The IPU facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world.
We help parliaments build peaceful and inclusive societies, fight terrorism and violent extremism and curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Nearly every country in the world has some form of parliament. Parliamentary systems fall into two categories: bicameral and unicameral. Out of 188 national parliaments in the world, 81 are bicameral (162 chambers) and 107 are unicameral, making a total of 269 chambers of parliament with some 44,000 members of parliament. IPU membership is made up of 183 national parliaments
Throughout the year, the IPU and its Members organize many events for parliamentarians to exchange good practices, acquire the latest information and identify avenues for action.
The IPU has been collecting data on parliaments since its inception in 1889, including information on women’s participation in politics since 1945. In this section, discover the IPU's knowledge bank for and about parliaments.
The contribution of new information and communication technologies to good governance, the improvement of parliamentary democracy and the management of globalisation
Importance of the non-proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction and of missiles, including the prevention of their use by terrorists (Supplementary item)
Terrorism – a threat to democracy, human rights and civil society: the contribution of parliaments to combating international terrorism and addressing its causes in order to maintain international peace and security
Contribution of parliaments to dealing with the continuing tragic situation in the occupied Arab territories, to the provision of international observers, and to the protection of the Arab Palestinian people, especially unarmed civilians
Urgent action to combat HIV/AIDS and other pandemics which seriously endanger public health, and economic, social and political development and even threaten the survival of many nations
Education and culture as essential factors in promoting the participation of men and women in political life and as prerequisites for the development of peoples
Contribution of the world's parliaments to the struggle against terrorism, in conformity with resolution 55/158 of the United Nations General Assembly (Supplementary item)
International action to meet the emergency situation in Afghanistan, compounded by the recent destruction of cultural heritage by the Taliban (Emergency supplementary item)