Calls for Stronger Parliamentary Cooperation

The parliamentary delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain, led by H.E. Dr. Mohammed Ali Hassan Ali, Chair of the Public Utilities and Environment Committee of the Shura Council, participated in the opening session of the Global Conference of Women Parliamentarians 2026, which commenced in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, under the theme “Promoting Equality: Breaking Barriers of Gender Stereotypes and Negative Social Norms,” organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in cooperation with the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.

The opening session featured addresses by H.E. Ana Brnabić, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia; H.E. Dr. Tulia Ackson, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union; and H.E. Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the IPU, as well as a statement by a representative of the Serbian National Assembly. The keynote address was delivered by H.E. Senator Cynthia López Castro, Member of the Mexican Senate and Chair of the IPU Bureau of Women Parliamentarians, entitled “From Mexico to Belgrade: Continuing the Path Toward Equality.”

The conference addresses, across seven sessions, key issues including dismantling barriers to equality, challenging stereotypes and negative social norms, promoting diversity in parliamentary work, combating misinformation and violence against women in politics, strengthening gender-sensitive parliaments, sharing cross-sector experiences to transform leadership and institutional culture, and supporting the participation of women and youth in democratic life.