The IPU facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world.
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 46,000 members of parliament. IPU membership is made up of 181 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 139th Assembly of the IPU will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, on 14-18 October 2018. All IPU statutory bodies, including the Governing Council, Standing Committees, Committees on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians and on Middle East Questions, as well as the Forum of Women Parliamentarians and the Forum of Young MPs, will meet on this occasion.
Thursday, 11 October 2018
- Thursday, 11 October 2018
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Sub-Committee on Finance* (Closed meeting)
Main meeting room, IPU Headquarters
Friday, 12 October 2018
- Friday, 12 October 2018
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Executive Committee* (Closed meeting)
Main meeting room, IPU Headquarters
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Executive Committee* (Closed meeting)
Main meeting room, IPU Headquarters
Saturday, 13 October 2018
- Saturday, 13 October 2018
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Gender Partnership Group* (Closed meeting)
Main meeting room, IPU Headquarters
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Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians* (Closed meeting)
Salle Lausanne, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Executive Committee* (Closed meeting)
Main meeting room, IPU Headquarters
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Executive Committee*
Main meeting room, IPU Headquarters
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Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians* (Closed meeting)
Salle Lausanne, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Beginning of Registration
Lobby, CICG
Sunday, 14 October 2018
- Sunday, 14 October 2018
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Bureau of Women Parliamentarians* (Closed meeting)
Salle Genève, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Forum of Women Parliamentarians
Room 2, level 0, CICG
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High Level Advisory Group on Countering terrorism and violent extremism* (Closed meeting)
Salle Genève, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Meeting with the Chairpersons of the Geopolitical Groups* (Closed meeting)
Room 18, level -1, CICG
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Break-out Group of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians
Rooms 3 & 4, level 0, CICG
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Meeting of Advisers and Secretaries to delegations
Rooms 5 & 6, level 3, CICG
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Forum of Women Parliamentarians Panel Discussion: Gender equality in science and technology
Room 2, level 0, CICG
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Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians* (Closed meeting)
Salle Lausanne, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Committee on Middle East Questions* (Closed meeting)
Room 18, level -1, CICG
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Meeting of Presidents of the Standing Committees*
Salle Genève, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Group of Facilitators for Cyprus*
Salle Vevey, CCV Annexe building, CICG
Monday, 15 October 2018
- Monday, 15 October 2018
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Assembly Steering Committee*
VIP Lounge, level 3, CICG
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Board of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians* (Closed meeting)
Salle Genève, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Governing Council
Room 1, level 1, CICG
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Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade - Briefing on the Parliamentary contribution to the 2018 UN Climate Change Conference
- Debate on The role of fair and free trade and investment in achieving the SDGs, especially regarding economic equality, sustainable infrastructure, industrialization and innovation
Room 2, level 0, CICG
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Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights Debate on the draft resolution on Strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation on migration and migration governance in view of the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
Rooms 3 & 4, level 0, CICG
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Assembly: Start of the General Debate Theme: Parliamentary leadership in promoting peace and development in the age of innovation and technological change
Room 1, level 1, CICG
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Committee to Promote Respect for International Humanitarian Law* (Closed meeting)
Salle Lausanne, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Assembly: General Debate
Room 1, level 1, CICG
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Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians* (Closed meeting)
Salle Lausanne, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Forum of Young Parliamentarians of the IPU
Room 2, level 0, CICG
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Assembly: Decision on the emergency item, followed by continuation of the General Debate
Room 1, level 1, CICG
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ASGP Meeting
Rooms 5 & 6, level 3, CICG
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Standing Committee on Peace and International Security - Panel discussion on Comprehensive disarmament and non-proliferation
- Panel discussion on Combatting sexual violence in UN Peacekeeping operations and beyond
Rooms 3 & 4, level 0, CICG
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ASGP Meeting
Rooms 5 & 6, level 3, CICG
18:30 -
Reception offered by Switzerland
Events area, level 1, CICG
Tuesday, 16 October 2018
- Tuesday, 16 October 2018
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Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights Drafting in plenary of the draft resolution on Strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation on migration and migration governance in view of the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
Rooms 3 & 4, level 0, CICG
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Assembly: Debate on the emergency item
Room 1, level 1, CICG
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Assembly: Continuation of the General Debate
Room 1, level 1, CICG
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Bureau of the Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs*
Room 18, level -1, CICG
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Panel discussion: Where do parliaments stand in the fight against sexism and harassment?
