Celebrating 10 years of the Common Principles for Support to Parliaments

The Common Principles for Support to Parliaments outlines 10 ways that parliaments can become stronger and more effective. Their core tenet is that parliaments are responsible for their own development while taking an inclusive approach by involving all political persuasions, as well as parliamentary staff and other relevant stakeholders.The Common Principles were first drafted 10 years ago with contributions from dozens of parliaments and partners. Over the decade, 149 national parliaments, 11 parliamentary assemblies and 2 partner organizations have endorsed the Common Principles. Common Principles, common progress!Has your parliament endorsed the Common Principles yet?  

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee oversees our administration and makes recommendations to our Governing Council on various matters, including applications by national parliaments or regional parliamentary assemblies wishing to join us. It also assesses candidates for the post of Secretary General, and submits a recommendation to the Governing Council. The Committee sets the date and venue of our ...

A conversation with... Neema Lugangira, Tanzania

As part of the IPU series called 'A conversation with...', we interview parliamentarians from all over the world to find out who they represent and what motivates them. In this edition, we discover Neema Lugangira, a parliamentarian from Tanzania and co-rapporteur of the IPU's future resolution on "The impact of artificial intelligence on democracy, human rights and the rule of law".The views and opinions expressed by the parliamentarians are their own and do not necessarily reflect the IPU’s position.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) and its rapid application across political, economic and social spheres offers potential benefits to humanity and the development sector. However, recent major advances also pose immediate risks to democracy, human rights and the rule of law that must be urgently addressed by legislators around the world. AI-related risks range from democratic instability to ethical concerns, global ...

How Trinidad and Tobago is addressing climate change

As part of the IPU's climate campaign Parliaments for the Planet, Pennelope Beckles, Minister of Planning and Development, shares with the IPU the climate policies put in place by Trinidad and Tobago to tackle the climate crisis. The views and opinions expressed by parliamentarians on IPU platforms are their own and do not necessarily reflect the IPU’s position.  Find out more about the IPU’s campaign to mobilize parliaments to act on the climate emergency.

Interactive map of the latest cases of MPs in danger

MPs can sometimes be subject to human rights violations, ranging from arbitrary detention and exclusion from public life to even kidnapping and murder in the worst cases. The IPU has been defending MPs in danger for the past 40 years through its Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians. The map below shows the latest alleged violations of ...

Massive Open Online Course on Freedom of Expression for Parliaments and Their Members

Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of any democratic dispensation. Democracy cannot be realized without a free flow of ideas and information, and the possibility for people to gather, to voice and discuss issues, criticize and make demands, and defend ...

IPU on air- Conversations about parliamentary action

How the Thai Parliament is addressing climate change

As part of the IPU's climate campaign Parliaments for the Planet, Pita Limjaroenrat, member of parliament from Thailand shares with the IPU how climate change is affecting his country and the steps taken by his parliament to tackle the climate crisis. The views and opinions expressed by parliamentarians on IPU platforms are their own and do not necessarily reflect the IPU’s position.  Find out more about the IPU’s campaign to mobilize parliaments to act on the climate emergency.

Universal Declaration on Democracy

Declaration adopted without a vote* by the Inter-Parliamentary Council at its 161st session (Cairo, 16 September 1997) The Inter-Parliamentary Council, Reaffirming the Inter-Parliamentary Union's commitment to peace and development and convinced that the strengthening of the democratisation process and representative institutions will ...

How the Azerbaijan Parliament is getting ready for COP 29

As part of the IPU's climate campaign Parliaments for the Planet, Milli Majlis MP Soltan Mammadov spoke to the IPU about his role as the future COP29 rapporteur, Azerbaijan's oil and gas production , and parliamentary green energy incentives in his recent #Parliaments4thePlanet interview.The views and opinions expressed by parliamentarians on IPU platforms are their own and do not necessarily reflect the IPU’s position.  Find out more about the IPU’s campaign to mobilize parliaments to act on the climate emergency.

A conversation with... Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka, Poland

As part of the IPU series 'A conversation with...', we interview parliamentarians from all over the world to find out who they represent and what motivates them.In this edition, we discover Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka, a Senator from Poland and a member of the IPU's Executive Committee.The views and opinions expressed by the parliamentarians are their own and do not necessarily reflect the IPU’s position.

10 actions for greener parliaments

10 actions for greener parliaments (and those who work in them)

A conversation with... Andréanne Larouche, Canada

As part of the IPU series 'A conversation with...', we interview parliamentarians from all over the world to find out who they represent and what motivates them.In this edition, we discover Andréanne Larouche, a parliamentarian from Canada.The views and opinions expressed by the parliamentarians are their own and do not necessarily reflect the IPU’s position.