Bahrain's parliamentary delegation, led by Jamal Mohammed Fakhro, First Deputy Chairman of the Shura Council, will participate in the 149th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and related meetings, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 13 to 17 October. The Assembly will focus on the theme "Harnessing science, technology, and innovation for a more peaceful and sustainable future." The Bahraini delegation will also attend coordination meetings with Arab and Asian parliaments, as well as sessions of the IPU Governing Council, standing committees, the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, and the Forum of Young Parliamentarians. Several workshops and panel discussions, along with meetings of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP), will take place. The standing committees, workshops, and discussions will address key topics, including the role of parliaments in advancing a two-State solution in Palestine, parliamentary development as a defence against democratic backsliding , and promoting gender equality and human rights. Other discussions will cover the impact of artificial intelligence on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, as well as climate change, disarmament, conflict mitigation, and parliamentary strategies to mitigate the long-lasting effects of conflicts on sustainable development. During the assembly, the election of the President and Vice-Presidents will take place, alongside considerations for adding an emergency item to the agenda. The ASGP will hold several meetings to discuss current issues, parliamentary innovations, and governance, exploring how secretaries general can utilise artificial intelligence while mitigating risks. The association will also commemorate its 85th anniversary during the event. The Bahraini parliamentary delegation includes Abdulnabi Salman Ahmed, First Deputy Speaker of the Council of Representatives and Deputy Head of the Delegation; Dr. Bassam Ismail Al Binmohammed, Shura Council member; MP Hassan Ibrahim Hassan; Dalal Jass im Al Zayed, Shura Council member; MP Dr. Mahdi Abdulaziz Al Showaikh; Hala Ramzi Fayez, Shura Council member; and Kareema Mohammed Al Abbasi, Secretary-General of the Shura Council. Source: Bahrain News Agency