Room 2, level 0, CICG
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Panel discussion: The role of Parliaments in combating terrorism and violent extremism
Salle Genève, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians* (Closed meeting)
Salle Lausanne, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Advisory Group on Health* (Closed meeting)
Room 15, level -1, CICG
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Side event on Legislating on food and nutrition: Lessons learned, challenges and opportunities for parliamentary action
Room 18, level -1, CICG
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Panel discussion: Building bridges between the parliamentary and scientific communities Organized with CERN.
Salle Genève, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Bureau of the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade*
Salle Lausanne, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Bureau of the Standing Committee on Peace and International Security* (Closed meeting)
Salle Lausanne, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Assembly: Continuation of the General Debate
Room 1, level 1, CICG
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Special session to mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights
Room 1, level 1, CICG
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Continuation of the General Debate
Room 1, level 1, CICG
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Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights Drafting in plenary of the draft resolution on Strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation on migration and migration governance in view of the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
Rooms 3 & 4, level 0, CICG
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Committee on Middle East Questions* (Closed meeting)
Salle Genève, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Possible drafting committee on the emergency item*
Room 18, level -1, CICG
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Panel discussion: What can MPs do to sort fact from fiction in the age of fake news? With the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
Salle Genève, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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ASGP Meeting
Rooms 5 & 6, level 3, CICG
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ASGP Meeting
Rooms 5 & 6, level 3, CICG
Wednesday, 17 October 2018
- Wednesday, 17 October 2018
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ASGP Meeting
Rooms 5 & 6, level 3, CICG
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Parity debate on Ensuring that children enjoy their rights and grow up protected from violence
Room 2, level 0, CICG
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Bureau of the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights*
Salle Lausanne, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Gender Partnership Group* (Closed meeting)
Salle Genève, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Assembly: Continuation of the General Debate
Room 1, level 1, CICG
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Executive Committee* (Closed meeting)
Salle Genève, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Standing Committee on Peace and International Security Expert Hearing on the theme of Non-admissibility of using mercenaries as a means of undermining peace and violating human rights
Room 2, level 0, CICG
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Open session of the Committee to Promote Respect for International Humanitarian Law on Ending Statelessness by 2024 – Pledges, Action and Results
Room 18, level -1, CICG
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Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights Adoption of the draft resolution on Strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation on migration and migration governance in view of the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
Rooms 3 & 4, level 0, CICG
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ASGP Meeting
Rooms 5 & 6, level 3, CICG
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Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians*
Salle Lausanne, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Assembly: Adoption of the resolution on the emergency item, and Conclusion of the General Debate
Room 1, level 1, CICG
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Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs: Debate
Room 2, level 0, CICG
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Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade Panel discussion on "Taking forward the IPU resolution entitled Engaging the private sector in implementing the SDGs, especially on renewable energy"
Rooms 3 & 4, level 0, CICG
Thursday, 18 October 2018
- Thursday, 18 October 2018
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Bureau of Women Parliamentarians*
Salle Genève, CCV Annexe building, CICG
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Governing Council Decisions on the human rights of MPs, and Reports of specialized meetings
Room 1, level 1, CICG
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Joint IPU-ASGP workshop: How good is parliament at holding government to account? How well am I performing my oversight role?
