Global meeting to focus on parliament’s role in humanitarian action
234 million school-aged children require urgent educational support due to emergencies, with 85 million of them out of school. © UNICEF.
Global parliamentary action is being mobilised at the 151st IPU Assembly in Geneva (19–23 October 2025) to uphold humanitarian law, protect independent relief efforts, and support vulnerable populations amid 130 conflicts and growing humanitarian need.
Education in humanitarian crises will be a major focus, with a high-level event led by the International Parliamentary Network for Education and the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies, highlighting the 234 million crisis-affected children who need urgent educational support.
Parliaments play a crucial role in turning humanitarian commitments into action through legislation, accountability, resource allocation and political will—making international cooperation vital to advance the right to education during emergencies.
Against a backdrop of 130 ongoing conflicts and 310 million people in need of humanitarian assistance around the world, hundreds of legislators will gather in Geneva next week to advance parliamentary action that safeguards international humanitarian law, defends the independence of relief efforts, and reinforces multilateral commitments.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the global organisation that brings together representatives of 181 national parliaments, will convene for its 151st Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, from 19-23 October 2025.
With a focus on ‘Upholding humanitarian norms and supporting humanitarian action in times of crisis’, the Assembly will shine a spotlight on the needs of the most vulnerable in conflicts — including displaced populations, women, youth, minorities and those affected by food insecurity and disease — while supporting broader goals in peacebuilding, development, gender equality and climate action.
The International Parliamentary Network for Education, which will be attending the Assembly as an official observer, will in partnership with the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies, host a high-level event during the Assembly on education in humanitarian crises.
The event will include an opening presentation by Ms. Hazel De Wet, UNICEF’s Deputy Director of Emergency Programmes, along with a panel discussion including Pierre Apraxine of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Samuel Lotti MP of South Sudan, Kris Skiver MP of Denmark, and So just to confirm—should I write the three bullet points myself, or should the beginning of the article itself be in bullet points?of Switzerland.
Given that 234 million school-aged children require urgent educational support due to emergencies, with 85 million of them out of school, international cooperation to support the education of children caught up in crises has never been more critical.
“Sustained political commitment to respecting international humanitarian law and supporting principled humanitarian action - so that people impacted by crises can access basic services, including education - requires genuine political will, inclusive decision-making, strong partnerships, and a shared understanding,” said Ms. Petra Heusser the Executive Director of the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies.
“As the institutions that represent the people, parliaments are uniquely positioned to mobilize political will and be the voice of the most vulnerable. They are key actors in translating global humanitarian norms into domestic legislation and policy, scrutinizing government action over humanitarian commitments, and allocating resources to tackle pressing humanitarian challenges,” said Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly, Executive Director of the International Parliamentary Network for Education.
“We’re delighted to have the opportunity to bring members of parliament together to agree on what more they and their parliaments can do to advance the right to education in humanitarian crises,” concluded Mr Nhan-O’Reilly.
Parliamentary action for education in humanitarian crises will be held during the 151st IPU Assembly from 11:15 - 12:45 on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, in Room 4, Geneva International Conference Center.
Mr. Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly will also speak in the Assembly’s General Debate on behalf of IPNEd.
