Istanbul, Thursday, 16 April 2026 – Members of South Africa’s multi-party parliamentary delegation to the 152nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly on Wednesday reinforced the critical link between women’s economic empowerment, post-conflict recovery and the achievement of sustainable peace.
Members of the delegation participated in key sessions, including the Forum for Women Parliamentarians. These sessions form part of the Assembly's programme currently underway in Istanbul, Türkiye. Across all engagements on Wednesday, the delegation emphasised that peace, justice and economic transformation are inseparable from gender justice and equality and that this calls for inclusive parliamentary action.
Delegates participated in deliberations on important draft resolutions of the 152nd Assembly, including the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development's resolution entitled "Building a fair and sustainable global economy: the role of parliaments in combating protectionism, reducing tariffs, and preventing corporate tax avoidance." They proposed the inclusion of amendments recognising that women’s vital role as producers and traders requires targeted action to address the specific barriers they face, and to enable their full, equal and meaningful participation in all spheres of trade.
One member of the delegation, Ms Jane Mananiso, during a panel discussion titled “Conflicts on the Rise, Women’s and Girls’ Rights on the Decline”, called for strengthened survivor-centred approaches and urged parliaments to place the protection of civilians, particularly women and children, at the centre of peace and security agendas. She emphasised that the challenge facing the international community is not the absence of legal frameworks, but rather weak enforcement, limited accountability and insufficient political will to protect women and children in conflict-affected settings.
Another member of the delegation who is a Member of the National Assembly, Ms Dorries Mpapane, participated in discussions on economic governance. She cautioned that protectionist policies and corporate tax avoidance deepen inequality and undermine governments’ capacity to deliver essential public services. Ms Mpapane said that this disproportionately burden women and girls, who rely most heavily on public social infrastructure and services.
In her address to the Forum for Women Parliamentarians, the President of the IPU, Dr Tulia Ackson, also called for renewed global commitment to gender equality and inclusive leadership. She underscored the Forum’s importance as a critical platform for amplifying women’s voices in international decision-making and strengthening women’s leadership across parliaments worldwide, particularly at a time when global crises continue to impact women and girls disproportionately.
The Assembly, which officially started on Wednesday, ends on Sunday.
*The IPU is the global organisation of national parliaments that facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment, climate action and sustainable development worldwide. Founded in 1889, the IPU brings together 183 Member Parliaments and 15 Associate Members, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
The full programme for the 152 Assembly is available here.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Enquiries: Moloto Mothapo, Parliament Spokesperson
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