/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

 The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has appointed the Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, to the Task Force of the world association of parliaments to mediate on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 
 
The IPU is a global organisation of national Parliaments that facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development worldwide. 
 
The Russia-Ukraine conflict formed part of the IPU's emergency items debated in detail in the high-level segment of the meetings during its 144th Assembly held recently in Indonesia, between 19 and 24 March. This resulted in the adoption of a resolution to form an IPU Task Team to engage the parliaments of both countries, thereby joining forces with other mediating parties to end the conflict. 
 
The Speaker's appointment follows a virtual meeting between herself and the President of the IPU, Mr Duarte Pacheco, in which a formal invitation was made to her to form part of the global legislative effort to, through dialogue, mediation and diplomacy, bring about a peaceful resolution to the current situation. The Task Force will be led by the Speaker of the United Arab Emirates, who also serves as Deputy President of the IPU. 
 
Speaker will also be representing the African Geopolitical Group in the Task Force. 
 
During the recent IPU Assembly in Bali, the South African Parliament's position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict was that world parliaments must actively seek peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue, mediation and diplomacy. 
 
The Speaker has since conferred with President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding the appointment, and the President has expressed support and wished her well in her role. The Speakers' Forum, a structure of Presiding Officers of Parliament and Speakers of the nine Provincial Legislatures, which met for its regular meeting today in Pretoria, also wished Ms Mapisa-Nqakula well in her responsibilities. 
 
The IPU is a structure comprising 179 countries and 13 Associate Members and remains the only international organisation representing the legislative branch of states on a global scale. 

Issued by Parliament of South Africa