Saturday 18 / October / 2025
Muscat: The Shura Council is participating in the 151st General Assembly of the Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU) and its associated meetings, following an official invitation from the President of the IPU. The sessions are being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 18 to 23.
The Shura Council’s delegation is headed by Khalid Hilal Al Maawali, Chairman of the Shura Council. The General Assembly’s agenda includes several items, alongside a general debate titled: “Upholding Humanitarian Standards and Supporting Humanitarian Action in Times of Crisis".
The Shura Council delegation will also take part in coordination meetings of the Arab Parliamentary Group, the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States, and the joint meeting with the heads of geopolitical groups, standing committees, and other specialised bodies of the IPU.
These coordination meetings aim to foster unified Gulf and Arab parliamentary positions, especially regarding the emergency item on the Assembly’s agenda, reflecting a shared commitment to issues of collective concern to Gulf, Arab, and Islamic legislative bodies.
The delegation will participate in the 39th Extraordinary Session of the Arab Inter- Parliamentary Union, along with the Governing Council of the IPU, the General Assembly, the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, the Forum of Young Parliamentarians, and other related sessions.
The Secretaries-General of the State Council and the Shura Council will also attend the meeting of the Association of Secretaries General of National Parliaments. The Shura Council will also engage in the IPU’s Standing Committees, namely:the Committee on Sustainable Development, the Committee on Democracy and Human Rights, the Committee on Peace and International Security, and the Committee on United Nations Affairs.
These sessions are expected to include discussions on key topics such as: Building a fair and sustainable global economy, the role of parliaments in combating protectionism, reducing tariffs, and preventing corporate tax evasion, enhancing parliamentary oversight of defence spending, and arms control and non-proliferation policies: preventing the next arms race.
The delegation includes: Ahmed Mohammed Al Nadabi, Secretary General of the Shura Council, Mohsen Said Al Janibi, Mansour Khalifa Al Siyabi, and Nasser Sultan Al Habsi, Member of the Shura Council.
It is worth noting that the Inter-Parliamentary Union includes over 179 parliaments, in addition to 65 non-permanent members representing international institutions and civil society organizations. The Union works to promote peace, democracy, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment, and sustainable development through political dialogue, cooperation, and parliamentary action.
It also strives to enhance women’s access to parliaments and their contribution to policymaking.
