Minister Osmond Martinez represented the Belize National Assembly at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), held from April 15th-19th, 2026, in Istanbul, Türkiye.
The Assembly brought together parliamentarians from across the globe, convening all statutory bodies of the IPU, including the Governing Council, Standing Committees, the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, the Committee on Middle East Questions, as well as the Forum of Women Parliamentarians and the Forum of Young Members of Parliament.
Central to the Assembly was the General Debate under the theme “Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations,” which provided a platform for delegates to deliberate on global challenges, exchange perspectives, and strengthen parliamentary action toward peace, justice, and sustainable development.
Discussions also addressed critical policy areas through Standing Committees, including the role of parliaments in establishing effective post-conflict management mechanisms to restore just and lasting peace, as well as advancing a fair and sustainable global economy. Emphasis was placed on combating protectionism, reducing trade barriers, and addressing corporate tax avoidance. A significant highlight of the Assembly was the historic election of Ms. Anda Filip of Romania as the ninth Secretary General of the IPU, the first woman to hold the position in the organization’s 137-year history. Elected by the IPU Governing Council with 72% of the vote, Ms. Filip will assume office following the conclusion of the mandate of Mr. Martin Chungong on June 30, 2026.
On this occasion, Honourable Martinez extended congratulations to Ms. Filip on her appointment, conveying best wishes on behalf of the Prime Minister of Belize, the Honourable John Briceño, the Honourable Valerie Woods, his parliamentary colleagues, and the people of Belize. Ms. Filip brings over two decades of experience within the IPU, having served as Director for Member Parliaments and External Relations since 2011, and previously as Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York. Her distinguished diplomatic career also includes service with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In her remarks following the election, she expressed her commitment to working collaboratively with member parliaments in advancing the mission of the IPU.
Honourable Martinez also participated in the proceedings, contributing to dialogue and knowledge-sharing with international counterparts, and reinforcing Belize’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and democratic governance.
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Minister Osmond Martinez represented the Belize National Assembly at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), held from April 15th-19th, 2026, in Istanbul, Türkiye. The Assembly brought together parliamentarians from across the globe, convening all statutory bodies of the IPU, including the Governing Council, Standing Committees, the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians,
The post Belize represented at 152nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Türkiye appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
