The 41^st Forum of Women Parliamentarians has taken place as part of the current 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in the city of Istanbul in Türkiye.

First spoke President of the Forum Cynthia Lopez, who greeted Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova and the other participating Speakers of Parliament, and thanked them for attending this Forum.

Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Numan Kurtulmuş, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Tulia Ackson and Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Martin Chungong who addressed the Forum next emphasised its significance and wished successes in the proceedings of the event.

In her address, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova tabled the report of the 15^th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament held in 2025. According to the Speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan, the presentation matters especially in a period marked by conflicts, tensions, ambiguities and escalating inequality; she stressed that parliamentarians ought to become part of the existing problems’ solution because the world today needs the prowess of dialogue and inclusivity to ensure peace.

Saying that the presented report is the Declaration adopted by the Women Speakers of Parliament, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova mentioned the document calling for uniting the Parliaments and acting in the name of peace and inclusivity.

The Speaker of the Milli Majlis remarked as she continued her speech that challenges requiring action do not always emerge in stable, peaceful times – by far. Indeed, they arise in periods of crises, conflicts and regression. According to Speaker Sahiba Gafarova, just how evident is the grave impact of violence, war and hazards in many parts of the world upon women and girls and their future leads to the pre-conditioned necessity of intensifying the relevant efforts and accelerating their application. Stressing that the document expresses profound concerns about the current situation world-wide and declares solidarity with all the women and girls living in conflict and war areas, Sahiba Gafarova called upon the current Forum to manifest such solidarity, too.

Simultaneously, the report contains calls for full compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights as well as for peaceful resolution of conflicts via negotiations; there are in it recommendations for developing diplomacy that is to incorporate gender equality and inclusive peace processes; and there are calls for raising the role of women's leadership in diplomacy and foreign policy.

Given that the Forum is to discuss issues of restoring a just and lasting peace as well as the impacts of conflicts upon women and girls, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis urged the Forum participants to bring the recommendations put forward by Women Speakers up for discussion.  

The Forum continued with the addresses of other Speakers and Members of Parliament covering other subjects as well as with deliberations.

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis