The emergency-item proposal submitted by the Bahrain Parliamentary Division topped the vote at the 153rd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), receiving 877 votes in support from participating parliamentary delegations.
The proposal, titled "Ensuring freedom of navigation, maritime security and the flow of international trade through maritime corridors and straits in accordance with international law: A call for urgent parliamentary action," was submitted alongside two other proposals in accordance with the IPU’s rules.
The emergency item proposed by Nepal was approved by a margin of 24 votes, under the title "Taking urgent parliamentary action to address climate-related disasters and strengthen resilience in the Himalayan region and other vulnerable areas."
The Bahrain Parliamentary Division expressed its pride in the Kingdom’s active participation in the General Assembly, noting that the initiative reflected the vitality of Bahrain’s parliamentary diplomacy and its commitment to placing priority issues on the international parliamentary agenda.
It also noted the broad support and appreciation received by the proposal from participating parliamentary delegations, while affirming its respect for the outcome of the vote and its commitment to the rules of parliamentary work and democratic practice. The division stressed that it would continue advancing Bahrain’s positions and interests, as well as those of the peoples of the region, and strengthening its presence at regional and international parliamentary forums.
The Bahrain Parliamentary Division submitted the proposal pursuant to Rule 11 of the Rules of the IPU General Assembly, in response to a serious recent development of international concern requiring urgent action and parliamentary consideration. It also held a number of bilateral meetings with parliamentary delegations to garner support for the proposal.
Under Rule 11(2), the General Assembly may include only one emergency item on its agenda. Where several requests obtain the required majority, the request receiving the highest number of affirmative votes is accepted. The rules also allow two or more proponents to combine their proposals into a single request, provided they address the same subject.
The Bahrain proposal was put forward in view of growing risks facing global maritime trade routes and international shipping corridors and straits, particularly in the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea, amid escalating threats to the safety of navigation and the continuity of trade.
The division highlighted the potential impact of such disruptions on the flow of goods, energy supplies and maritime services, as well as global economic stability and international supply chains, including increased shipping, fuel and insurance costs, inflationary pressures and disruptions to the supply of food and raw materials.
The proposal also referred to UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026) and Human Rights Council Resolution 1/61 (2026), stressing that the continued and evolving threats to the safety and freedom of international navigation, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab Al Mandab, require the IPU to reaffirm the international parliamentary position rejecting practices that obstruct navigation, threaten the safety of vessels or disrupt global trade.
It called for respect for relevant international law to ensure freedom of navigation and the safety of international maritime routes, maintain the flow of goods, energy and services, and safeguard the stability of global supply chains and the world economy from the repercussions of such threats.