Bahrain fourth Arab country to host IPU Assembly and related meetings
Manama, Mar. 8 (BNA): The Kingdom of Bahrain will be the fourth Arab country to host meetings of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly.
The 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and its related meetings, to be held in Bahrain on March 11-15, will be the biggest ever to be held in Bahrain in terms of the number of participants, with around 2000 parliamentarians from around the globe and international observers in attendance.
The assembly meetings bear the overall theme of "Promoting peaceful coexistence and inclusive societies: Fighting intolerance", which are values embraced by Bahrain and embodied throughout its history. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has led efforts to promote and consolidate those noble values as a foundation for collective global action to drive the prosperity of humanity.
During the 146th IPU Assembly, the speaker of the current session of the assembly will be elected, and key international topics will be discussed.
Promoting peaceful coexistence and inclusive societies for all, combating terrorism, extremism and cybercrimes, reducing carbon emissions and climate change, orphanage trafficking and the role of parliaments to address it, as well as cooperation between the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the United Nations will top the agenda of the 146th IPU Assembly.
The related meetings include the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, Forum of Young Parliamentarians, Bureau of the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights, Committee on the Middle East, Committee to Promote Respect for International Humanitarian Law, Gender Partnership Group and the High-Level Advisory Group on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism.
Holding the IPU assembly in the Kingdom of Bahrain is a result of the successful parliamentary diplomacy approach it has taken regionally and internationally.
The event is an opportunity to showcase Bahrain's commitment to peaceful coexistence domestically and globally, and promoting dialogue as a means of countering extremism and terrorism. It also highlights its societal model of diversity and coexistence over many generations.
Bahrain has increasingly enhanced its standing as a destination for international meetings and conferences. This has been further consolidated by key initiatives and engagement in constructive dialogue and global partnership, such as the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, the signing the Abraham Accords, hosting the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis which culminated in the launch of the King Hamad Global Award for Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence during the opening of the Bahrain Dialogue Forum: East and West for Human Coexistence.
Since the establishment of the legislative branch in 2002 as an outcome of reforms led by His Majesty the King, Bahrain continues to accomplish significant milestones on both national and international scales.
On an inter-parliamentary action scale, Bahrain has presided over the Arab Parliament since October 2020.
Bahrain is one of the most Arab countries represented in the committees of the IPU. It participates in 109 IPU meetings during each legislative term.
Bahrain has also contributed to many discussions and decisions taken by the IPU. In the 144th Assembly of the IPU in Bali, Indonesia, geopolitical groups supported the initiative presented by Bahrain regarding the drafting of a unified guide documenting parliamentary input on climate change.
The Geneva-based IPU was established in 1889. It has 179 members and 14 associate members. The IPU facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development around the world. It has specialised committees focusing on gender partnership, international law, youth, women, health, counter terrorism and science and information technology and other areas.
