- 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
President
Our President is the political head of our institution. He/she directs our activities, chairs full meetings and acts as our representative at global events and gatherings.
The President serves as head of our Executive Committee, which guides and monitors our work.
Our Presidents are all leading figures with a strong parliamentary background in their own country. They have included many Speakers and Presidents of Parliament, along with former prime ministers and MPs.
Presidents are elected for one mandate of three years only by our Governing Council. We try to ensure that there is a regular rotation between our geopolitical groups.
Our current President is Portuguese MP Mr. Duarte Pacheco, who was elected in November 2020.
Watch the IPU President address the 2023 146th Inaugural Ceremony in Manama, Bahrain.
Duarte Pacheco's Biography
Mr. Duarte Pacheco has been a Member of Parliament in Portugal since 1991. He has held different functions in Parliament, including as a Member of the Budget and Finance Committee and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Portuguese Communities.
At the IPU, Mr. Pacheco has been a Member of the Portuguese delegation since 2002 and its head since 2016. He was the Chair of the IPU’s Twelve Plus Geopolitical Group from 2017-2020. He was also the Vice-President of the IPU’s Standing Committee on Peace and International Security from 2014-2016 and Internal Auditor for the IPU in 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2015.
The @IPUPresident on Twitter
Latest speeches by the President
Speech
IPU President
IPU President Duarte Pacheco.