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.
Working under the supervision of the Director for Member Parliaments and External Relations, the Consultant will support the work of the IPU statutory bodies and provide political and legal advice, the strict observance of the IPU Statutes and Rules, as well as good relations with IPU Member Parliaments and partner organizations.
Some 70 parliaments, representing all the regions of the world attended the First Global Parliamentary Meeting on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Turning the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic into opportunities for parliaments to achieve the SDGs this week
The first major international in-person event held by the IPU in 18 months, the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament , took place in early September in Vienna, Austria. The event’s success in bringing 900 people safely together from
Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships: Under the supervision of the Director in the Division of Support Services (DSS), the Administrative Assistant / Receptionist will provide a full range of services linked to the reception, the registration of incoming and outgoing
The COVID-19 pandemic that emerged with startling speed in early 2020 has served to underline the essential role of parliaments in holding the government to account and ensuring that human rights are not undermined during times of crisis. The IPU
The IPU has a long and storied history spanning over 130 years, and perhaps no one influenced the Organization more than Norway’s Christian Lange, the first paid professional Secretary General. In 1921, for his lasting contributions to the cause of