- Our impact
The IPU facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world.We help parliaments to become greener and to implement the Paris agreement.We support democracy by strengthening parliamentsWe work to increase women’s representation in parliament and empower women MPs.We defend the human rights of parliamentarians and help them uphold the rights of all.We help parliaments fight terrorism, cyber warfare and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.We encourage youth participation in parliaments and empower young MPs.We support parliaments in implementing the SDGs with a particular focus on health and climate change.We bring a parliamentary dimension to United Nations processes to ensure international commitments become national realities. - Parliaments
Nearly every country in the world has some form of parliament. Parliamentary systems fall into two categories: bicameral and unicameral. Out of 190 parliaments in the world, 79 are bicameral (158 chambers) and 111 are unicameral, making a total of 269 chambers of parliament with some 44,000 members of parliament. IPU membership is made up of 178 national parliaments. DiscoverFind a national parliament
The Swiss National Council © The Swiss Parliament
We help strengthen parliaments to make them more representative and effective.. - Knowledge
Discover the IPU's resources
Our library of essential resources for parliamentsGlobal data for and about national parliamentsLatest data and reports about women in politicsRecent innovations in the way parliaments workThe latest climate change legislation and policies from the London School of Economics' database
Gender equality at a glance
Women account for half the world’s population yet most parliaments are dominated by men. With a global average of only 24% of women parliamentarians, equality is still a long way off and current progress is far too slow.
Download the factsheet to get a one-page overview of what the IPU does on gender equality. (Bilingual: English, French)
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About the IPU
- About us
- History of the IPU
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Structure and governance
- President
- Assemblies
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Governing Council
- Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians
- Committee on Middle East Questions
- Group of Facilitators for Cyprus
- Committee to Promote Respect for International Humanitarian Law
- Advisory Group on Health
- Forum of Women Parliamentarians
- Forum of Young Parliamentarians
- High-Level Advisory Group on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism
- Working Group on Science and Technology
- Executive Committee
- Secretary General
- Secretariat
- Members
- Statutes and Rules of the IPU
- Gender-equal IPU
- Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments
- News
- Work with us
- Contact us