The Sultanate of Oman’s Parliament concluded its participation in the 150th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and its accompanying meetings, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The sessions addressed several key issues, including: harnessing religious and ethical values to advance parliamentary dialogue and peaceful coexistence; enhancing parliamentary advocacy for climate action; addressing weapons of mass destruction from a humanitarian perspective; and advancing parliamentary diplomacy and mediation.

As part of the Omani delegation’s participation, H.E. Khalid Hilal Al Ma'awali, Chairman of the Shura Council, met with H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who inaugurated the Assembly proceedings in Tashkent, the Uzbek capital.
During the General Assembly, H.E. Al Ma'awali delivered a speech in which he emphasized the importance of unity in social development and cooperation to achieve shared goals. He highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and Palestine, stressing that while the world discusses development and progress, one cannot overlook the devastating destruction of infrastructure, deliberate annihilation of life, and widespread violations of basic human rights in Gaza. He described the situation as a horrific genocide, marked by the collapse of education, healthcare, and all aspects of life, with over two-thirds of casualties being women, children, and civilians.
“We are today facing a true test of our values and principles—values that represent the foundation of sustainable social development,” he stated. “We call on all parties to support measures that would end this suffering, and we reaffirm our solidarity with all advocates of peace and justice to uphold the Palestinian cause and ensure security and peace prevail in Gaza, Palestine, and across the world.”

In further efforts to bolster international parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation between legislative councils, H.E. Al Ma'awali and his accompanying delegation held an official meeting with H.E. Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairwoman of the Senate of Uzbekistan. The discussions underscored the importance of strengthening Omani-Uzbek relations and broadening bilateral cooperation across various fields, particularly in legislative experience-sharing, economic, and investment domains.

The Omani delegation also met with H.E. Nuriddin Ismailov, Chairman of Uzbekistan’s Legislative Chamber. Both sides emphasized the role of parliamentary diplomacy and legislative coordination in boosting economic and commercial ties.
H.E. Al Ma'awali also held meetings with a number of heads of regional and international parliaments, discussing ways to enhance bilateral relations between Oman and their respective countries. These meetings further reinforced the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in deepening bilateral cooperation and addressing issues of mutual interest.
Oman’s delegation also participated in the 215th session of the IPU Governing Council, the Standing Committees, and a variety of side workshops. The delegation took part in a special session discussing topics proposed under the emergency item. Additionally, the delegation joined the Forum of Women Parliamentarians and the Forum of Young Parliamentarians. H.E. Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Al Nadabi, Secretary-General of the Shura Council, attended the Association of Secretaries General of National Parliaments, where discussions focused on the use of artificial intelligence in parliamentary work and meeting the expectations of young parliamentarians.
The IPU’s standing committees, including those on Sustainable Development, Democracy and Human Rights, Peace and International Security, and UN Affairs, discussed a wide array of topics, supporting the role of parliaments in tackling both regional and global challenges. Discussions focused on conflicts impacting sustainable development, progress on the two-state solution for Palestine, and the follow-up to resolutions addressing the impact of artificial intelligence on democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and elections.
Furthermore, Oman’s delegation participated in coordination meetings of the Arab Parliamentary Group, the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States, and the Gulf Parliamentary Coordination Meeting with GRULAC and Latin American countries, where common positions were discussed on various agenda items

The Omani delegation to the 150th IPU Assembly included H.E. Ahmed  Mohammed Al Nadabi, Secretary-General of the Shura Council; Her Excellency Dr. Hanifa Ahmed Al Qassimi and Her Excellency Dr. Shamsa  Masoud Al Shibaniyah, members of the State Council; along with H.E. Khoweidem Mohammed Al Mashani, H.E. Ammar Salem Al Saadi, and H.E. Waleed Salem Al-Malki, members of the Shura Council.

The Oman’s participation in the IPU Assembly aligns with its ongoing efforts to enhance parliamentary diplomacy and foster cooperation with regional and international legislative bodies. The Inter-Parliamentary Union, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is the world’s largest and oldest parliamentary organization, established on June 30, 1889. It comprises over 179 national parliaments and 65 associate members, including international institutions and civil society organizations. The IPU works toward peace, democracy, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment, and sustainable development through political dialogue, cooperation, and legislative action, with a strong emphasis on women’s participation in policymaking.