India Participates in 153rd Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union

India Participates in 153rd Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union

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Key takeaways

  • India actively participated in the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Arusha, Tanzania, under the leadership of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh.
  • The assembly adopted the Arusha Communiqué and passed resolutions on disability rights and climate disaster resilience, specifically focusing on the Himalayan region.
  • Milton Dick, Speaker of Australia's House of Representatives, was elected as the 32nd President of the IPU, succeeding Tulia Ackson of Tanzania.
  • Founded on 30th June 1889 in Paris and headquartered in Geneva since 1921, the IPU inducted the Parliament of Naoero (Nauru) as its 184th member.

Why in News

  • An Indian parliamentary team took part in the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Arusha, Tanzania.
  • The conference centered on advancing good governance, building public trust, promoting inclusivity, and expanding global cooperation.

About the 153rd IPU Assembly

  • The 153rd IPU Assembly gathered lawmakers from around the globe to discuss democratic participation.
  • The official theme of the meeting was “Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all.”

Composition of the Indian Delegation

  • Harivansh, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, headed the official Indian delegation.
  • The delegation comprised representatives selected from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Key Outcomes of the Assembly

  • Delegates officially adopted the Arusha Communiqué to support inclusive governance, reinforce public trust, expand accountability, and foster community empowerment.
  • Members passed targeted resolutions focused on protecting the rights and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
  • The assembly passed resolutions to build better defense systems against climate-related disasters, giving special attention to the fragile Himalayan region.
  • The assembly elected Milton Dick, the Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, as the 32nd President of the IPU.
  • He took over the presidential role from Tulia Ackson of Tanzania.

Overview of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

  • Two peace activists, William Randal Cremer of Britain and Frédéric Passy of France, established the IPU on 30th June 1889 in Paris, France.
  • The organization set up its permanent headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland in 1921, serving as an international platform for national parliaments.
  • The organization currently counts 184 Member Parliaments along with 15 Associate Members.
  • During this assembly, the Parliament of Naoero (Nauru) joined the IPU, becoming its 184th member.
  • The IPU works to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy, maintain global peace, nurture democracy, defend human rights, ensure gender equality, and encourage sustainable development.
  • The Assembly functions as the primary decision-making body of the IPU, meeting twice a year to adopt official resolutions on major international matters.
  • The international community celebrates the International Day of Parliamentarism every year on 30th June to commemorate the founding date of the IPU.
  • India holds full membership in the IPU and uses these high-level meetings to conduct active parliamentary diplomacy.