Arab Parliament Joins IPU Sustainable Development Committee

The Arab Parliament, represented by Shura Council Member and Arab Parliament Deputy Saad Al-Otaibi, participated in the meeting of the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), convened as part of the 150th IPU General Assembly hosted by the Republic of Uzbekistan in Tashkent from April 5 to 9, 2025, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The committee examined a draft resolution titled “Parliamentary Strategies to Mitigate the Long-Term Impact of Conflicts, Including Armed Conflicts, on Sustainable Development,” a text that seeks to place legislative institutions at the center of international efforts to protect development gains in fragile and conflict-affected regions. The participation reflects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s continuing commitment, through the Shura Council and its representatives in regional parliamentary bodies, to constructive multilateral engagement on issues that shape global stability and prosperity.

At a time when armed conflicts continue to erode infrastructure, displace communities, and reverse decades of development progress across several regions, the Tashkent meeting offered parliamentarians a platform to translate diplomatic principles into practical legislative strategies. The Arab Parliament’s intervention, delivered on behalf of Arab parliamentary opinion, focused on two central pillars: the creation of a structured international mechanism to support ceasefires and mediation, and the unequivocal condemnation of forced displacement in occupied territories. Both positions align with the broader Arab and Saudi consensus that sustainable development cannot take root where conflict, occupation, and displacement persist. The discussions in Uzbekistan therefore carried significance well beyond the committee room, signaling a renewed parliamentary push to give development policy a stronger legal and institutional foundation.

Context and Background

Why has the Inter-Parliamentary Union become such an important venue for shaping the global response to conflict and development? Founded in 1889, the IPU is the world’s oldest multilateral political organization and today brings together national parliaments from more than 180 countries. Its standing committees function as technical and policy forums where legislators negotiate resolutions that later inform national laws, budgets, and oversight practices. The 150th General Assembly in Tashkent marked a symbolic milestone for the organization, underscoring its enduring role as a bridge between governments, parliaments, and international institutions. Hosting the assembly in Uzbekistan also highlighted Central Asia’s growing diplomatic weight and its interest in stability along its southern periphery.

The Standing Committee on Sustainable Development is one of the IPU’s four principal committees, tasked with examining how legislative bodies can advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Its work has increasingly focused on the intersection of conflict and development, because wars and prolonged instability destroy schools, hospitals, water systems, and energy infrastructure, while diverting public funds toward security and reconstruction. The draft resolution before the committee in Tashkent addressed this nexus directly, proposing that parliaments adopt anticipatory strategies rather than reactive ones. The Arab Parliament’s participation was therefore consistent with its mandate to coordinate Arab legislative positions and to ensure that Arab priorities, including the rejection of forced displacement and the protection of civilian populations, are reflected in international texts.

Saudi Arabia’s engagement in this process is part of a longer tradition of parliamentary diplomacy. The Shura Council, the Kingdom’s consultative assembly, participates regularly in IPU gatherings and in Arab parliamentary forums, contributing expertise on economic development, humanitarian law, and regional security. This participation complements Saudi Arabia’s wider diplomatic efforts, which have consistently emphasized dialogue, mediation, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. The Tashkent session thus represented another step in a sustained Saudi and Arab effort to ensure that international parliamentary resolutions reflect the legal and humanitarian principles that the Kingdom has long championed.

Key Details of the Arab Parliament’s Intervention

Speaking on behalf of the Arab Parliament, Saad Al-Otaibi, a member of the Shura Council and a deputy in the Arab Parliament, commended the draft resolution’s proposal to establish a global committee composed of experts tasked with working toward ceasefires and conducting effective mediation in conflict-affected countries. He stressed the importance of defining a clear legal framework that outlines the committee’s operational mechanism, mandate, and powers, so that its decisions carry binding force and it is granted the authority needed to fulfill its responsibilities effectively. This emphasis on legal clarity reflects a practical understanding that mediation mechanisms without defined mandates often struggle to produce durable outcomes.

Al-Otaibi also underscored the need to include explicit text in the draft resolution condemning all forms of forced displacement in territories under occupation, describing such actions as a flagrant violation of international law and humanitarian agreements and conventions. His intervention placed the protection of civilian populations at the heart of the parliamentary discussion, linking legal accountability to the broader objective of preserving the conditions necessary for sustainable development. The Arab Parliament’s position drew on established principles of international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the forcible transfer of protected persons from occupied territory.

