Istanbul: On its closing day in Istanbul, Turkiye, the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) unanimously adopted a resolution on the emergency item submitted by the State of Qatar along with several other countries. The resolution is titled "the urgent need for coordinated parliamentary efforts to uphold ceasefire agreements and support the achievement of peace in the Middle East and other regions."
According to Qatar News Agency, the emergency item submitted by Qatar, represented by the Shura Council, received overwhelming support to be included on the agenda of the 152nd IPU's General Assembly. This occurred during the session dedicated to voting on requests to include emergency items, highlighting the significance of international parliamentary coordination and the role of parliamentary diplomacy in promoting peace and stability.
This marks the first instance where an emergency item from an Arab state has garnered the necessary votes for inclusion on the General Assembly's agenda. Qatar's delegation, led by HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, actively participated in general sessions, specialized meetings, and discussions on international issues under the theme "Promoting hope, preserving peace, and ensuring justice for future generations."
During the Governing Council meeting, HE Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti delivered a speech discussing the council's contributions to international sustainable development efforts. This was highlighted through organizing a parliamentary forum on investment in individuals and institutions, hosted in Doha during the Second World Summit for Social Development in November.
Her Excellency also participated in the IPU's Executive Committee, addressing topics related to enhancing the union's institutional efficiency. Additionally, she contributed to the Bureau of Women Parliamentarians, focusing on challenges like digital violence and misinformation targeting women in politics. She called for clear regulatory frameworks to tackle these issues and emphasized the role of parliamentary diplomacy in supporting international peace.
Members of the Shura Council participated in standing committee meetings, including HE Dr. Sultan bin Hassan Al Dhabit Al Dosari in the Democracy and Human Rights Committee, HE Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al Maliki in the United Nations Affairs Committee, and HE Yousef bin Ali Al Khater in the Sustainable Development Committee, contributing to discussions on various agenda topics.
The "Istanbul Declaration" emphasized youth participation in decision-making, women's empowerment, and the regulation of modern technologies like artificial intelligence. It called for international cooperation, parliamentary diplomacy, and the translation of commitments into legislative and oversight actions.