“Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development”

1. We, the Presiding Officers and representatives of the Parliaments of the BRICS member countries: namely, the Federative Republic of Brazil, the People’s Republic of China, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Republic of India, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation, the Republic of South Africa and the United Arab Emirates convened at the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum (12th BRICS PF) in New Delhi, India on 26–27 October 2026 under the theme “Fostering Parliaments For People-Centric Development”.

2. We extend a warm welcome for the participation of Partner countries in the 12th BRICS PF and acknowledge their invaluable contributions to inter-parliamentary cooperation. We reaffirm our commitment to fostering an inclusive, mutually beneficial, and development-oriented partnership with Partner countries, and encourage their increasing involvement in BRICS engagements and practical cooperation in areas of shared interest.

3. We express our support to India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026 themed: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, which reflects our shared commitment to strengthening BRICS cooperation to address common challenges in a balanced, inclusive and forward-looking manner.

4. We congratulate India on successfully hosting the 18th BRICS Summit from 12–13 September 2026 and welcome the adoption of the New Delhi Leaders Declaration. Furthermore, we extend our full support to India for the remainder of its BRICS Chairship in 2026.

5. We affirm our legislative support to strengthen the BRICS Strategic Partnership within the respective constitutional mandates and competencies of member Parliaments, across the three pillars of cooperation: political and security, economic and financial, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. We reaffirm our commitment to the BRICS spirit of mutual respect and understanding, equality, solidarity, openness, inclusiveness, and consensus.

6. We reiterate the significance of BRICS cultural and people-to-people exchanges and initiatives in fostering mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation amongst our nations and peoples. In this context, we welcome the organisation of key people-to-people engagements, including in the fields of culture, sport, art, education, women and youth affairs, under India’s Chairship. We call for more efforts to respect diversity of cultures, highly value inheritance, innovation and creativity, jointly advocate robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation and recall the adoption of the UNGA Resolution A/RES/78/286 entitled “International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations”.

7. We reaffirm our adherence to the principles of sovereign equality, mutual respect, non-intervention in internal affairs, and the peaceful settlement of international disputes, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter, as essential foundations for global stability, peace and development.

8. We recognise that inter-parliamentary cooperation constitutes an important component of the BRICS cooperation framework. It serves as a unique channel to foster mutual understanding, build trust among nations, support the peaceful resolution of international disputes, strengthen our international cooperation and promote the values of inclusiveness, solidarity, and sustainable development. In this regard, we reaffirm the role of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum and acknowledge the considerable contributions made by the eleven preceding meetings of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum in strengthening inter-parliamentary dialogue and cooperation among the Parliaments of the BRICS member countries.

9. We look forward to strengthening BRICS interaction within international parliamentary fora, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), to amplify the voice of the Global South. In this regard, we take note of Russia’s initiative to consider the idea of establishing a BRICS Plus geopolitical group within IPU.

10. We welcome the constructive inter-parliamentary dialogue conducted during the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, which focused on the role of Parliaments in strengthening institutional resilience, harnessing digital technologies to address challenges faced by developing countries, fostering a more representative and inclusive global governance, promoting sustainability and accelerating collective global actions for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

11. We reaffirm our commitment to diligently working towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its comprehensive people-centred Goals and targets in a balanced and integrated manner, aligned with national policies and regulations. We acknowledge that eradicating poverty in all its forms, including extreme poverty, is the most significant global challenge and a prerequisite for sustainable development. We further recognise the importance of promoting the 2030 Agenda in an innovative, coordinated, environmentally sound, open and shared manner. We also look forward to close cooperation and substantive contribution of BRICS Countries in shaping the global agenda for the sustainable development beyond 2030.

12. Recognizing the urgency of addressing climate change, we call for intensifying efforts, through dialogue and international cooperation, to implement nationally determined contributions (NDCs), strengthen mitigation and adaptation efforts, and promote just transition pathways, with a view to achieving the objectives of the UNFCCC and the goals of its Paris Agreement as applicable, while reflecting equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances. Developed countries shall provide additional, adequate, predictable, accessible financial resources, capacity building support, technology development and transfer to developing countries on mutually agreed terms for adaptation.

13. We acknowledge the transformative potential of Emerging Technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). We emphasise the necessity of ensuring the open, safe, secure, stable, equitably accessible, peaceful and interoperable use and development of ICTs environment while respecting sovereignty and national security of each country.

14. We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents immense opportunity to stimulate economic growth and sustainable development for all. We further note the importance of international cooperation in enhancing equitable access to AI resources, capacity building, knowledge and opportunities in accordance with national priorities and applicable laws while ensuring the safe, secure inclusive and reliable development and use of AI. In addition, promoting energy efficiency of AI systems, fostering AI Science and Innovation, leveraging AI for economic growth and social good and mitigating potential risks would be essential for promoting a just, fair, equitable and prosperous future of all countries, especially those of Global South. We emphasize the need to strengthen the digital sovereignty of BRICS member countries by protecting data privacy and security of personal information as well as by building resilient national technological ecosystems.

15. We recognize the significant potential of using digital technologies and AI-driven solutions to strengthen parliamentary functions including parliamentary research, analysis, outreach, citizen interaction, and feedback. We encourage the BRICS Parliaments to share amongst each other the successful examples and best practices on the deployment of digital technologies and AI-enabled tools, in order to enable legislatures to innovate and equitably benefit from technological advancements.

