- ImpactWe 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.
- Parliaments
Nearly every country in the world has some form of parliament. Parliamentary systems fall into two categories: bicameral and unicameral. Out of 190 national parliaments in the world, 78 are bicameral (156 chambers) and 112 are unicameral, making a total of 268 chambers of parliament with some 44,000 members of parliament. IPU membership is made up of 180 national parliamentsFind 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 parliamentResolutions, declarations and outcomes adopted by IPU MembersRecent innovations in the way parliaments workThe latest climate change legislation from the London School of Economics' database
Women in Parliament: 20 Years in Review
This publication looks at how women's representation in parliament has fared in the 20 years since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action on women's empowerment as well as in the year between 2014 and 2015. Although the news that the percentage of women MPs has nearly doubled since 1995 seems encouraging, the lack of significant progress in 2014 questions whether quotas have reached the peak of their impact.
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Impact
- Our work
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- Gender equality
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- Sustainable development
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- Youth participation
- Parliaments
- Events
- Knowledge
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About the IPU
- About us
- Contact us
- Work with us
- Objectives
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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
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- History of the IPU
- The Cremer-Passy Prize
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