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 IPU’s Forum of Young Parliamentarians is a unique global body created 10 years ago to boost youth participation in parliaments and to allow young lawmakers to network among their peers. The Forum is all the more important as, according
The IPU condemns the military coup in Gabon and urges the armed forces to show maximum restraint. The health and well-being of the president should be protected. The IPU calls for a swift return to constitutional order in respect of
The IPU Member Parliaments will elect their 31st President at the forthcoming 147th IPU Assembly to be held in Luanda, Angola from 23 to 27 October. The IPU President is the political head of the organization. He or she chairs
With the summer of 2023 set to be the hottest on record, time is rapidly running out to keep global warming under the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees Celsius. Climate action has become the number one strategic priority for
We need more women in parliament, but without childcare support we stand little chance of reaching gender parity. Parliaments can change this, one crèche at a time.
Parliamentary solidarity: Supporting MPs under threat
Sep262023
This online panel discussion aims to bring together diverse parliamentary institutions and parliamentarians from all regions of the world in order to share examples of good practice in the field of parliamentary solidarity