Tashkent: The Kingdom of Bahrain's parliamentary delegation, under the leadership of Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives and Chairman of the Parliamentary Executive Committee, has concluded its participation in the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, from April 5 to 9.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the delegation was actively involved in the 215th session of the IPU Governing Council and the Assembly's general meetings. They engaged in various Standing Committees, the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, the Forum of Young Parliamentarians, and the Fourth Conference of the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement. The members also attended numerous workshops and panel discussions on key global issues.
During the meetings, the Bahraini delegation emphasized the Kingdom's progress in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and its significant role in promoting peaceful coexistence and intercultural dialogue. They advocated for both official and parliamentary diplomacy to enhance relations between nations and peoples in support of common interests.
The Assembly concluded with the adoption of the "Tashkent Declaration," which called for prioritizing social development and justice in legislative and political agendas. This is in preparation for the Second World Summit for Social Development, set to occur in the State of Qatar later this year. The declaration highlighted the ongoing challenges of poverty, inequality, and social fragmentation, stressing the importance of a new social contract based on empowerment, rights, and solidarity.
Key pillars for future action were identified, including investment in people, economic democratization, and institutional strengthening. Recommendations were made to expand access to education and healthcare, ensure fair taxation, support the social economy, safeguard labor rights, and reinforce the transparency roles of parliaments.
The declaration also called for global financial system reforms, debt relief for developing countries, and the creation of legal frameworks for artificial intelligence and digital technologies to ensure ethical use and mitigate social risks. It concluded with a call for national parliaments to develop inclusive reform plans that involve civil society, contributing to the outcomes of the upcoming social summit.