Reporting by: HAN News – Desk
GENEVA — The 151st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is currently underway in Geneva, Switzerland, with Somalia represented by the Second Deputy Speaker of the Federal Parliament, Hon. Abdullahi Omar Abshirow.
The high-level global parliamentary meeting, which entered its third day on Wednesday, has brought together delegates from national parliaments around the world to discuss pressing international issues, including peace, democracy, and sustainable development.
In his keynote address, Hon. Abshirow highlighted Somalia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen governance, promote human rights, and improve social welfare through new legislative reforms. He also emphasized Parliament’s focus on laws that support humanitarian causes, protect displaced people, and ensure the rights of refugees — many of whom have fled conflicts in Yemen and Syria to seek safety in Somalia.
“Somalia continues to uphold its commitment to international humanitarian values and to provide protection for those fleeing violence and instability,” Abshirow told delegates.
The Somali delegation, led by Hon. Abshirow, also voted in favor of two key resolutions during the assembly: one addressing Transnational Organized Crime and another proposed by Madagascar, which calls for collective efforts toward resolving that country’s ongoing political and social challenges.
Alongside the main plenary sessions, the event features several side meetings between parliamentary leaders and international organizations. According to Somali officials, Hon. Abshirow is expected to hold bilateral discussions with his counterparts and representatives of global institutions to strengthen Somalia’s parliamentary cooperation and diplomatic ties.
The IPU Assembly, which began earlier this week, is expected to conclude later today, with participating nations reaffirming their shared commitment to parliamentary diplomacy and international collaboration.
