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.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments. We promote democratic governance, institutions and values, working with parliaments and parliamentarians to articulate and respond to the needs and aspirations of the people. We work for peace, democracy
The IPU’s newly released World e-Parliament Report 2022 shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformation in parliaments and made them more flexible, innovative and resilient. This seventh edition of the report is based on a survey of 123
It is with great sadness that the IPU learnt of the murder of former Afghan parliamentarian Ms. Mursal Nabizada. According to news reports, Ms. Nabizada and her bodyguard were shot dead at her home in Kabul on 15 January. Ms
The IPU condemns in the strongest possible terms the attacks on the Brazilian Congress and other state institutions on Sunday 8 January. Nearly two years to the day of the assault on the US Congress, the events in Brasilia serve
End of year message from IPU leadership 2022 saw the first year of the implementation of our new 5-year strategy. The Strategy gives us a renewed mandate to continue strengthening and connecting parliaments for peace, democracy and sustainable development. Climate
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of 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 178 national Member Parliaments and
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments. We promote democratic governance and work with parliaments and parliamentarians to articulate and respond to the needs and aspirations of the people. The promotion and protection of human rights
2022 marked the first year of the IPU's new five-year strategy in which climate action took centre stage. The year was also marked by the resurgence of IPU parliamentary diplomacy with a view to finding a peaceful resolution to the
In a historic first, the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution highlighting the critical role of parliaments in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The resolution demonstrates a United Nations growing more open to cooperation with parliaments to