Commonwealth Parliamentarians attended the 149th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland from 13 to 17 October 2024. The overarching theme of the event was on ‘Harnessing Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for a More Peaceful and Sustainable Future’.

All statutory bodies of the IPU, including Committees on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, Middle East Questions and the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, convened during the IPU Assembly, providing a vital platform for delegates to deliberate on how technology can be leveraged to foster peace and sustainability.

The IPU President, Hon. Dr Tulia Ackson, MP, Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, and the IPU Secretary-General, Martin Chungong welcomed delegates to the 149th IPU Assembly.

At the close of the opening ceremony, Hon. Dr Tulia Ackson said:

“We will strive to implement the decisions we have made here as we are all responsible for making the world a better place for the people we represent.”

The General Debate was held to catalyse parliamentary action, with resolutions on two significant topics: a resolution reaffirming support for multilateralism through the United Nations system and other global institutions and a resolution on the impact of artificial intelligence on democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

The CPA’s Deputy Head of Programmes (Multilateral Engagement), James Pinnell, contributed to an Expert Consultation, convened by the IPU and UNDP immediately after the close of the IPU Assembly, on “Parliamentary engagement in digital policy”.   

The Expert Consultation included Parliaments from the CPA membership and beyond, as well as international partners such as the National Democratic Institute, the Internet Governance Forum, the Organisation of American States, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, ParlAmericas, UNESCO and the UN Human Rights Office. 

During the expert consultation, participants: 

• Shared experiences of how Parliaments develop their work on digital policy issues, such as privacy, data protection, internet governance, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence 

• Examined how partners, including the CPA, support Parliaments in their work on digital policy issues. 

• Discussed the support that Parliaments require, as well as any gaps and unmet needs. 
• Exchanged ideas about the principles that underpin parliamentary engagement on digital policy. 

Commonwealth Parliamentarians attended the 149th IPU Assembly from across the CPA’s membership including Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Botswana, Canada, Cyprus, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, India, Malaysia, The Maldives, Malta, Namibia, New Zealand, Pakistan, The Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tonga, The United Kingdom, Vanuatu and Zambia. 

Jamaica rejoined the IPU at this Assembly. Jamaica was previously an IPU Member from 1983 to 1996 and returns in 2024 as the 181st Member Parliament. The President of the Jamaican Senate, Senator Hon. Thomas Tavares-Finson, said:

“We are convinced that renewing our affiliation with the IPU will not only result in greater access to IPU resources but also allow our Parliament to make an even greater contribution to the landscape of inter-parliamentary cooperation.” 

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organisation of national Parliaments that began in 1889 to promote peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue. 

The 150th IPU Assembly is due to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 5 to 9 April 2025.

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The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

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