The Rt Hon Madam Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, Dr Nelly Mutti, SC, MP, FAPRA has joined other Speakers of Parliament to call for reform in the United Nations, enhanced collaboration between Parliaments and the UN as well as openness of members states to support a female candidate for the position of the next Secretary General of the United Nations. The 2026 Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations which took place from 12^th to 13^th February 2026 in New York City, United States of America was held under the theme, “Parliaments and the UN: Better together, delivering for the people.”

The Parliamentary Hearing was officially opened by Ms Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assemblyin the Trusteeship Council Chamber on Thursday 12^th February, 2026. She called on Member States to support the United Nations in the midst of many global challenges, including the significant withdrawal of funding by the United States of America of UN funded programmes.

Ms Baerbock was accompanied by Dr Tulia Ackson, President of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) who challenged Parliamentarians to ensure that the collaboration between the UN and the IPU is domesticated in their countries. This was despite the challenges that the UN is going through, with reduced funding by some member states: which has cut funding significantly to humanitarian programmes. Dr Tulia also emphasised the call to have a female candidate for the next Secretary General of the United Nations.

Participants agreed through a Survey that was conducted online that even in the midst of the challenges that the UN was going through to remain relevant and effective, members states should continue supporting the UN and that member Parliaments had a role to ensure that resolutions passed at the UN be domesticated back in their countries. Parliaments in their quest to domesticate UN Resolutions have to adjust to new challenges including threats from Artificial Intelligence, Climate Change, increasing Health budgets and the need to provide food security to the vast populations in member states. Member Parliaments were challenged to ensure that National Budgets included continued support to UN programmes. The Parliamentary Hearing was closed on Friday 13^th February, 2026 by the Secretary General of the IPU Mr Martin Chungong.

In the sidelines of the Parliamentary Hearing, the Rt Hon Madam Speaker had consultations with Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr. Chola Milambo, who briefed Madam Speaker that the UN was under threat to continue to exist effectively. He said that the USA had withdrawn funding to 33 UN Agencies which included the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS. Therefore, there was need for UN Member countries to reconsider how the UN would be funded so that UN Agencies would continue to be effective.

The Hon Madam Speaker also met Professor Chaloka Beyani, the Under Secretary General and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on the Prevention of Genocide. Professor Beyani said that hate speech unfortunately was spread quickly through social media and while citizens had freedom of expression, it was important that language was curtailed that could incite genocide or promote discrimination against certain groups in society.

The Hon Madam Speaker finally interacted with Zambians living in New York at the Zambia Mission in New York where she called on Zambians, to be “Ambassadors” for Zambia and market Zambia as an attractive investment destination. 

The Hon Madam Speaker was accampanied by Luena Memeber of Parliament Mr Mubita Anakoka and the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly Mrs Loveness Maambo Mayaka.