Jakarta – The 19th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) marked a historic moment in the development of parliamentary diplomacy in the Islamic world.
While chairing the General Committee session, Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Puan Maharani, highlighted that Islam holds the potential to become a new global power. With over two billion Muslims worldwide, the Islamic population represents nearly 25 percent of the global population.
“Ideally, we should be able to emerge as a new force in shaping the world order. At one point, Islam holds the capital to become a new global power. We represent a civilization that emphasizes the unity of the ummah,” said Puan at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta.
According to Puan, various domestic and global challenges continue to hinder Muslim-majority nations from asserting themselves as a major force on the global stage.
“Domestically, we must still answer the public’s questions on whether we can provide good, transparent, and accountable public services,” she added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairperson of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) of DPR RI, Irine Yusiana Roba Putri, stated that the 19th PUIC Conference had successfully adopted a Joint Resolution on Peace in Palestine.
“We have agreed to jointly call on the world to take serious and concrete actions toward peace in Palestine,” said Irine.
According to her, the recommendations are not limited to the parliaments of OIC member states, but are intended for the global community at large. This is because OIC parliaments are also part of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the highest forum for parliamentary diplomacy worldwide.
“Therefore, at this 19th PUIC, we have issued a recommendation that is not only directed at OIC members but also at the world,” she affirmed.
She added that the resolution not only condemned the violence against Palestinians, but also all forms of violence affecting Muslim populations elsewhere—such as the ongoing conflicts between India and Pakistan, and the persecution of the Rohingya.
“It’s not just Palestine. Many of our Muslim brothers and sisters are still suffering from conflict and violence, such as in Pakistan, India, and among the Rohingya people, which remains a key focus of discussion,” she concluded.
In addition to the Joint Resolution, the conference also produced the Jakarta Declaration, which outlines the shared commitment of PUIC member states to strengthen solidarity, pursue justice, and enhance the role of parliaments in international diplomacy. This declaration will serve as a strategic foundation for future PUIC initiatives.
