The IPU facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world.
We help parliaments build peaceful and inclusive societies, fight terrorism and violent extremism and curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Nearly every country in the world has some form of parliament. Parliamentary systems fall into two categories: bicameral and unicameral. Out of 188 national parliaments in the world, 81 are bicameral (162 chambers) and 107 are unicameral, making a total of 269 chambers of parliament with some 44,000 members of parliament. IPU membership is made up of 183 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.
Geneva, Switzerland, 23 March 2026 The Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) will convene its 152nd Assembly in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 15 to 19 April 2026. Hosted by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, the overall theme of the event is Nurturing
Division for Member Parliaments and External Relation (MPER) Organizational setting and reporting relationships: Working under the direct supervision of the Conference Services Officer (CSO), the Administrative Assistant provides a series of services for the Division and, in particular, for the
Organizational setting and reporting relationships Under the supervision of the Programme Manager for International Development, the consultant will support the IPU’s work on international development, with a particular focus on strengthening parliamentary engagement and assisting parliaments in taking effective legislative
LISBON, PORTUGAL AND GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (11 MARCH 2026) – UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the global organization of national parliaments, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to mobilize lawmakers worldwide to improve health
As part of the IPU series ‘A Conversation With...’, we interview parliamentarians and experts from all over the world to find out who they represent and what motivates them. In this edition, we speak to Rojo Edwards, a Senator from