Interview with outgoing Secretary General Martin Chungong

IPU on air #16 features an interview with Secretary General Martin Chungong as he concludes his 12-year tenure. In 2014, Martin Chungong made history as the first African and first non-European to be elected Secretary General of the IPU, and he was subsequently re-elected twice. In this special edition, Thomas Fitzsimons, IPU Director of Communications, interviews Martin Chungong on 24 February 2026, using photographs as prompts for the conversation.

Entretien avec le secrétaire général sortant Martin Chungong

Le 16e épisode de l’UIP à l’antenne propose un entretien avec le secrétaire général Martin Chungong, alors qu’il achève son mandat de 12 ans. En 2014, Martin Chungong est entré dans l’histoire en devenant le premier Africain et le premier non-Européen à être élu secrétaire général de l’UIP ; il a ensuite été réélu à deux reprises. Dans cette édition spéciale, Thomas Fitzsimons, directeur de la communication de l’UIP, s’entretient avec Martin Chungong le 24 février 2026, en s’appuyant sur des photographies pour alimenter la conversation.

In IPU on air #15, Ms. Petra Bayr, a Member of Parliament from Austria, and Ms. Catherine Mumma, Kenyan Senator and Member of the IPU Committee on Health member, discuss strategies for parliamentarians to shape legislation, allocate budgets and mobilize support for sexual and reproductive rights amid challenges to these rights in some countries. Moderated by Miriam Sangiorgio, IPU health expert.

The IPU gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) in the production of this podcast.

Championing democracy: A Dialogue with MPs M E Blanc (France) and Ms. L. Fehlmann Rielle (Switzerland) on protecting parliamentarians

In IPU on air #14, on the eve of the 151st Assembly and 216th session of the Governing Council held in Geneva from October 19-24, 2025, representatives from the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, President Blanc and Madam Fehlmann Rielle spoke to Rogier Huizenga, Head of the IPU Human Rights Programme. The discussion explores the importance of protecting MPs for the sake of safeguarding the institution of parliament and democracy, and how the CHRP continue to support parliamentarians worldwide.

Défendre la démocratie : dialogue avec les parlementaires E. Blanc (France) et L. Fehlmann Rielle (Suisse) sur la protection des parlementaires

Dans l'émission L'UIP à l'antenne n° 14, à la veille de la 151e Assemblée et de la 216e session du Conseil directeur qui se sont tenues à Genève du 19 au 24 octobre 2025, des représentants du Comité des droits de l’homme des parlementaires de l'UIP, le Président E. Blanc et Mme Fehlmann Rielle, se sont entretenus avec Rogier Huizenga, Responsable du Programme des droits de l'homme de l'UIP. Le débat porte sur l'importance de la protection des parlementaires pour préserver l'institution parlementaire et la démocratie, et sur la manière dont le Comité continue de soutenir les parlementaires à travers le monde.

In IPU on air #13, on the eve of the 151st Assembly held in Geneva from October 19-24, 2025, Paddy Torsney, IPU Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York, discusses the current global financing landscape for health, how it is impacting countries, and health taxes as an emerging policy option with Kalipso Chalkidou, Director of Performance, Financing and Delivery at WHO, and Jacqueline Sabao, Zambian Member of Parliament and vice-Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee.

Des parlements aux citoyens : les voies pour financer la santé et les ODD

Dans l'UIP à l'antenne n° 13, à la veille de la 151e Assemblée qui s'est tenue à Genève du 19 au 24 octobre 2025, Paddy Torsney, observatrice permanente de l’UIP auprès des Nations Unies à New York, discute du paysage actuel du financement mondial de la santé, de son impact sur les pays, ainsi que des taxes sur la santé en tant qu'option politique émergente avec Kalipso Chalkidou, Directrice de la performance, du financement et de la mise en œuvre à l’OMS, et Jacqueline Sabao, parlementaire de Zambie et vice-Présidente du Comité des comptes publics.

In IPU on

air #12, on the eve of the 151st Assembly held in Geneva from

October 19-24, 2025, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick spoke

to IPU’s Kate Brooks on how he approaches the role of Speaker in Australia. The

conversation explores the surprises he encountered on taking up the gavel, why

the Speakership matters to democracy, what he gains from interacting with the

IPU and how he hopes to encourage youth’s excitement about politics.

In IPU on air #11, on the eve of the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Geneva from July 29-31, Speaker of the Parliament of Sweden, Andreas Norlen spoke to IPU’s Kate Brooks on the significant role of the speaker. The conversation explores the multifaceted responsibilities of a Speaker, the challenges they face, and the opportunities they seize to enhance legislative processes.

In IPU on air #10, on the eve of the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Geneva from July 29-31, Speaker of the Parliament of Namibia, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila spoke to IPU’s Kate Brooks on the significant role of the speaker. The conversation explores the multifaceted responsibilities of a Speaker, the challenges they face, and the opportunities they seize to enhance legislative processes.

In IPU on air #9, on the eve of the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Geneva from July 29-31, Speaker of the Parliament of Malta, Dr Angelo Farrugia spoke to IPU’s Kate Brooks on the significant role of the speaker. The conversation explores the multifaceted responsibilities of a Speaker, the challenges they face, and the opportunities they seize to enhance legislative processes.