The 12th IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, under the theme Reclaiming human rights, justice and dignity for all in turbulent times. It will take place from 4 to 6 September 2026. Official working sessions of the Conference will take place on 4–5 September 2026. The third day of the Conference (6 September 2026) is reserved for a cultural programme organized by the Host Parliament. The Conference is being jointly organized by the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliament of Uzbekistan. The venue will be Silk Road Samarkand Congress Center.
All IPU Member Parliaments has been invited to send a delegation of young MPs (under 40 years of age) to attend the Conference. As a rule, the number of MPs in each unicameral parliament’s delegation should not exceed four. Bicameral parliaments can register up to eight MPs. Parliaments are invited to send a gender-balanced delegation, including a maximum of two parliamentary staff members.
The IPU Associate Members and observers that work on youth-related matters are also invited to take part in the Conference, as are select international and regional youth associations, organizations and parliaments.
The IPU’s annual Global Conferences of Young Parliamentarians are unique platforms for young members of parliament to exchange, learn, and define common and innovative strategies to advance youth empowerment. Since 2014, the Conferences have addressed topical issues linked to youth empowerment and have provided policy orientation in areas such as political participation, peace and security, the Sustainable Development Goals, social and economic inclusion, education and employment, well-being, recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, climate action, digital transformation and innovation, ensuring employment and education in times of crisis, and uniting generations for gender equality.
With human rights taking centre stage at the IPU in 2026, the Twelfth IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians will focus on how young parliamentarians can help secure rights, justice and dignity for all in today’s turbulent times. Discussions will address key dimensions of youth rights, including digital rights, the protection of basic rights in situations of conflict, climate justice, and the political and economic rights of young people. Through a variety of interactive panels and working group sessions, the Conference will empower young MPs to enhance knowledge, share experiences and build alliances. Delegations are therefore encouraged to come prepared with examples of good practices to share with their colleagues.
In 2010, at the 122nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand, IPU Member Parliaments adopted a landmark resolution entitled Youth participation in the democratic process. The resolution stated that achieving meaningful democracy required the full and active participation of youth and youth organizations in democratic processes at the local, national, regional and international levels. In that spirit, in 2013, the IPU established the Forum of Young Parliamentarians, a formal and permanent body dedicated to enhancing the quantitative and qualitative participation of young people in parliaments and in the IPU.
In 2014, the IPU established the annual Global Conference mechanism to contribute to: (i) strengthening the role of young parliamentarians and youth participation in parliamentary activities; (ii) making recommendations from the perspective of young people’s views on the activities and agenda of the IPU; and (iii) networking, solidarity and capacity-building, broadening young people’s approaches to issues of mutual concern.
Eleven Global Conferences have taken place, on various topics including: youth participation in politics and democracy (Switzerland, 2014); democracy, peace and prosperity (Japan, 2015); the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Zambia, 2016); economic, social and political inclusion (Canada, 2017); the promotion of sustainability and the protection of the interests of future generations (Azerbaijan, 2018); achieving the SDGs and empowering youth through social welfare (Paraguay, 2019); postCOVID-19 youth-responsive approach (2021, online conference format); responding to climate change (Egypt, 2022); digital transformation and innovation (Viet Nam, 2023); preserving education and employment in all circumstances (Armenia, 2024); and uniting generations for gender equality (Peru, 2025).
For Information Note, click the following link:
file:///C:/Users/Dell/Downloads/12GCYP%20-%20Information%20note%2017.08.2026-e.pdf
For Provisional Programme, click the following link:
file:///C:/Users/Dell/Downloads/12GCYP-Programme-25.08.2026.pdf
