- 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
Publications
The IPU grew in 2023 with the accession of the parliaments of Liberia and the Bahamas, its 179th and 180th Members respectively, as well as many observers and partners signing up to join or rejoin our global parliamentary community. Read more highlights of the year in the Impact Report 2023
2022 was the first year of the implementation of the five-year IPU Strategy for 2022-2026. Through its five objectives, the Strategy has given the IPU a renewed mandate to continue strengthening and connecting parliaments for peace, democracy and sustainable development
This report describes some of our most significant results in the eight strategic objectives set by the IPU’s Member Parliaments five years ago. Despite setbacks for democracy in many countries, we remained steadfast in our mission to build strong, democratic parliaments.
The IPU 2022-2026 Strategy is the result of an inclusive consultative process with the IPU’s Members and stakeholders based on an impact assessment of the previous 2017-2021 strategic period. Led by the IPU President and the IPU Executive Committee, 902
The 2020 Impact Report looks back at the results of IPU’s work in what was an exceptional year.
This report spans the activities of IPU President, Gabriela Cuevas Barron, from 2017-2020.
This report outlines the President’s activities from October 2019 to April 2020.
The 2019 Impact Report looks back at the results of IPU’s work over the year. Available in English, French, Arabic and Spanish.
The IPU 130th anniversary book describes the IPU’s milestones in promoting peace, democracy, human rights, gender equality and parliamentary diplomacy over the past 130 years. It also mentions more recent IPU goals to empower younger parliamentarians and to mobilize parliaments
A one-page overview of what the IPU does on gender equality.
This report outlines the President’s activities from for the first half of her mandate.
A one-page overview of the IPU.