The 152nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU) has adopted the Istanbul Declaration, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening multilateralism, inclusivity, and resilience.

Swapo Party MP Iswarin Rooi gave feedback to the National Council on the report of the 152nd IPU assembly held in April 2026 in Istanbul.

Taking into consideration the engagements and findings, the delegation recommended that Namibia strengthen parliamentary capacity by securing appropriate technical assistance and enhancing the skills and knowledge required to effectively perform legislative, oversight, and representative functions.

National Council MP of the Mariental Urban Constituency Iswarin Rooi highlighted the issues.

“The Assembly deliberated under the theme 'nurturing hope, securing peace, and ensuring justice for future generations,' where we were addressing pressing global challenges such as peace and security, climate change, migration, digital transformation, gender equality, youth empowerment, and inclusive governance. The Namibian delegation contributed meaningfully during the various meetings of the 152nd IPU assembly, more specifically at the IPU Forum of Women Parliamentarians, the special accountability segment on the general debate, and the meetings of the Committee on Yauf. Namibia also presented the outcome document as a concluding sighting of the 152nd Assembly, validating Namibia's legislative leadership on the global stage. The Namibian parliament's interventions on youth participation and mental health were particularly recognised with emphasis on the landmark Mental Health Bill of 2025 and initiatives to strengthen youth-focused parliamentary engagement.”

Rooi also recommended that the government institutionalise youth and gender inclusion within parliamentary processes in line with international standards and commitments and adopt proactive parliamentary diplomacy frameworks to strengthen Namibia's contribution to regional and global peace, stability, and sustainable development.