At the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly held from October 5 to 9 in Arusha, Tanzania, member parliaments adopted key resolutions focused on disability rights and climate disaster resilience.
A major highlight of the conference was an emergency resolution submitted by Nepal, its first ever emergency submission to the IPU, calling for immediate parliamentary intervention to build resilience and mitigate climate risks in vulnerable areas like the Himalayas. Presented by House of Representatives Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal, Nepal’s proposal passed with a two-thirds majority (901 votes in favor, 78 against, and 140 abstentions), beating out competing emergency proposals from Bahrain and Iran.
The approved climate resolution emphasizes the need for cross-border early warning systems, climate technology access, and stronger parliamentary oversight of national climate goals. Member parliaments will now focus on holding governments accountable, protecting glaciers, and securing financial and technical aid for impacted communities.
In addition to climate action, the Assembly passed a proposal aimed at safeguarding the rights, empowerment, and social inclusion of persons with disabilities. During the event, Speaker Aryal detailed Nepal’s commitment to good governance and equal opportunity, while lawmakers Rabin Kumar Mahato and Jhakku Prasad Subedi represented the country in the Forum of Young Parliamentarians and the Asia-Pacific Geopolitical Group, respectively.
