RismadarVoice Reporters, April 16, 2026
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, held the innauguural session of its 152nd Assembly in Istanbul, Türkiye, bringing together hundreds of lawmakers from across the world.
Held under the theme “Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations,” the Assembly comes at a critical moment amid ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises in the Middle East and other regions.
The gathering provides a platform for strengthening parliamentary dialogue and diplomacy in pursuit of peaceful and sustainable solutions to global challenges.
Speaking at the innauguural ceremony, IPU President, Dr. Tulia Ackson, expressed appreciation to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye and its Speaker, Numan Kurtulmuş, for hosting the event despite prevailing global uncertainties. She emphasized that in times of crisis, parliamentary diplomacy must take center stage.
Reflecting on the Assembly’s theme, Dr. Ackson stressed that peace cannot be achieved through strength alone. She highlighted growing frustration among young people who feel excluded from decision-making processes that shape their future, and called on parliamentarians to take the lead in addressing climate change, representation gaps, and human rights concerns.
Outgoing IPU Secretary General, Martin Chungong, also called for unity in tackling the pressing challenges of the time, in line with the Assembly’s focus on peace and justice. Marking the 50th anniversary of the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, he expressed gratitude to Members of Parliament and global partners for their support throughout his twelve-year tenure.
Key highlights of the 152nd Assembly include:
• Meetings of all IPU bodies, including Standing Committees, as well as the Forums for Women and Young Parliamentarians
• Deliberations on post-conflict peacebuilding, trade cooperation, and corporate tax avoidance
• Commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians
• Workshops on disability inclusion, interfaith dialogue, the two-State solution, and climate action
• Election of a new Secretary General to succeed Martin Chungong
• Adoption of the IPU Strategy for 2027–2032
• Opening of nominations for the 2026 Cremer-Passy Prize
As the global organization of national parliaments, the IPU continues to play a pivotal role in promoting peace, democracy, and sustainable development, while strengthening institutions to be more inclusive, representative, and resilient.
The President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio who is also an Executive Member of the IPU is leading Nigeria’s delegation to the Assembly.