The draft resolution itself is structured around several themes: early warning and conflict prevention, the protection of development infrastructure during hostilities, post-conflict reconstruction financing, and the role of parliaments in overseeing national recovery plans. By contributing to these deliberations, the Arab Parliament helped ensure that the final text would address the specific challenges facing the Arab region, where protracted conflicts have displaced millions and slowed progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. The committee’s discussions in Tashkent are expected to feed into a resolution that will be considered for adoption by the full IPU Assembly, giving the Arab Parliament’s amendments and proposals a lasting place in the organization’s policy framework.

International and Regional Impact

What does the Arab Parliament’s intervention in Tashkent signal for the wider region? The proposal to create a global expert committee on ceasefires and mediation reflects a growing international recognition that parliaments have a distinct and valuable role to play in conflict resolution. Legislators can legislate sanctions, approve peacekeeping budgets, and ratify agreements, giving them tools that diplomats alone do not possess. If the draft resolution is adopted with a clear legal framework, it could establish a new channel through which parliamentary expertise is brought to bear on some of the world’s most intractable conflicts, from the Middle East to the Sahel and beyond.

For the Arab world, the emphasis on condemning forced displacement in occupied territories carries particular weight. Displacement not only inflicts immediate humanitarian suffering but also destroys the social fabric, property rights, and economic assets that development depends upon. By securing explicit language on this issue, the Arab Parliament is helping to build a normative consensus that occupation and displacement are incompatible with sustainable development. This position strengthens the hand of Arab states in international forums and reinforces the principle that humanitarian law applies universally, without exception or political selectivity. It also complements Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian diplomacy, which has consistently supported relief efforts and the protection of civilians in conflict zones.

Economic and Strategic Significance

Why should economic policymakers pay attention to a parliamentary committee meeting in Tashkent? The answer lies in the direct link between conflict and economic loss. The World Bank and other international institutions have estimated that conflicts can reduce a country’s gross domestic product by double-digit percentages over a decade, while reconstruction costs often exceed the value of the damage inflicted. For investors and trading partners, conflict-affected regions represent lost markets, disrupted supply chains, and heightened risk. By advancing strategies to mitigate the long-term impact of conflict, the IPU and its member parliaments are effectively working to protect the economic foundations of development, including infrastructure, human capital, and institutional capacity.

Saudi Arabia’s participation in these discussions is consistent with its own strategic priorities. As the Kingdom pursues Vision 2030, it depends on a stable and prosperous regional environment for trade, investment, and the movement of people and goods. Saudi Arabia has consistently advocated for dialogue and mediation, hosting peace talks and supporting humanitarian initiatives in several countries. The Arab Parliament’s call for a legally defined mediation mechanism and for the condemnation of forced displacement aligns with this approach, reinforcing the principle that stability is a prerequisite for growth. In this sense, the Tashkent deliberations are not abstract debates but practical contributions to the economic security of the region and the wider world.

Vision 2030 Alignment

How does the Arab Parliament’s work in Tashkent connect to Saudi Arabia’s long-term vision? Vision 2030 is built on three pillars: a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation. Each of these pillars depends on peace, stability, and the rule of law. A vibrant society cannot flourish where families are displaced; a thriving economy cannot grow where infrastructure is destroyed; an ambitious nation cannot plan for the future where conflict undermines institutions. By advocating for parliamentary strategies that mitigate the long-term impact of conflict, the Arab Parliament, with Saudi representation, is helping to create the conditions in which Vision 2030’s objectives can be achieved, both at home and across the region.

Saudi Arabia’s leadership in this area reflects its broader role as a responsible international actor. Through the Shura Council, the Kingdom contributes to parliamentary diplomacy that reinforces international law, supports mediation, and protects the rights of civilians. The Tashkent meeting is one of many engagements in which Saudi representatives advance these principles, from the IPU to the Arab Parliament and other multilateral bodies. As the 150th IPU General Assembly concludes, the Arab Parliament’s interventions will remain part of the record, shaping future resolutions and reminding the international community that sustainable development and lasting peace are inseparable. Saudi Arabia remains committed to this vision, working with partners around the world to build a future in which development is protected, dignity is upheld, and prosperity is shared.

20 Questions

Q1. What event did the Arab Parliament participate in?

A1. The Arab Parliament participated in the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, held during the 150th IPU General Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from April 5 to 9, 2025.

Q2. Who represented the Arab Parliament at the meeting?

