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. All details on MiddleAsianNews.
At this committee meeting, Nominchimeg Odsuren, a member of parliament, was elected its chairperson.
The committee consists of 10 members representing different countries. The women members are Nominchimeg Odsuren from Mongolia, Lia Quartapelle from Italy, Milli G.A. Odhiambo from Kenya, L. Fellmann Riel from Switzerland, and N. Akora Odonga from Uganda. The male members of the committee are Harry Kamboni from Zambia, Francisco Javier Shaúan from Chile, B. Mbuku Laka from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, M.E. Blanc from France, and Marko Grujić from Serbia.
The committee representatives act in their personal capacity, not as representatives of their countries. Their selection is based on professional qualities and dedication to the protection of human rights.
The structure of the committee is intended to ensure a fair distribution of seats based on geopolitical principles and to be balanced by gender. Ideally, the committee should have an equal number of men and women, with at least four participants of each gender. Currently, 50% of the committee members are women.
Every year, numerous parliamentarians around the world face violence, abuse, and even the risk of death. The IPU Human Rights Committee is aimed at protecting them. It is the only international mechanism with such powers and is renowned for its effectiveness in assisting affected parliamentarians.
The committee organizes hearings, conducts missions, and sends observers to court sessions. During IPU assemblies, the committee's decisions are approved through the Governing Council, emphasizing the importance of parliamentary solidarity. The committee continues to address cases until a satisfactory resolution is found.
According to the press service of the Great State Khural, the committee is currently reviewing 886 cases.