16. We reiterate our commitment to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity for all and encourage collaborative efforts to facilitate the deployment of digital infrastructure, including digital public infrastructure, to facilitate economic development, social inclusion, improved public service delivery, and enhance resilience and innovation. In this regard, we note the proposal to launch the digital public infrastructure repository for BRICS countries and pilot projects of digital public infrastructure solutions for digital transformation for BRICS countries.

17. We reaffirm our commitment to reforming global governance by promoting a more just, equitable, agile, effective, efficient, responsive, representative, legitimate, democratic and accountable international and multilateral system in the spirit of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. We acknowledge that multipolarity and multilateralism can expand opportunities for Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs) to realise their potential and enjoy universally beneficial, inclusive, sustainable and equitable economic globalization and cooperation. We highlight the importance of the Global South as a driver for positive change and reaffirm the role of BRICS in voicing its concerns and priorities, including through voluntary development cooperation and capacity-building.

18. We emphasize the contribution of parliamentary diplomacy, inter-parliamentary dialogue and cooperation to advancing a more representative and inclusive global governance architecture, within the respective constitutional mandates and competencies of member Parliaments.

19. We reiterate our commitment to the strengthening of multilateralism and upholding the international law, including the Purposes and Principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, which serve as its indispensable cornerstone. We emphasise the central role of the UN in an international system where sovereign states cooperate to maintain international peace and security, advance sustainable development, ensure the promotion and protection of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and foster cooperation based on solidarity, mutual respect, justice and sovereign equality while respecting national circumstances, diversity of national systems and development pathways, consistent with states’ obligations under international law with the aim to build a brighter shared future for the international community based on mutually beneficial cooperation.

20. We stress the urgency of reforming the current international peace and security architecture, which necessarily requires the strengthening of multilateralism, and support a comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council. This reform should make it more just, equitable, democratic, representative, effective, and efficient, better reflecting contemporary realities and the needs of the international community. In this regard, we welcome the statement at Paragraph 13 of the BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026.

21. We strongly condemn all violations of international humanitarian law, including deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including in BRICS Member States, as well as the denial or obstruction of humanitarian access and the targeting of humanitarian personnel. In this regard, we take note of Paragraph 29 of the BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026. We underline the need to address accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law. We recognize international efforts undertaken by BRICS members to promote respect for, adherence to, and effective implementation of international humanitarian law.

22. We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia and, recalling our respective national positions, call for exercising maximum restraint, as well as avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation. Furthermore, we urge to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations in their entirety and interconnectedness, including respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the States. We encourage increasing efforts, through dialogue and diplomacy, towards a long-term understanding that will contribute to lasting peace, security and stability in the region. We stress the need to work together to maintain smooth flow of global trade, supply chains and energy, in accordance with applicable international law.

23. We condemn the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to international law, and reiterate that such measures, inter alia in the form of unilateral economic sanctions and secondary sanctions, have far reaching negative implications on human rights, including the right to development, health and food security of the general population of targeted states. We call for the elimination of such unlawful measures which undermine international law and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter.

24. We express strong condemnation of any acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed. We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, during which 26 people were killed and many more injured. We reaffirm our commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing and safe havens. We reiterate that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group and that all those involved in terrorist activities and their support must be held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with relevant national and international law. We urge to ensure zero tolerance for terrorism and reject double standards in countering terrorism. We emphasize the primary responsibility of States in combating terrorism and that global efforts to prevent and counter terrorist threats must fully comply with their obligations under international law, including the Charter of the UN, in particular the purposes and principles thereof, and relevant international conventions and protocols, in particular international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, as applicable. We welcome the activities of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) and its five Subgroups based upon the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan and the CTWG Position Paper. We look forward to further deepening counter-terrorism cooperation. We call for an expeditious finalization and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN framework. We call for concerted actions against all UN designated terrorists and terrorist entities.

25. We reaffirm our unwavering support for the peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state solution, with the two States living side by side, in peace and security, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, asserting the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, freedom, and an independent, sovereign State.

26. We recognize that training and capacity building are crucial for fostering effective inter-parliamentary cooperation. Therefore, we encourage the promotion of exchange of experiences, knowledge sharing and collaboration among parliamentarians and their technical and legislative advisors for capacity building and professional networking.

27. We take note of Russia’s proposal to consider establishing an inter-parliamentary BRICS Working Group on Sport, in line with Paragraph 8 of the Protocol to the Memorandum of Understanding on the BRICS Parliamentary Forum of 11 July 2024, which could provide a platform for the voluntary exchange of experience and best practices in the field of sport and physical education, in accordance with national laws and priorities.

28. On the 10th Anniversary of the BRICS Women’s Parliamentarians Forum, we recall the Jaipur Declaration of 2016, which called for the institutionalisation of this meeting as an annual event to promote more inclusive inter-parliamentary deliberations. We further encourage the strengthening of inter-parliamentary interaction through meetings of the Chairpersons of the International Affairs Committees of BRICS Parliaments, which contribute to deepening mutual understanding and facilitating the exchange of experiences and legislative best practices.

29. We congratulate the Parliament of India for the successful hosting of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum and express our sincere gratitude for the hospitality extended by the Parliament and the People of India.

30. We look forward to reconvening in 2027 under the BRICS Chairship of the People’s Republic of China