Geneva [Switzerland], March 29: Hundreds of parliamentarians from over 140 countries, gathered at the 148th IPU Assembly from 23-27 March 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland, have reconfirmed their commitment to parliamentary diplomacy to support peace efforts, and to reinvigorate multilateralism through parliamentary action.
Dr. Sedra. Rashid Al Mansouri, member of the Parliamentary Division Group of the Federal National Council (FNC) in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), participated in the meeting of the Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs, which took place during the 148th Assembly of the IPU the 213th session of the IPU Governing Council held in Geneva, Switzerland.
In their final declaration, Parliamentary diplomacy: Building bridges for peace and understanding, the lawmakers recognise the importance of "inter‑parliamentary dialogue and cooperation, and the IPU's unique role as the parliamentary counterpart to the United Nations".
The declaration emphasises that parliamentarians have an active role to play in accompanying and complementing traditional diplomacy, "ensuring that efforts to negotiate peace processes, treaties and other international agreements are rooted in the needs of the people".
At the Assembly, the IPU leadership issued an urgent political statement on behalf of the global parliamentary community calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, to complement the United Nations Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire, adopted on 25 March 2024.
The IPU Assembly was one of the most well-attended on record with over 700 MPs in Geneva, including over 50 Speakers of Parliament. Around 36% of the MPs were women and some 27% were young MPs under 45.
Source: Emirates News Agency