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.
Lucila Crexell, Argentinian MP, explains what the Argentinian Parliament is doing to achieve the SDGs and the importance of focusing on all the Goals. She was at the Parliamentary side event at the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable
Thilanga Sumathipala, Sri Lankan MP, speaks about how the Sri Lankan Parliament is achieving the SDGs and how consumerism is affecting the future in terms of natural resources. He was at the Parliamentary side event at the UN High Level
Linda Duncan, Canadian MP, speaks of the challenges faced by the Canadian Parliament in monitoring the implementation of the SDGs. She was at the Parliamentary side event at the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New
Philippus Katamelo, Namibian MP, speaks about engaging other sectors in achieving SDGs and how the SDGs' emphasis on land is important for Namibia. Land is important for Namibia, since 90% of the country's economy depends on agriculture. Mr. Katamelo was
Petra Bayr, Austrian MP, speaks about the importance of SDGs to developed countries and what the Austrian Parliament has been doing to achieve them. She stresses that the Goals related to sustainable consumption and production are key to Austria. Ms
Bangladesh MP and Honorary IPU President Saber Chowdhury talks about how the Parliament of Bangladesh is working to achieve the SDGs. He emphasizes the importance of accurate data to help MPs to engage with the SDGs and mitigate the effects
Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General, talks about the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and how the IPU worked to bring parliaments into the preparatory process for the Agenda. He also explains how IPU helps parliaments to engage
Ulrika Karlsson, President of the IPU Bureau of Women MPs, Ex Officio Member of the IPU Executive Committee and Swedish MP, talks about the importance of having more women in parliament in this video for the first International Day of
On the occasion of the first International Day of Parliamentarism, 30 June 2018, Robert del Picchia, Member of the IPU Executive Committee and French MP, talks about the dangers faced by parliaments today and the importance of the parliamentary system
On the occasion of the first International Day of Parliamentarism, 30 June 2018, Margareta Kiener Nellen, Member of the IPU Executive Committee and Swiss MP, talks about why parliaments have lost the confidence of the people and how they can