OBJECTIVES
IPU helps parliaments to build their capacity to use information and communication technologies (ICT) effectively. In a resolution adopted in 2003, the IPU Assembly called on parliaments to:
... make full use of the new information and communication technologies:
- to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and transparency of their activities and to better connect with the electorate;
- to expand inter-parliamentary relationships and cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels, thus enhancing parliamentary democracy and diplomacy;
... take legislative action with the aim of providing an environment conducive to the dissemination, development and secure use of the NICTs.
ACTIVITIES
Global Centre on ICT in Parliament
The Global Centre on ICT in Parliament is a joint initiative of IPU and the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs that was launched in November 2005. Its objectives are to:
 | Foster the introduction of ICT in parliaments to increase transparency and effectiveness and strengthen their central role as promoters of good governance and democracy |
| Reinforce the role of parliaments in establishing the legislative frameworks required for the development of sustainable ICT policies and an inclusive Information Society |
| Increase citizens' access to parliaments activities and documentation, thereby improving openness and accountability in legislatures |
| Find new modalities of coordination between the international community and parliaments in supporting ICT-related initiatives, both in their research and operational aspects |
The Global Centre acts as a clearing house for information and research on the use of ICT in parliament, and promotes a structured dialogue among parliaments and other organizations, in order to enhance the sharing of experiences, the identification of good practices and the implementation of appropriate solutions.
World e-Parliament Conference 2007
The World e-Parliament Conference (Geneva, 11 October 2007) is an expert forum on the use of new technologies to modernize parliamentary processes and improve parliamentary dialogue with citizens. It offers an opportunity to debate the challenges and benefits provided by ICT and analyze successful approaches, identify good practices and lessons learned.
The Conference is aimed at parliamentarians, Secretaries General and parliamentary staff and officials who work with ICT, such as legislative staff, IT administrators, knowledge managers and librarians.
The Conference is preceded by an International workshop on managing innovation in parliament, organized by the Global Centre for ICT in Parliament. It is followed by the first face-to-face meeting of members of the Global Network of IT Experts in Parliament.
World e-Parliament Report 2008
The World e-Parliament Report 2008 represents a first effort to establish a baseline of how parliaments are using, or planning to use ICT to help them fulfill their responsibilities and to connect to their constituencies. The Report is based on the responses and comments provided by 105 assemblies from around the world to a survey on the use of ICT in parliament conducted between July and November 2007. The World e-Parliament Report 2008 is a joint product of UNDESA, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Global Centre for ICT in Parliament.
The Report concludes that approximately 10 per cent of the chambers and parliaments that replied to the survey have acquired extensive ICT capabilities across a wide range of key application areas. These include developing systems for managing essential documents, utilizing open document standards, creating rich websites that present information through a variety of formats and channels, and providing access to a wide range of online information linked to pending legislation.
At the other end of the spectrum, many parliaments lack a strategic plan, an adequate ICT infrastructure, basic tools for members and staff, systems for managing documents and trained ICT staff.
The status of the ICT systems and services of those parliaments that fall between these two groups is uneven. Many of them have implemented ICT applications that serve some of their most important functions. But many of these applications appear to be operating at the lowest level of utility and have not been enhanced to take greater advantage of ICT to improve efficiency and effectiveness, or to offer additional services.
World Summit on the Information Society
Parliamentary meetings took place the occasion of both phases of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).
As part of the follow-up to WSIS, IPU and UNDESA are co-facilitators of the Sub-group on Parliament and ICT under Action Line C1, "The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICT for development." The Sub-group meets annually to examine parliamentary participation in the follow-up to WSIS.
Resolutions of the IPU Assembly
The 109th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (Geneva, October 2003) adopted a resolution on The contribution of new information and communication technologies to good governance, the improvement of parliamentary democracy and the management of globalisation.
Technical assistance to parliaments
Many of IPU's projects of technical assistance have an ICT component. Just a few examples include:
| Setting up and developing information services in the Parliament of Ethiopia |
| Implementing a document management system in the Assembly of Kosovo |
| Supporting the development of a web site in the Chamber of the People's Representatives in Equatorial Guinea |
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