressed to the UN’s High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS the essential role of MPs and national parliaments in combating the disease. Presenting the conclusions of IPU’s parliamentary meeting, she said

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong has emphasized his personal commitment to gender equality – alongside that of IPU as a whole – at an event on the theme of “The power of empowered women” (#PoEW). It was held under the

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong has emphasized his personal commitment to gender equality – alongside that of IPU as a whole – at an event on the theme of “The power of empowered women” (#PoEW). It was held under the

MPs from across West and Central Africa have agreed to cooperate more closely to combat large-scale child trafficking and labour. A seminar in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, focused on ways of stepping up action, including strategies to work more effectively

An agreement has been reached in Mauritania on action necessary to protect women and girls from child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM) and other violence. The priorities set by women MPs include robust new laws and other measures targeted at

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong has met a cross-party parliamentary delegation from the Kyrgyz Republic to discuss avenues for closer cooperation.

IPU President Saber Chowdhury has made a speech to the Lithuanian Parliament in the capital Vilnius, calling on MPs to ensure that the country produces a robust plan to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He said parliamentarians had a

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong stressed the importance of a diverse parliament that is representative of all groups and views in the country as a fundamental principle of democracy, at a meeting with the Turkish opposition MP Selahattin Demirtas in Geneva.

In a historic double-first at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong has delivered a speech committing IPU to mobilizing parliaments for more successful outcomes on health, and has attended the first-ever parliamentary event at the

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong has stressed the organization's commitment to working for gender equality and has outlined strategic steps necessary for progress. In an address to the mid-year review of the International Geneva Gender Champions initiative, Mr Chungong described

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong has stressed the organization's commitment to working for gender equality and has outlined strategic steps necessary for progress. In an address to the mid-year review of the International Geneva Gender Champions initiative, Mr Chungong described

MPs from Central and East European Parliaments will continue work on defining opportunities and challenges they and their parliaments face in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) when they meet in Romania next month. The gathering on 18-19 April follows

IPU’s Meeting of Women Parliamentarians, which for more than 30 years has been a unique opportunity for women MPs globally to meet in person and provide input into international decision-making, has a new name – the Forum of Women Parliamentarians

MPs from across the world called for a paradigm shift in attitudes to women’s participation in political processes within parliaments, political parties and society. The call came at the 134th IPU Assembly in Lusaka last week during a session on

An IPU team has completed a mission to Egypt, assessing the needs of the country’s parliament for the next phase of its development. The team explored a wide number of areas, including how to strengthen MPs in all aspects of

Members of Parliament from across Africa have recommended fresh action to halt the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), after a seminar in Côte d’Ivoire. More than 70 MPs from 18 countries took part in the seminar, the first