A2. Shura Council Member and Arab Parliament Deputy Saad Al-Otaibi represented the Arab Parliament, delivering its intervention on the draft resolution concerning parliamentary strategies to mitigate the long-term impact of conflicts.

Q3. What was the title of the draft resolution discussed?

A3. The draft resolution was titled “Parliamentary Strategies to Mitigate the Long-Term Impact of Conflicts, Including Armed Conflicts, on Sustainable Development.” It focused on the role of parliaments in protecting development gains in conflict-affected regions.

Q4. What did Al-Otaibi commend in the draft resolution?

A4. He commended the proposal to establish a global committee of experts tasked with working toward ceasefires and conducting effective mediation in conflict-affected countries, emphasizing the need for a clear legal framework for its operations.

Q5. What legal requirements did Al-Otaibi stress for the proposed committee?

A5. He stressed the importance of defining a clear legal framework outlining the committee’s operational mechanism, mandate, and powers to ensure its decisions are binding and it has the authority to fulfill its responsibilities effectively.

Q6. What did Al-Otaibi say about forced displacement?

A6. He underscored the need for explicit text in the draft resolution condemning all forms of forced displacement in territories under occupation, describing such actions as a flagrant violation of international law and humanitarian agreements and conventions.

Q7. Where and when was the 150th IPU General Assembly held?

A7. The 150th IPU General Assembly was hosted by the Republic of Uzbekistan in Tashkent from April 5 to 9, 2025, bringing together parliamentarians from more than 180 countries to discuss global legislative priorities.

Q8. What is the Inter-Parliamentary Union?

A8. The IPU is the world’s oldest multilateral political organization, founded in 1889, which brings together national parliaments to promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue.

Q9. What is the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development?

A9. It is one of the IPU’s four principal committees, tasked with examining how legislative bodies can advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including in conflict-affected and fragile regions.

Q10. Why is the Arab Parliament’s participation significant?

A10. It ensures that Arab priorities, including the rejection of forced displacement and the protection of civilians, are reflected in international parliamentary texts, strengthening the region’s voice in global policymaking.

Q11. How does this participation align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030?

A11. Vision 2030 depends on peace, stability, and the rule of law. By mitigating the long-term impact of conflicts, the Arab Parliament’s work helps create the conditions needed for a vibrant society and a thriving economy.

Q12. What role does the Shura Council play in international forums?

A12. The Shura Council participates regularly in IPU gatherings and Arab parliamentary forums, contributing expertise on economic development, humanitarian law, and regional security, and coordinating Arab legislative positions.

Q13. What are the key themes of the draft resolution?

A13. The resolution addresses early warning and conflict prevention, protection of development infrastructure during hostilities, post-conflict reconstruction financing, and the role of parliaments in overseeing national recovery plans.

Q14. How can parliaments contribute to conflict resolution?

A14. Parliaments can legislate sanctions, approve peacekeeping budgets, and ratify agreements, giving them tools that complement diplomatic efforts and enabling them to oversee the implementation of peace accords.

Q15. What is the economic impact of conflicts on development?

A15. Conflicts can reduce a country’s GDP by double-digit percentages over a decade, destroy infrastructure and human capital, and impose reconstruction costs that often exceed the value of the damage inflicted.

Q16. Why is condemning forced displacement important for sustainable development?

A16. Displacement destroys social fabric, property rights, and economic assets, making development impossible. Condemning it reinforces international humanitarian law and protects the conditions necessary for long-term prosperity.

Q17. What happens next with the draft resolution?

A17. The committee’s discussions will feed into a resolution expected to be considered for adoption by the full IPU Assembly, giving the Arab Parliament’s proposals a lasting place in the organization’s policy framework.

Q18. How does Saudi Arabia support humanitarian principles in conflict zones?

A18. Saudi Arabia has consistently supported relief efforts, hosted peace talks, and advocated for the protection of civilians, reflecting its commitment to international humanitarian law and responsible global engagement.

Q19. What is the significance of hosting the IPU Assembly in Uzbekistan?

A19. It highlights Central Asia’s growing diplomatic weight and its interest in stability along its southern periphery, while underscoring the IPU’s enduring role as a bridge between governments and parliaments.

Q20. What is the overarching message of the Arab Parliament’s intervention?

A20. The message is that sustainable development and lasting peace are inseparable, and that parliaments must adopt clear legal frameworks to mediate conflicts, prevent displacement, and protect development gains for future generations.

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