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.
Agnes Zani, Kenyan MP representing IPU Executive Committee Member Kenyan Speaker K.M. Lusaka, talks about how parliaments can build trust in people in this video for the first International Day of Parliamentarism, 30 June 2018. Watch the the other videos
Kazem Jalali, Vice-President, IPU Executive Committee and Iranian MP, speaks about parliaments as the symbol of democracy in this video for the first International Day of Parliamentarism, 30 June 2018. Watch the the other videos from the International Day of
Hege Haukeland Liadal, Member of the IPU Executive Committee and Norwegian MP, speaks about the importance of women and youth being represented in parliaments in this video for the first International Day of Parliamentarism, 30 June 2018. Watch the the
Fawzia Benbadis, Member of the IPU Executive Committee and Algerian MP, speaks about women in parliament on the occasion of the first International Day of Parliamentarism, 30 June 2018. (Video in French) Watch the the other videos from the International
Konstantin Kosachev, Vice-President, IPU Executive Committee and Russian MP, speaks about the different kinds of parliamentary democracy on the occasion of the first International Day of Parliamentarism, 30 June 2018. Watch the the other videos from the International Day of
IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong speaks about parliaments and the state of democracy on the occasion of the first International Day of Parliamentarism, 30 June 2018. Watch the the other videos from the International Day of Parliamentarism 2018.
IPU President and Mexican Senator Gabriela Cuevas speaks about parliaments and their importance in representing the people on the occasion of the first International Day of Parliamentarism, 30 June 2018. Watch the the other videos from the International Day of
What role can parliaments play in achieving universal health coverage and global health security? A vital one - according to a technical briefing co-organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at the 71 st World Health Assembly in Geneva.