At the 150th IPU Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the IPU welcomed the National Assembly of Belize as its 182nd Member Parliament, further expanding the Organization’s global reach and bringing it one step closer to universal membership.
The decision by the National Assembly to join the IPU was confirmed by a resolution that was passed unanimously in December 2024 in its House of Representatives.
Ms. Valerie Woods, the Speaker of the House of Representatives at the time, said: “We look forward to beginning a fruitful exchange of knowledge and experience with fellow Member Parliaments. The IPU aligns with Belize’s collective international efforts to advance democracy, foster transparency and promote best practices in governance. Our commitment to adhering to the principles and guidelines of the IPU is steadfast, and the National Assembly of Belize is eager to contribute in meaningful ways to the continued inclusivity and diversity of the IPU.”
The National Assembly of Belize consists of two chambers – the House of Representatives and the Senate:
The House of Representatives, the lower chamber, is made up of 31 directly elected members, of which 9.7% are women.
The Senate, the upper chamber, has 14 appointed members, of which women comprise 28.6%.
The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 182 national Member Parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development. It helps parliaments become stronger, younger, greener, more innovative and gender-balanced. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.
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