17/04/2026 President
At a Forum of Women Parliamentarians during the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Istanbul, PACE President Petra Bayr evoked the current situation faced by women in conflict across the globe. “This is not collateral damage, but strategy - a war against women and girls,” she emphasised.
“Our response must be political and concrete: to fully implement the Istanbul Convention, effectively criminalise conflict-related sexual violence, repeal laws that restrict women human rights defenders, apply gender budgeting, and mandate women’s meaningful participation in all peace processes,” she said. “The past has shown sustained periods of peace when women are on the negotiation table,” she added.
“It is high time women have equal representation, in daily life as well as in politics,” the PACE President concluded.
On the occasion of her participation in the IPU Assembly, Ms Bayr also held a bilateral meeting with Numan Kurtulmuş, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, on current developments in the region, strengthening the rule of law and co-operation with PACE.
