Deputy Speaker Kalu Leads Adoption of Historic Post-Conflict Peace Framework at IPU Assembly

Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, on Thursday spearheaded the adoption of a landmark resolution on post-conflict recovery at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Istanbul, positioning parliaments at the forefront of building just and lasting peace worldwide.

Kalu, who served as co-rapporteur alongside Mr. A. Al-Zu’bi of Jordan and Ms. F. Belhirch of the Netherlands, presented the draft resolution titled “The Role of Parliaments in Establishing Robust Post-Conflict Management Mechanisms and Restoring a Just and Lasting Peace.” He also serves on the 12-member IPU Steering Committee overseeing the World Trade Organization.

The adoption of the resolution marks a significant shift in global governance thinking, underscoring the central role of strong, inclusive, and accountable parliamentary institutions in sustaining peace.

At its core, the resolution introduces a comprehensive five-pillar framework for post-conflict recovery: strengthening institutions, promoting equitable economic reconstruction, advancing social reconciliation, ensuring inclusive political participation, and sustaining international support. It further highlights human security and common security as foundational principles for achieving enduring and inclusive peace.

The framework emphasizes people-centred and preventive strategies that address the root causes of conflict while fostering trust, dignity, and societal resilience.

Highlighting a key pillar of the resolution, Kalu stressed that post-conflict recovery must be nationally driven and locally owned. He urged parliaments to lead inclusive national consultations and ensure that reconstruction strategies, legal reforms, and institutional rebuilding efforts are developed through democratic processes.

He also emphasized that external assistance must align with national priorities and remain subject to legislative oversight.

“The 152nd Assembly of the IPU urges parliaments in countries affected by or emerging from conflict to ensure strong national ownership of peace and recovery processes by leading inclusive consultations, defining priorities through democratic legislation, and ensuring that external support is adapted to local needs, constitutional frameworks, and international human rights obligations,” Kalu stated.

The resolution further calls on parliaments responsible for implementing peace agreements to give full legal effect to such accords by integrating them into national legislation and establishing permanent, cross-party mechanisms to monitor progress. These mechanisms, it notes, should include regular hearings with key stakeholders—particularly women, youth, and affected communities—to ensure continuity, accountability, and sustained commitment across political cycles.

On transitional justice, the resolution urges parliaments to establish legal frameworks that support truth-seeking processes, victim-centred reparations, and transparent vetting or amnesty procedures, while strengthening cooperation with national and international accountability systems.

In addition, the document advocates the adoption of human security approaches across legislative, oversight, budgetary, and representative functions of parliament.

It also calls for a strategic rebalancing of national and international budgets toward peacebuilding and prevention, prioritizing conflict-affected populations, and reinforcing transparency and anti-corruption safeguards in the management of recovery funds.

To promote reconciliation, the resolution encourages parliaments to support inclusive dialogue and trauma-informed initiatives at both national and community levels, including processes that bring together divided communities and former adversaries. It further emphasizes the institutionalization of the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women and youth in peace processes, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 2250.

The resolution also underscores the importance of inclusive political representation, urging parliaments to ensure that all affected communities are reflected in legislative deliberations and to foster constructive dialogue through cross-party collaboration.

Furthermore, it encourages stronger partnerships with governments, regional bodies, the IPU, and the United Nations to mobilize international support and financing for peace agreements.

Notably, it proposes that parliaments explore lawful mechanisms for facilitating reparations and mobilizing reconstruction resources, including the potential use of frozen or immobilized assets where legally permissible.

Finally, the resolution mandates the IPU to provide targeted technical assistance to parliaments engaged in post-conflict recovery through advisory missions, capacity-building programmes, peer learning, and support for mediation and conflict prevention