The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum concluded in New Delhi on Tuesday with the presiding officers and parliamentary representatives of member nations adopting a comprehensive joint declaration under the theme “Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development”, news agency ANI reported. The two-day summit brought together legislative leaders from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

Source: ANI via DevDiscourse

Reaffirming the consensus of the leaders' New Delhi Declaration, the member parliaments stressed the urgency of reforming the international peace and security architecture, calling for comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, to make it “more just, equitable, democratic, representative, effective, and efficient” — pointing specifically to Paragraph 13 of the leaders' declaration — so that global governance better reflects the voice of the Global South.

Zero tolerance on terrorism, Pahalgam condemned

The declaration strongly condemns all acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, expressing zero tolerance and rejecting double standards. It condemned “in the strongest terms” the Pakistan-backed terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, in which 26 people were killed and many more injured. The leaders called for the expeditious finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the UN framework and urged concerted action against all UN-designated terrorists and entities.

Source: ANI via NewKerala

10BRICS member nations whose legislative leaders took part
26People killed in the Pahalgam attack of 22 April 2025, condemned in the declaration
2027Next forum, under China's incoming BRICS chairship

On economic pressures, the declaration condemns “the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to international law”, noting that unilateral and secondary sanctions carry far-reaching negative implications for human rights, health, food security and the right to development. On West Asia, the forum expressed deep concern over escalating tensions, called for maximum restraint and the protection of civilians, and reaffirmed support for a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state solution.

The delegates also backed sharing best practices on digital tools for legislatures, welcomed proposals for a digital public infrastructure repository for BRICS countries, and committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement. Thanking the Parliament and people of India for hosting, the participants looked forward to reconvening in 2027 under the incoming BRICS Chairship of China. ANI photographs from the conclusion showed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla exchanging the joint declaration with Zheng Jianbang, Vice-Chairperson of China's National People's Congress.