The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) successfully concluded its 152nd Assembly, hosted by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye in Istanbul from 15-19 April 2026. The “parliament of parliaments” drew over 1,500 delegates, including more than 720 parliamentarians from 126 countries. Women comprised 37% of lawmakers present. Some 13% of the parliamentarians attending were under 40.
The high-level attendance, featuring over 65 Speakers and 46 Deputy Speakers, demonstrated an increasing appetite for parliamentary diplomacy – as a complement to other peace talks – amid war in the Middle East and beyond, where fighting has exacerbated humanitarian crises.
Common language despite differences
The outcome document of the IPU Assembly, the Istanbul Declaration on Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations, reaffirms commitments to peace, human rights and United Nations principles amid armed conflicts, geopolitical tensions, democratic backsliding, misinformation, inequalities, climate change, and disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence.
The world’s parliamentarians, despite wide differences, also successfully found consensus language, sometimes after hundreds of amendments, in the form of several negotiated resolutions:
- The urgent need for concerted parliamentary efforts to preserve ceasefires and support peacebuilding in the Middle East and other regions demands emergency parliamentary action to uphold ceasefires, especially in the Middle East and other hotspots. It condemns systematic breaches of international humanitarian law including civilian attacks and aid blockages.
- Building a fair and sustainable global economy: The role of parliaments in combating protectionism, reducing tariffs and preventing corporate tax avoidance urges parliaments to fight protectionism, tax dodging by multinationals, and inequality. It calls for reform of the World Trade Organization and digital trade equity.
- The role of parliaments in establishing robust post conflict management mechanisms and restoring a just and lasting peace calls for nationally led peacebuilding rooted in United Nations principles; holistic recovery for institutions and economies; reconciliation and dialogue; and protection of women, youth and displaced persons.
Parliamentary diplomacy builds bridges
Throughout the Assembly, IPU bodies dedicated to peace and security convened – including the Task Force for peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine and the Committee on Middle East Questions – to seek new avenues to foster peace through parliamentary dialogue and diplomacy.
IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong welcomed the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan and the Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova for their fourth meeting facilitated by the IPU.
New IPU Strategy for 2027-2031
Following the broadest consultation in its history, with more than 1,000 parliamentarians, staff and stakeholders from 111 countries interviewed and surveyed, the IPU governing bodies adopted a new roadmap for the IPU.
The IPU Strategy for 2027-2031 ultimately aims to support democratic parliaments that work together for the people through three inter-connected objectives:
- Building strong and inclusive parliaments
- Facilitating parliamentary diplomacy, dialogue and joint action
- Strengthening the IPU as a responsive and accountable organization
It emphasizes deeper engagement within the parliamentary ecosystem and leverage of digital and communication tools, including responsible use of artificial intelligence.
The Strategy is underpinned by IPU policy work on peace and security, democracy, human rights, sustainable development, climate action, gender equality, and youth participation.
Quotes:
The President of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye and of the 152nd IPU Assembly, Numan Kurtulmuş, said: “Global politics is going through a highly complex period. Today, institutions are weakening. Established rules are being ignored. And core concepts are losing their true meaning. However, our meetings and delibarations at this Assembly have shown the power of dialogue and cooperation. We have seen that we can still build common ground against growing global uncertainties.”
IPU President Tulia Ackson said: “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, that cooperation is wiser than competition, and that the future they will inherit is being shaped, right now, by the choices we make together.”
IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong said: “We are meeting against the backdrop of a world in considerable turmoil. But I am immensely heartened that the parliaments of the world have turned out in such huge numbers this week to contribute to the over-arching theme of this Assembly: Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations. Because future generations should be at the heart of everything parliamentarians do. The work of parliaments should focus on making life better not only for citizens today, but for those yet to be born.”
The 153rd IPU Assembly will take place in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, from 5 to 9 October 2026.
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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, more innovative and gender balanced. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.
