- 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' databaseIPU on air- Conversations about parliamentary action
Common Principles for Support to Parliaments
The Common Principles for Support to Parliaments set out the fundamental principles for planning and implementing programmes to strengthen parliaments. They were first developed in 2014 by a group of parliaments and partners convened by the IPU and have been widely endorsed around the world.
Parliamentary support should:
- Be guided by the needs of parliaments
- Take account of the social, economic and political contexts of individual parliaments
- Aim for sustainable outcomes
- Include all political tendencies
- Be grounded in international standards
- Address the needs and potential of women and men equally
- Use local and regional expertise
- Use effective coordination and communication
- Guarantee ethical and responsible conduct by partners
Tenth anniversary
2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the Common Principles. To celebrate this milestone, the IPU is planning special events at the 149th IPU Assembly in October 2024. Parliaments and organizations around the world are invited to join the commemoration.
Show your dedication to parliamentary development by hosting an event leading up to the anniversary or marking it online. This toolkit provides a wealth of resources to help you celebrate, including materials to promote the Common Principles and parliamentary development more broadly.
Endorsements of the Common Principles
There are 180 endorsements of the Common Principles: 149 national parliaments, 10 parliamentary assemblies and 21 partner organizations.
The Common Principles were elaborated with parliamentary and expert partners on the basis of decades of experience in technical assistance. ©IPU