THE Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, has urged the international community to take decisive action in upholding humanitarian law amid escalating global crises.
Speaking at the 151st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Advocate Mudenda condemned widespread violations of international humanitarian law and called for stronger parliamentary diplomacy to protect the 350 million victims of war and displacement worldwide.
Addressing the Assembly under the theme “Upholding Humanitarian Norms and Supporting Humanitarian Action in Times of Crisis,” Speaker Mudenda emphasised the importance of multilateral cooperation rooted in the Geneva Conventions.
He highlighted the African Union’s Kampala Convention and SADC frameworks as regional models for humanitarian protection and disaster preparedness.
The Speaker also expressed concern over the inconsistent application of humanitarian principles in conflict zones such as the Middle East, Eastern Europe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sudan.
He called on global institutions such as the IPU and the United Nations to lead efforts in defending humanitarian values, invoking the spirit of solidarity aligned with the Roman Catholic Church’s Jubilee of Hope designation for 2025.
On the sidelines of the Assembly, Advocate Mudenda met with key parliamentary leaders from South Africa, Turkey, and the SADC Parliamentary Forum, reinforcing Zimbabwe’s commitment to multilateralism and sustainable peace through shared values.
