- ImpactWe help parliaments to become greener and to implement the Paris agreement.We support democracy by strengthening parliamentsWe work to increase women’s representation in parliament and empower women MPs.We defend the human rights of parliamentarians and help them uphold the rights of all.We help parliaments fight terrorism, cyber warfare and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.We encourage youth participation in parliaments and empower young MPs.We support parliaments in implementing the SDGs with a particular focus on health and climate change.
- Parliaments
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 44,000 members of parliament. IPU membership is made up of 179 national parliamentsFind a national parliament
The Swiss National Council © The Swiss Parliament
We help strengthen parliaments to make them more representative and effective.. - Knowledge
Discover the IPU's resources
Our library of essential resources for parliamentsGlobal data for and about national parliamentsLatest data and reports about women in parliamentResolutions, declarations and outcomes adopted by IPU MembersRecent innovations in the way parliaments workThe latest climate change legislation from the London School of Economics' database
News and case studies
Discover the latest news, case studies, press releases, statements, speeches and photos from the IPU here
Case studies
Case studies
28/09/2023
As part of its Parliaments for the Planet climate campaign, the IPU is collecting examples of good practice from parliaments around the world. In this case study, we focus on the National Assembly of the United Republic of Tanzania. In
Case studies
07/08/2023
To shape a more sustainable, equitable future, young people will need democratic skills. Here’s how the Austrians are leading the change.
Case studies
25/07/2023
As part of the IPU’s climate campaign Parliaments for the Planet, we are focusing on good climate practice by parliaments around the world which can be replicated elsewhere. The European Parliament, an IPU Associate Member, is a good example of
Press releases
See all press releases
Press releases
29/09/2023
Geneva, Switzerland, 29 September 2023. For immediate release Digital tools have never been more important for the effective functioning of parliaments. A new IPU guide to digital transformation provides a blueprint for parliaments to effectively scale up their use of
Press releases
16/09/2023
Close to 300 young parliamentarians from some 70 countries have committed to accelerating the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially through digital transformation and innovation. The young MPs were in Hanoi, Viet Nam, for the Ninth IPU Global
Press releases
29/06/2023
Lisbon, Portugal, 29 June 2023. For immediate release. On the eve of its 134-year anniversary and the International Day of Parliamentarism, the IPU and Uruguay have signed an agreement with the objective of opening a regional IPU office in Montevideo
Press releases
22/06/2023
Twenty years after the first edition, the IPU and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have published a new version of a handbook for parliamentarians on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
Press releases
News in brief
See all news in brief
News in brief
06/09/2023
The Second World Summit of the Committees of the Future, organized jointly by the Parliament of Uruguay and the IPU, will bring together parliamentarians from around the world to explore how to integrate tomorrow’s challenges into today’s decision-making.
News in brief
05/09/2023
The IPU’s Forum of Young Parliamentarians is a unique global body created 10 years ago to boost youth participation in parliaments and to allow young lawmakers to network among their peers. The Forum is all the more important as, according
News in brief
30/08/2023
The IPU Member Parliaments will elect their 31st President at the forthcoming 147th IPU Assembly to be held in Luanda, Angola from 23 to 27 October. The IPU President is the political head of the organization. He or she chairs
News in brief
24/08/2023
With the summer of 2023 set to be the hottest on record, time is rapidly running out to keep global warming under the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees Celsius. Climate action has become the number one strategic priority for
News in brief
Statements
See all statements
Statements
29/09/2023
The IPU takes note with interest of the verdict delivered by the Swiss district criminal court of Rorschach (St. Gallen) in the case of the Belarusian opposition parliamentarian Mr. Victor Gonchar (Hanchar). Mr. Gonchar disappeared in September 1999, along with
Statements
31/08/2023
The IPU condemns the military coup in Gabon and urges the armed forces to show maximum restraint. The health and well-being of the president should be protected. The IPU calls for a swift return to constitutional order in respect of
Statements
28/07/2023
The IPU strongly condemns the attempted coup in Niger that took place on 26 July, following reports that democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum had been seized by guards inside his official residence and was being held prisoner with his family
Statements
25/04/2023
The IPU vehemently condemns the violent attack against Ugandan opposition MP, Susan Mugabi that took place on 21 April. According to the information received by the IPU, Ms. Mugabi was allegedly assaulted by the police, leaving her in a critical
Statements
Voices
See all voices
Voices
28/09/2023
The Second World Summit of the Committees of the Future took place from 25-27 September 2023 in Montevideo, Uruguay, with the theme of Bringing the future into the present: The democracy of the future, artificial intelligence and parliaments. The Summit
Voices
21/09/2023
What is Universal Health Coverage? And why are parliaments critical to implementing this key part of the development agenda? Find out more in this 1-minute video and download the IPU/WHO Handbook The Path to Universal Health Coverage.
Voices
19/09/2023
The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has prompted many experts to warn about its impacts on democracy. To explore this issue further, the IPU is preparing a series of five articles on the topic. In this third piece, Belgian
Voices
26/07/2023
As part of the IPU series called 'A conversation with...', we interview parliamentarians from all over the world to find out who they represent and what motivates them. In this edition, we discover Mamonaheng Mokitimi, President of the Senate of
Voices
Photos
Videos
Latest speeches from IPU Leadership
Speech