Salle Genève, CCV Annexe building, CICG
14:30 -
Governing Council
Room 1, level 1, CICG
At the end of the Governing Council
Assembly Adoption of resolutions, Reports of the Standing Committees, Outcome document of the General debate, and Closing sitting
1. Election of the President of the 139th Assembly
2. Consideration of requests for the inclusion of an emergency item in the Assembly agenda
3. General Debate on the theme Parliamentary leadership in promoting peace and development in the age of innovation and technological change
4. Strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation on migration and migration governance in view of the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
(Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights)
5. Reports of the Standing Committees on Peace and International Security; Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade; and United Nations Affairs
6. Approval of the subject item for the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights at the 141st IPU Assembly and appointment of the Rapporteurs
7. Amendments to the IPU Statutes and Rules
* The unfinished business of the 138th Assembly will be dealt with on the first day of the 139th Assembly.
First speakers from delegations (Non-Presiding Officers) and invited organizations / Premiers orateurs des délégations (hormis les Présidents de parlement) et des organisations invitées
Under the terms of Assembly Rule 11.1, any Member of the Union may request the inclusion of an emergency item in the Assembly agenda. Such a request must be accompanied by a brief explanatory memorandum and a draft resolution which clearly define the scope of the subject covered by the request. The Secretariat shall communicate the request and any such documents immediately to all Members.
(a) A request for the inclusion of an emergency item must relate to a major event of international concern on which it appears necessary for the IPU to express its opinion. Such a request must receive a two-thirds majority of the votes cast in order to be accepted;
(b) The Assembly may place only one emergency item on its agenda. Should several requests obtain the requisite majority, the one having received the largest number of positive votes shall be accepted;
(c) The authors of two or more requests for the inclusion of an emergency item may combine their proposals to present a joint one, provided that each of the original proposals relates to the same subject;
(d) The subject of a proposal that has been withdrawn by its authors or rejected by the Assembly cannot be included in the draft resolution submitted on the emergency item, unless it is clearly referred to in the request and title of the subject adopted by the Assembly.
Reporting by Members on follow-up to IPU decisions
In October 2017 (St. Petersburg), the Governing Council endorsed the Executive Committee’s recommendation to pursue a new approach to the annual reporting exercise by IPU Members whereby a number of parliaments from each geopolitical group would be selected on a rotational basis to share their experiences.
The following Guidelines for the periodic reporting exercise provide the reference framework for the new reporting exercise, as a transitional measure. If successful, the new modality would subsequently be reflected in the IPU Statutes and Rules.
GUIDELINES
1. All IPU Members shall submit periodic reports, on average once every four years. The IPU Secretariat shall facilitate the exercise by preparing a questionnaire.
2. The periodic reports shall focus on parliamentary follow-up to:
- Resolutions of the Standing Committees;
- Resolutions relating to the emergency item;
- Outcome documents of the General Debate;
- Decisions of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians;
- Plans of Action (such as the 2012 IPU Plan of Action for Gender-sensitive Parliaments);
- Initiatives of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians and of the Forum of Young MPs of the IPU;
- Outcome documents of specialized meetings (such as regional and national seminars);
- Decisions and recommendations of other IPU bodies.
3. In addition to their statutory reporting obligation on a rotational basis, IPU Members can submit, at any time, voluntary reports on parliamentary follow-up action.
4. The Executive Committee and geopolitical group Chairpersons shall monitor the submission of reports under the rotational system and ensure that IPU Members meet their reporting obligations.
5. IPU Members are invited to submit periodic reports according to the order established by Annex 1 to the Guidelines. When a Member cannot submit a report within the expected timeline, due to conditions beyond its control, it shall inform the Secretary General accordingly. Such a Member shall submit its report the following year.
The Secretary General will issue a report to the Governing Council at the 139th IPU Assembly (Geneva, October 2018) based on input from Members. The IPU membership will be informed of the outcome of the reporting exercise during a dedicated session. The preceding report on action taken by Members to follow up on IPU decisions and resolutions is available here.
To know when your parliament is expected to take part in the reporting exercise, please see this list.
To access the 2018 questionnaire on follow-up to IPU decisions and resolutions please click here.
Remember that all IPU Members can submit voluntary reports at any time!