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 ...

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 ...

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 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.

IPU on air- Conversations about parliamentary action

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.

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 ...

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.

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 ...