This page contains a selection of documents specifically related to the IPU's work in promoting democracy. IPU publications, including studies, reports and handbooks, are available on the Publications page. Details of IPU events relating to democracy can be found on the Specialized Meetings page.
Basic declarations
The main expression of the IPU's broad views on democracy is embodied in its two declarations adopted in the middle of 1990's:
Details of how these declarations were elaborated and adopted can be found here.
Declarations of the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament
The Declarations adopted by the World Conferences of Speakers of Parliament provide importance guidance for the work of the IPU:
Resolutions of statutory IPU Assemblies
The numerous resolutions adopted by the IPU at its statutory Assemblies (called Conferences until 2003) constitute a growing body of parliamentary support for democracy, human rights and gender equality. Indeed, one of the three Standing Committees of the IPU Assembly is entirely devoted to issues relating to democracy and human rights. These resolutions are distributed as official documents of the United Nations where the IPU enjoys the status of a permanent observer to the UN General Assembly.
Selected resolutions:
A complete chronological list of resolutions adopted by IPU statutory Assemblies (Conferences) since 1991 is available on a separate page .
Council resolutions on human rights cases
Twice a year, the sessions of the Governing Council of the IPU adopt resolutions concerning alleged violations of human rights of parliamentarians in different countries. Before these documents are made public, each case is scrupulously studied by the Union's Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians at its meetings held in camera four times a year. The complete list of such resolutions is available on this site.
