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.
P20 Meeting of Women Parliamentarians, remarks by Ambassador Anda Filip, Director of the Division for Member Parliaments and External Relations / Réunion des femmes parlementaires du P20, allocution de l'ambassadrice Anda Filip, Directrice de la Division des Parlements membres et des Relations extérieures
P20 Meeting of Young Parliamentarians, remarks by Mr. Dan Carden, Member of the IPU Bureau of Young Parliamentarians / Réunion des jeunes parlementaires du P20, allocution de M. Dan Carden, membre du Bureau des jeunes parlementaires
Opening remarks by the IPU Vice-President, Ms. Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka / Allocution d'ouverture de la Vice-Présidente de l’UIP, Mme Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka
Session on parliamentary diplomacy, remarks by the IPU Vice-President, Ms. Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka / Séance sur la diplomatie parlementaire, allocution de la Vice-Présidente de l'UIP, Mme Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka
The 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) will be hosted by the Parliament of South Africa in collaboration with the IPU from 1 to 3 October 2025 in Cape Town. The Summit will be preceded by the 2nd P20 Meeting of Women Parliamentarians and the P20 Meeting of Young Parliamentarians which will both be held on 29 and 30 September 2025. The theme of the P20 Summit is Harnessing parliamentary diplomacy for realization of global solidarity, equality and sustainability.
The Summit will host four high-level sessions on the following topics: “Strengthening disaster resilience and responses”; “Ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries”; “Mobilizing finance for a just energy transition”; and “Harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development”. The programme is available here.
For more information, please consult the Host Parliament web page. The registration deadline is 31 August 2025.