The National Assembly’s standing delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, headed by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Edin Djerlek and including Ivana Stamatovic, are taking part in the 153rd session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, in Arusha, Tanzania, from 6 to 9 October 2026.
The theme of the general debate is "Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all", with over 40 heads of parliaments and parliamentary organisations, as well as over 80 heads of delegations taking part in the debate.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Edin Djerlek participated in the general debate and on the occasion spoke about the crisis of trust in institutions, assessing that trust is built through responsible decision-making, fairness, accountability and concrete results. Djerlek emphasised that parliaments have the special duty to represent all citizens, especially those whose voices are most easily overlooked, as well as to ensure equal opportunities regardless of social status, influence or place of residence. The Republic of Serbia advocates for an international order based on national independence, international law and the Charter of the United Nations, in which smaller states are equal partners, and the strength of the order is measured by the ability of all countries and their citizens to progress. In conditions of global crises, wars, geopolitical tensions and limited resources, good governance implies the responsible making of difficult decisions, fair application of the law, responsible use of public resources and the readiness of institutions to acknowledge and correct what is not functional, Djerlek concluded.
Ivana Stamatovic participated in the meetings of the Bureau and the Forum of Young Parliamentarians, and as a panellist on the topic "Mental health across generations: Coping with digital overload, economic pressure and uncertainty". On the occasion, she spoke from the perspective of young politicians and MPs on this topic.
The session is attended by delegations from over 140 countries and around 20 international organisations with a total of over 2,000 participants. A wide range of topics were discussed during the session - military artificial intelligence, monitoring the exploitation of natural resources, artificial intelligence and children's rights, artificial intelligence and the future of work, healthy nutrition in the face of climate change, the protection of mountain and ocean ecosystems, the review of the United Nations Charter and strengthening maritime security in times of conflict.
This year's Cremer-Passy Prize for achievements in the field of human rights was awarded to Paraguayan MP Rocio Abed de Zacarías, who played a key role in passing three laws in the areas of health, women's rights, and social inclusion.
Photo gallery: © National Assembly