- ImpactWe help parliaments to become greener and to implement the Paris agreement.We support democracy by strengthening parliamentsWe work to increase women’s representation in parliament and empower women MPs.We defend the human rights of parliamentarians and help them uphold the rights of all.We help parliaments fight terrorism, cyber warfare and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.We encourage youth participation in parliaments and empower young MPs.We support parliaments in implementing the SDGs with a particular focus on health and climate change.
- Parliaments
Nearly every country in the world has some form of parliament. Parliamentary systems fall into two categories: bicameral and unicameral. Out of 190 national parliaments in the world, 78 are bicameral (156 chambers) and 112 are unicameral, making a total of 268 chambers of parliament with some 44,000 members of parliament. IPU membership is made up of 179 national parliamentsFind a national parliament
The Swiss National Council © The Swiss Parliament
We help strengthen parliaments to make them more representative and effective.. - Knowledge
Discover the IPU's resources
Our library of essential resources for parliamentsGlobal data for and about national parliamentsLatest data and reports about women in parliamentResolutions, declarations and outcomes adopted by IPU MembersRecent innovations in the way parliaments workThe latest climate change legislation from the London School of Economics' database
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 Governing Council sessions and a provisional agenda. It also proposes the IPU’s annual work programme and budget. It meets at least twice a year before our Assemblies, and can also hold extraordinary sessions if needed. The Executive Committee makes sure that decisions taken by our Assembly and Governing Council are put into practice.
It is made up of our President, 15 elected members from our different geopolitical groups, the President of the Bureau of Women Parliamentarians and the President of the Board of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians. No fewer than 12 members of the Executive Committee are elected from among members of the Governing Council. Each sex is represented by no less than one-third of the elected members.
The Gender Partnership Group, the Sub-Committee on Finance, and the Working Group on Transparency, Accountability and Fairness are also part of the Committee’s work. The Gender Partnership Group aims to ensure that the interests and visions of men and women are taken into account equally in all IPU’s activities and decisions while the Sub-Finance Committee reviews and makes recommendations on financial matters to the Executive Committee. The Working Group on Transparency, Accountability and Fairness is mandated with implementing measures to make the IPU more transparent.
For more information, see the rules of the Executive Committee and the amendments agreed to at the 136th Assembly in Dhaka.
Composition
Ex-Officio President
End of mandate:
Oct 2023
IPU Vice-President, Arab Group
End of mandate:
Mar 2025
IPU Vice-President, Asia-Pacific Group
End of mandate:
Oct 2023
IPU Vice-President, Eurasia Group
End of mandate:
Oct 2023
IPU Vice-President, Latin America/Caribbean Group
End of mandate:
Oct 2024
IPU Vice-President, Twelve Plus Group
End of mandate:
Oct 2025
Member
End of mandate:
Oct 2025
Member
End of mandate:
Oct 2023
Member
End of mandate:
Oct 2026
Member
End of mandate:
Oct 2025
Member
End of mandate:
Oct 2026
Member
End of mandate:
Oct 2023
Member
End of mandate:
Oct 2023
Member
End of mandate:
Oct 2023
Member
End of mandate:
Mar 2027
Member
End of mandate:
Oct 2023
Ex Officio Member (Bureau of Women MPs)
End of mandate:
Mar 2025
Ex Officio Member (Bureau of Young MPs)
End of mandate:
Mar 2025
In this section
Ms. Kanouté © IPU
The Gender Partnership Group is made up of two men and two women members of our Executive Committee. The Group’s task is to guarantee that the interests and visions of male and female MPs are taken into account equally in all the IPU's activities and decisions.
Our Sub-Committee on Finance acts as an advisory body to our Executive Committee. It reviews and makes recommendations on financial matters or any other issue referred to it by the Executive Committee.
The Working Group on Transparency, Accountability and Openness oversees the implementation of the recommendations of the Transparency Report presented by an independent consultant in April 2020. Its role is to help the IPU to strengthen and follow up on its commitment to transparency, accountability and openness.