The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments

We empower parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development.

A Brief history of the IPU

On 30 June 1889, British MP William Randal Cremer and French MP Frédéric Passy invited parliamentarians from nine countries to meet in Paris for the first international parliamentary conference of its kind. And so the Inter-Parliamentary Conference was born. What happened next?

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How much do you know about parliaments?

In the lead-up to International Day of Parliamentarism on 30 June, test your knowledge of parliaments with this 60-second quiz.

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IPU on air- Conversations about parliamentary action

The IPU on air Podcast Series features conversations with MPs and parliamentary experts from around the world on issues that impact citizens and democracies.

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The AI-powered parliament: Risks and opportunities

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has released a new Issue brief, Using generative AI in parliaments, which explores the potential opportunities and risks associated with the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in parliamentary settings.

Women in Parliament in 2023: Concerns over gender-based violence

The IPU's annual report of women in parliament based on 2023 elections shows some limited progress but also some worrying trends - notably women quitting politics citing burn-out and threats.

IPU Long Read

Latest news from the IPU

The power of interfaith and intercultural dialogue: How parliaments are joining the conversation

The IPU in numbers

IPU member parliaments

180 Countries are members of the IPU

See our member parliaments

Women in parliament

26.9% of the world's MPs are women

IPU on Gender Equality

Youth in parliament

31.77% of the world's MPs are under 45

IPU on youth empowerment

MPs' human rights

768 Human rights cases currently treated by the Committee on the Human Rights of MPs

Learn more about the committee

How can parliaments accelerate climate action?

Discover the IPU's climate campaign #Parliaments4thePlanet designed to help parliaments go further and faster on climate action

Join the campaign

Highlights

International Day of Parliamentarism

The International Day of Parliamentarism is celebrated every year on 30 June, the date in 1889 on which the IPU was founded. The Day was established in 2018 through a United Nations General Assembly Resolution.Instituting an international day for parliaments is ...

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.

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... Agustín Almodóbar, Spain

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 Agustín Almodóbar, a senator from Spain and member of the IPU's Executive Committee.This interview was recorded at the 2024 Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations which took place from 8-9 February in New York.The views and opinions expressed by the parliamentarians in the IPU's voices section are their own and do not necessarily reflect the IPU’s overall position.

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 ...

Election officials count ballot papers at a voting station in Lusaka, January 20, 2015

Declaration on Criteria for Free and Fair Elections

Unanimously adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Council at its 154th session (Paris, 26 March 1994) The Inter-Parliamentary Council, Reaffirming the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which establish that the authority ...

10 actions for greener parliaments

Climate action begins at home. Parliaments and those who work in them can take concrete steps to reduce their carbon footprint, both as institutions and individuals. By adopting greener policies and embracing a culture of sustainability, parliaments and parliamentarians can ...

Child holding up sign saying Democracy forever

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 ...

A conversation with... Hendrik-Jan Talsma, Netherlands

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 Hendrik-Jan Talsma, a Senator from the Netherlands and the Chair of the IPU's Committee on Middle East Questions.The views and opinions expressed by the parliamentarians are their own and do not necessarily reflect the IPU’s position.

Say yes to youth in parliament!

Half the world’s population is under 30 and yet less than 3% of MPs globally represent this age group. The IPU has identified the six ways to change this.