From the 4th to the 9th of April 2025, the National Assembly of Seychelles was represented at the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Leading the delegation was Hon. Wavel William, accompanied by Hon. Audrey Vidot and Desk Officer Ms. Emma Didon.
The Assembly commenced on Friday 4th April with the SADC Group and Africa Geopolitical Group meetings, during which Hon. Waven William proposed an emergency item addressing the pressing issue of global warming and the breach of the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold. This proposal was endorsed by both the SADC and Africa Groups, prompting the formation of a joint drafting committee, which was further strengthened through collaboration with the Arab Group, whose focus was on the issue of conflict. In subsequent days, Hon. William with the drafting support of Ms. Didon, worked to refine the emergency item and ensure its adherence to the shared values of the Africa and Arab groups. Following recommendations by the IPU Steering Committee, the vote on the emergency item was held on Tuesday 7th April and was jointly presented by Hon. William and Senator Mahasen Mohammad Aljaghoub of Jordan. Despite receiving the most positive votes, the item did not meet the two-thirds majority required to be added to the Agenda.
Hon. William continued his work as President of the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, chairing its sessions and steering debates on the resolution under consideration, which was informed by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hon. William also used the opportunity to advocate for the increased visibility and inclusion of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) group in the work of the IPU, particularly at high-level meetings involving Presidents of Geopolitical Groups and Standing Committees.
Hon. Audrey Vidot equally represented Seychelles with distinction, attending the Forum of Women Parliamentarians where she spoke on the critical role global parliamentary networks play in advancing the political participation of women and girls in a panel titled “Women shaping politics: Global networks”. Hon. Vidot shared insights on the initiatives pursued in Seychelles to promote leadership opportunities for women, through targeted empowerment programmes at the community level. In the Forum of Young MPs, she expressed support for the inclusion of discussions on the protection of young people on social media platforms and the responsible use of modern technology.
Throughout the week, the Seychelles delegation also participated in a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings. Hon. William led the delegation in a fruitful exchange with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) delegation, headed by the Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali Al Nuaimi, during which both sides reaffirmed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and the strong ties between their respective countries. The delegation also had the opportunity to call on the President of the IPU Rt. Hon. Dr. Tulia Ackson.
Further engagements included participation in thematic workshops, such as the session on “Beliefs and Social Norms: What impacts on women’s health,” attended by Hon. Vidot, and the workshop on “Reducing Methane Emissions: A Critical Pathway for Addressing the Climate Issue,” where Hon. Vidot was joined by Hon. Clifford Andre in his capacity as Vice-Chairperson of the African Network for Parliaments on Climate Change (ANPCC). Hon. William additionally contributed to the theme of the general debate on “Parliamentary Action for Social Development and Justice” in his intervention of the topic.
The Assembly then culminated on Wednesday 9th April with the convening of the Governing Council and Assembly, where Members adopted committee reports, amendments to the IPU Statutes and Rules, and the resolutions presented by the respective Standing Committees. The Seychelles delegation concluded its participation in the 150th Assembly having strongly advocated for issues of national and global importance - particularly the urgent matter of climate change and the enhanced representation of Small Island Developing States in global parliamentary dialogue.
