ARUSHA: OUTGOING Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) President Dr Tulia Ackson has warned that the world risks allowing today’s crises to spiral further out of control unless nations urgently embrace dialogue, cooperation and collective action to confront wars, climate change, threats to international law and human rights, and the rapid advance of artificial intelligence.
Dr Tulia made the call on Monday while addressing the 153rd IPU Assembly in Arusha, where Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba represented President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan in opening the Assembly.
She said the world needed cooperation “right now”, as conflicts continued to destroy lives and communities while respect for international law and human rights came under growing pressure.
“No country can stop climate change alone. No nation can secure lasting peace alone. No state can build a fairer international order by itself. Our strength comes from our ability to work together,” she said.
Dr Tulia expressed gratitude to President Samia for supporting her three-year tenure as IPU President and opening Tanzania’s doors to host the Assembly.
She said the President’s support had enabled her to serve the parliamentary community and travel widely as the first African woman to lead the IPU.
“Three years ago, on African soil, I was entrusted with the extraordinary honour of becoming the first African woman to serve as the IPU President. And today, again here in Africa, that journey is approaching its end,” she said.
She drew on the Kiswahili proverb “Mti mmoja haujengi msitu”, meaning one tree does not make a forest, to illustrate the importance of collective action.
She said parliamentarians from different languages, cultures, religions and political traditions had disagreed but continued talking, participating and listening.
“If I have made my own small contribution to this organisation, I hope it has been this: To bring people a little closer together, to build a few more bridges than divides,” she said.
Dr Tulia also warned that artificial intelligence and emerging technologies were developing faster than many rules designed to govern them, making international cooperation increasingly important.
She said global challenges affected ordinary people and communities, urging parliamentarians to connect international issues with local realities.
Citing the 2026 World Inequality Report, she highlighted the wealth gap between the richest people and the poorest half of the world’s adult population.
Dr Tulia called for good governance that breaks barriers between people included in decision-making and those who feel excluded.
She urged governments to strengthen accountable and transparent institutions capable of delivering education, healthcare, justice, social protection, housing and security.
She also called for greater participation of women, young people, persons with disabilities and marginalised groups in public decision-making.
“Their participation is not a box to be ticked. They bring experience that changes conversation and sometimes changes the decision itself,” she said.
Dr Tulia challenged parliamentarians to ensure public resources reached those who needed them, saying the true test of policy was what happened when it entered people’s lives.
She remained optimistic about democratic institutions, urging delegates to question, listen and turn lessons from the Assembly into practical action.
Quoting Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, she told legislators: “It can be done. Play your part.”
She also urged delegates to experience Maasai culture during their stay in Arusha.