From February 2 to 18, 2026, the 179th session of the Human Rights Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland. Details can be found on MiddleAsianNews.
During this session, Nominchimeg Odsuren, a member of parliament, was elected chairperson of the IPU Human Rights Committee.
The committee consists of ten members representing different countries. Among the women members are Nominchimeg Odsuren from Mongolia, Lia Quartapelle from Italy, Milli G.A. Odhiambo from Kenya, L. Feldmann Riel from Switzerland, and N. Akora Odonga from Uganda. The male representatives are Harry Kamboni from Zambia, Francisco Javier Schawan from Chile, B. Mbuku Laka from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, M.E. Blanc from France, and Marko Grujic from Serbia.
Committee members act in a personal capacity, not representing their countries, and are selected based on their qualifications and commitment to human rights issues.
The committee is expected to reflect gender balance and fair geopolitical distribution of seats. Ideally, the number of men and women should be equal, with a minimum of four representatives of each gender. Currently, 50% of the committee members are women.
Every year, many parliamentarians around the world face violence, abuse, or even lose their lives. The IPU Human Rights Committee is dedicated to protecting these individuals. It has unique powers and is known for its effective support of parliamentarians facing threats.
The committee conducts hearings, carries out missions, and sends observers to court proceedings. During IPU assemblies, through the Governing Council, IPU members endorse the committee's decisions, emphasizing the importance of parliamentary solidarity. It continues to work on cases until a satisfactory resolution is achieved.
According to the press service of the Great State Khural, the committee is currently reviewing 886 cases.
