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 Regional Conference Comprehensive Responses to Refugee Situations – Effective Parliamentary Approaches is organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and hosted by the Pan-African Parliament. It will be held in Midrand, South Africa, from 11 to 13 November 2019.
The Regional Conference takes place in follow-up to the adoption of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and in the context of the African Union’s theme for 2019: The Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa.