Secretary General of the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia B.Baasandorj met with a delegation led by Secretary General of the Secretariat of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Bhutan, D. Duba, who is visiting Mongolia to study parliamentary practices. The delegation includes representatives from both chambers of Bhutan’s Parliament — the National Council and the National Assembly — and is exploring Mongolia’s experience in engagement between the Parliament, civil society, and the Government.

During the meeting, Secretary General B.Baasandorj shared that, following the 2023 constitutional amendments, the State Great Hural now comprises 126 members. He noted that Mongolia currently ranks second in Asia, after Uzbekistan, in terms of the number of women MPs. He also highlighted Mongolia’s strong focus on promoting the right to freedom of association, as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and on fostering cooperation with the private sector and civil society across all areas with a particular emphasis on human rights. He briefly outlined the legal environment governing the relationship between the state and non-governmental, religious, and trade union organizations, and stressed the importance of developing and implementing a unified policy to support and strengthen the capacity of civil society.

Secretary General D. Duba praised Mongolia’s commitment to civil society inclusion in legislative and policy-making processes, noting it as a strong example internationally. He shared that the Parliament of Bhutan has also adopted strategic documents aimed at enhancing this approach. He mentioned that a five-member Bhutan-Mongolia Parliamentary Group has been established within the Bhutanese Parliament and expressed his appreciation for the growing relations and cooperation between the two countries, which share many similarities, including a common religion. He also highlighted that both the upper and lower chambers of Bhutan’s Parliament have appointed designated representatives to liaise with civil society organizations.

The Secretaries General exchanged information on the structure and operations of their respective state institutions and legislatures, discussing issues of inter-parliamentary cooperation and policy measures to uphold human rights — the foundation of democracy — in the legislative process and relations with civil society and the executive branch. The meeting was also attended by First Deputy Secretary General of the Secretariat of the State Great Hural Ch. Ariunkhur; Pema Denzin, a member of Bhutan’s Civil Society Council and President of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance; Denzin Thinley, Executive Director of Transparency International Bhutan; and other officials, according to the Press Office of the State Great Hural.