Nominchimeg Odsuren
The 179th session of the Human Rights Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from February 2 to 18, 2026. Details can be found on MiddleAsianNews.
At the current meeting, Nominchimeg Odsuren, representing the Parliament of Mongolia, was elected chairperson of the Human Rights Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
The Committee consists of 10 members from various countries. Among the women in the Committee are Nominchimeg Odsuren (Mongolia), Lia Quartapelle (Italy), Milli G.A. Odhiambo (Kenya), L. Feldmann Riel (Switzerland), and N. Akora Odonga (Uganda). The male members include Harry Kamboni (Zambia), Francisco Javier Schawan (Chile), B. Mbuku Laka (Democratic Republic of the Congo), M.E. Blanc (France), and Marko Grujic (Serbia).
Committee members act not on behalf of their countries but as individuals chosen for their knowledge and dedication to human rights.
The Committee strives for a fair distribution of seats among participants and includes an equal number of men and women. The minimum number of representatives of each gender is four. Currently, 50% of the Committee members are women.
Every year, many parliamentarians face threats, violence, or even loss of life. The IPU Human Rights Committee works to protect them. It is the only international body with such authority and has established itself as a reliable assistant for parliamentarians under threat.
The Committee conducts hearings, carries out missions, and sends observers to trials. During IPU assemblies, the Committee's decisions are approved through the Governing Council, highlighting the importance of parliamentary solidarity. The Committee continues its work until a satisfactory outcome is achieved for each case.
According to information from the press service of the Great State Khural, the Committee is currently reviewing 886 cases.
