Press releases

Taking decisive actions to end economic, political and social inequality will be the focus of deliberations for the more than 650 MPs from 132 countries meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 1-5 April 2017. Parliamentarians, including 53 Speakers of Parliament, will make concrete proposals on a range of issues, from ending rising inequality to promoting women’s access to financing, during the 136th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) (#IPU136) hosted by the Bangladesh Parliament.

The number of women in executive government and in parliament worldwide has stagnated, with only marginal improvements since 2015, according to the data contained in the Women in Politics 2017 Map launched today by IPU and UN Women. The Map, which presents global rankings for women in the executive and parliamentary branches of government as of 1 January 2017, shows slow progress towards gender equality in these areas at regional and national levels. The presentation took place at a joint IPU-UN Women press conference in New York, in the context of the ongoing session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

More ambitious measures and stronger political commitment are needed to enhance women’s representation in parliament and keep apace with the significant progress achieved worldwide over the last decade, says the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). IPU’s “Women in Parliament in 2016: The year in review” released ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March calls for renewed momentum to ensure women’s voices everywhere are included in decision-making processes.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is extremely concerned about the spreading famine in Africa. Famine has been declared in parts of South Sudan, affecting over 100,000 people. The United Nations has warned that it is likely to spread to Yemen, Somalia and Nigeria.

The IPU President, Saber Chowdhury has expressed his deep disappointment over, and deplored, the adoption by the Israeli Knesset of the Regularization Law on 6 February 2017. The legislation, an affront to the rule of law, will seriously jeopardize ongoing efforts to secure a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the Middle East, including the two-state solution that the parties have commited to with the strong support of the international community. It will in fact hinder the chances of establishing a viable and sovereign Palestinian State.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has again expressed concern about continued human rights violations against MPs worldwide and the lack of respect for their parliamentary immunity. During its January 2017 session, IPU’s Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians adopted decisions on the cases of 227 MPs from 16 countries. Over 100 MPs are from just three countries, Malaysia, Nicaragua and Turkey.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is gravely concerned at the current situation in The Gambia, where President Yahya Jammeh is refusing to hand over power following the results of recently held elections. Mr. Jammeh has been in office for 22 years, ever since he staged a military coup in 1994.

Women Speakers of Parliament from across the globe agreed to rapidly develop parliamentary objectives and action plans that put at the core the integrity of our planet and peace and prosperity. At the conclusion of the two-day Global Summit of

The year 2016 has seen a sharp increase in the number of parliamentarians who have suffered violations of their fundamental rights or who have alleged such violations, according to IPU statistics that underscore once more the dangers MPs face across the world in exercising their mandate and their right to freedom of expression. Marking Human Rights Day 2016 (10 December), IPU released Human Rights Abuses of MPs—2016. This comprehensive overview of the cases being examined by IPU’s Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians shows an overall increase in violations of MPs human rights for the third year in a row.

Women Speakers of Parliament from 35 countries will work together to define concrete actions to promote global economic growth, sustainable development, technological advancement and environmental security. Meeting in Abu Dhabi on 12-13 December under the theme United for Shaping the Future, the Global Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament will focus on their unique role in uniting parliamentarians to deliver sustainable prosperity and security in a rapidly changing world for present and future generations.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union follows up its landmark study on sexism against women MPs with an initiative to advance gender-sensitive reforms in parliament. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, IPU is launching an innovative approach that challenges parliaments on their functioning and working methods, and how these contribute to gender equality.

Parliamentarians from across the globe declared their commitment to raising the alarm and taking action when serious human rights challenges emerge, particularly in conflict situations. In a declaration on human rights abuses as precursors of conflict, adopted at the conclusion of the 135th IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, IPU Members said that parliamentarians are the guardians of human rights and the rule of law, and if violations or challenges occur they are the early responders.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) spoke out today about the increasing levels of retaliation against MPs for exercising their freedom of expression across the world. In a series of decisions adopted on the violations of the human rights of MPs, the

The Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) 135th Assembly urged all relevant parties to bring an end to this war. They also called today for the immediate, unimpeded and permanent humanitarian and medical access to the civilian population in Syria in order to ensure that supplies reach over 550,000 people in besieged areas deprived from almost all humanitarian aid.

A new study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) reveals that sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs are global problems that impede gender equality and undermine the foundations of democracy.

MPs from 138 countries will convene next week in Geneva to determine among other issues specific ways in which parliaments can respond effectively to serious human rights violations and their underlying causes, including human rights situations likely to lead to conflict.

The aspirations for a fairer world set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will only be met if there is more democracy worldwide, said the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) today.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted on 25th July by consensus a resolution on Interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

A new study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has found major steps forward in how the world’s parliaments are using information and communications technologies (ICT) to engage with citizens.

A global meeting of MPs specializing in international trade has called for urgent action to implement multilateral agreements which benefit the developing world. More than 400 parliamentary delegates from around 60 countries attended the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade