The 41st Women Parliamentarians Forum was held within the framework of the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Istanbul, Turkey.
elchi reports that, first, the Chair of the Forum, Cynthia Lopez, spoke, greeting the Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Sahiba Gafarova, and other parliamentary speakers attending the event, and expressed her gratitude for their participation.
Then, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmuş, the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Tulia Ackson, and the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Martin Chungong, spoke, emphasizing the importance of the Forum and wishing success to the event’s proceedings.
Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova delivered a speech and presented the report of the 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament held in 2025. The Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament stated that this presentation is of particular importance at a time when conflicts, tensions, uncertainties, and growing inequalities prevail. According to her, parliamentarians must be part of the solution to existing problems, as the world today needs the power of dialogue and inclusivity to ensure peace.
The Speaker noted that the presented report is a declaration adopted by women speakers of parliament. She emphasized that the document calls for bringing parliaments together and for joint action in the name of peace, solidarity, and inclusivity.
Sahiba Gafarova stated that calls for action do not always arise in stable and peaceful times; on the contrary, they emerge more often during periods of crisis, conflict, and regression. According to her, the severe impacts of violence, war, and security problems in many regions of the world on women and girls and their future make it necessary to further strengthen and accelerate efforts in the field of gender equality and the protection of women and girls. She drew attention to the fact that the document expresses deep concern regarding the current situation worldwide and solidarity with women and girls living in conflict and war zones, and called on the Forum participants to share this solidarity.
At the same time, the report includes calls for full respect for international humanitarian law and human rights, the resolution of conflicts through peaceful negotiations, as well as recommendations on developing gender-sensitive diplomacy, promoting inclusive peace processes, and increasing the leadership role of women in diplomacy and foreign policy.
Considering that the restoration of a just and lasting peace and the impacts of conflicts on women and girls would be discussed at this Forum, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis called on the Forum participants to incorporate the recommendations put forward by the women speakers into these discussions.
Subsequently, the Forum continued with speeches by other parliamentary speakers and parliamentarians and discussions on the topic.