At the UNITE Global Summit 2026 in Manila, UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health presented the inaugural UNITE Lifetime Achievement Award to Martin Chungong, Honorary Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), marking a historic first for the network and a moment of well-deserved recognition for one of global parliamentarism’s most distinguished figures.Â
The award was established to honour individuals whose outstanding contribution to global parliamentarism, parliamentary diplomacy, and health cooperation has helped shape a more just and equitable world.
In choosing Martin Chungong as its inaugural recipient, UNITE has set a high standard for the tradition it is beginning.
 A Career Built on Parliamentary LeadershipÂ
Over a career spanning decades at the heart of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the world’s oldest international parliamentary organisation, Martin Chungong has been an unwavering champion of the role of parliaments in global governance. From advancing democratic institutions in fragile states to placing legislative leadership at the centre of the global health agenda, his work has touched every corner of the parliamentary world.Â
Under his leadership as Secretary General, the IPU deepened its engagement with UNITE Network through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at mobilizing lawmakers worldwide to strengthen health systems and improve global health outcomes. His legacy is not simply one of institutional achievement. It is one of conviction: that democracy, done well, is the most powerful instrument humanity has for solving its most urgent problems.
A Message from IPU Secretary General Anda FilipÂ
The award ceremony was made all the more meaningful by a video address from Ms. Anda Filip, current Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, who offered her personal congratulations to Mr. Chungong and reflected on his lasting contribution to the IPU and to parliamentary diplomacy worldwide. Ms. Filip also recognized the ongoing collaboration between UNITE and the IPU as a model for how parliamentary networks and international organizations can work together to advance health and democratic governance on the global stage.Â
Â
In His Own Words
“Parliamentary democracy is where global commitments meet national activities, and I was very reassured by what Guilherme said in presenting UNITE’s strategy about parliaments being at the intersection between global commitments and national realities.“Â
“This award is not a conclusion. It is encouragement to do more, in a different capacity. It is a reminder of the responsibility to defend democratic institutions and keep people at the centre of our work.“Â
Watch Mr. Chungong’s interview at the UNITE Global Summit 2026:
