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Inside the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center. © Trocaire 

Human rights

We defend the human rights of parliamentarians and help them uphold the rights of all.
Genocide memorial

Human rights are essential to democracy and development. One of the IPU’s key roles is defending and promoting the rights of parliamentarians.

Through its Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, the IPU has a unique mechanism to defend the rights of an increasing number of parliamentarians around the world who face abuse, mistreatment or even death simply for doing their jobs.

We also provide MPs with information, knowledge and training to improve the human rights of the people they represent – especially women, children, minorities and indigenous peoples. 

We help parliaments implement the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council and UN human rights treaty bodies. We also ensure that countries, through their parliaments, sign up to human rights conventions and adopt and implement relevant domestic laws.

We also collect data on parliamentary human rights committees and empower and mobilise them to make human rights a priority for parliaments.

Our Committee on Democracy and Human Rights spearheads our work on key issues such as freedom of expression, youth participation and children’s rights.

The work of our Committee to Promote Respect for International Humanitarian Law centres on protecting civilians caught up in conflict or disaster, such as refugees.

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Defending the rights of MPs

Number of cases currently treated by the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of MPs

Report a Member of Parliament in danger
Explore human rights

Parliaments and human rights

Parliaments have a critical role in protecting people's human rights. We take action to strengthen their work protecting the rights of all citizens, as well as those of MPs themselves.

Children's rights

We help parliaments respect children's rights, by using their powers to pass laws; and also to allocate resources for the implementation of child-rights related programmes and policies.

Interactive map of the latest cases of MPs in danger

The IPU has been defending MPs in danger for the past 40 years through its Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians.
Latest news and stories on human rights
Marta Lorenzo - UNWRA

13/05/2025

A conversation with...Marta Lorenzo from UNRWA

Charles Ong'ondo Were

01/05/2025

Statement on death of Kenyan MP Mr. Charles Ong'ondo Were

iraq

01/05/2025

IPU welcomes the release of former Iraqi MP Ahmed Al-Alwani

reynolds

03/03/2025

Orphanage trafficking: The hidden crisis aided by good intentions

Ms. Fawzia Koofi

03/02/2025

A conversation with... Fawzia Koofi, Afghanistan

Latest publications on human rights

Violations of the human rights of MPs – 2024

The IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians is the only international mechanism with the remit of protecting and defending MPs suffering human right violations.

Violations of the human rights of MPs – 2023

The IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians is the only international mechanism with the remit of protecting and defending MPs suffering human right violations.

Parliaments and Human Rights- A self-assessment toolkit

Parliaments and Human Rights: A self-assessment toolkit was jointly prepared by OHCHR and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

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As a vital bridge between citizens and global trade policymakers, the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO (PCWTO), as per its objectives since its inception, continues to enhance the transparency, inclusiveness and oversight of the multilateral trading system through its active