President of the Senate of Chile, Paulina Nunez, and Vice President of the Senate of Chile, Ivan Moreira, officially established the new Senate on March 11, 2026.
©Senado de la República de Chile
The International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB) is delighted to congratulate Hon. Paulina Nuñez, Member of the IPPFoRB Steering Group, on her election as President of the Senate of Chile.
This significant milestone reflects Senator Nuñez’s leadership, integrity, and longstanding commitment to human rights—including her tireless work to advance freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. Her election also marks an important moment for women’s political representation: she becomes the 5th woman in Chile’s history to hold this high office.
Senator Nuñez joined the IPPFoRB Steering Group in 2023, at a time when the network expanded its leadership to strengthen representation from Latin America and the Balkans. Since then, she has contributed to strengthening IPPFoRB’s position as a beacon for FoRB in parliamentary work, bringing her commitment to democratic values, human rights, and FoRB into the shared leadership of the network.
Her parliamentary experience in Chile has further enriched her global contributions. Senator Núñez has served in key committees including Environment and Climate Change, Women and Gender Equality, Transparency, and others central to democratic governance and the protection of fundamental rights. Her insights and commitment have helped deepen IPPFoRB’s engagement in Latin America and reinforced the network’s focus on rights-based legislative action.
“Senator Núñez’s election is a proud moment not only for Chile, but for democratic leadership across the region,” said the IPPFoRB Secretariat. “Her dedication to FoRB and human rights has strengthened our global network, and we look forward to continuing our close collaboration as she steps into this important national role.”
With more than 450 parliamentarians from over 95 countries, IPPFoRB continues to support legislators committed to safeguarding freedom of religion or belief worldwide through capacity-building, regional academies, international collaboration, and informed legislative engagement.