Geneva (Switzerland) – Over 100 Speakers of Parliament from around 120 countries gathered at the United Nations Office at Geneva for the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, held from 29 to 31 July 2025. The high-level summit, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations, focused on building peace, justice, and prosperity through stronger multilateral cooperation.
Parliamentary leaders discussed urgent global challenges, including climate change, armed conflict, economic instability, and digital transformation. After three days of intense debate, they adopted a powerful Declaration calling for enhanced cooperation, political will, and greater parliamentary engagement with the UN.
The Declaration emphasized the need to restore public trust in democracy, tackle misinformation, and align national laws with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Peace, Security, and Gender Equality
Speakers agreed that security must go beyond military solutions. They urged nations to address root causes like poverty, inequality, and environmental decline.
Gender equality took centre stage, following the 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, held just before the Conference. Leaders called for equal representation of women in peace processes, conflict resolution, and decision-making roles.
Sustainable Economy and Technology Governance
The Declaration promotes a shift toward sustainable, people-centered economies, with investments in the green and care sectors. It also urges responsible regulation of AI and digital technologies, stressing fundamental rights and ethical use.
Powerful Voices
UN Messenger of Peace Michael Douglas opened the event with a message of hope, praising parliaments as “lighthouses amid authoritarian storms.”
Tulia Ackson, IPU President, highlighted global interdependence, invoking the African concept of Ubuntu – “I am because you are.”
Maja Riniker, President of Switzerland’s National Council, called for immediate action on gender-based violence and for women to be fully involved in peacebuilding.
UN Geneva chief Tatiana Valovaya reaffirmed the UN’s strong ties with parliaments, calling them “the beating heart of democracy.”
Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General, concluded the event with optimism: “Parliaments can reinvigorate global cooperation. Dialogue and diplomacy are stronger than bullets and bombs.”
Held every five years, the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is the world’s top parliamentary forum. It aims to strengthen the UN-led multilateral system, ensure democratic accountability, and bring the people’s voice to global governance.
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
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