The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has prompted many experts to warn about its impacts on democracy. To explore this issue further, the IPU is preparing a series of articles on the topic. In this fourth piece, British MP and Vice-Chair of the British Group of the IPU, Vicky Ford, talks about violence against women in politics (VAWIP), as well as the risks and opportunities of AI. With the United Kingdom likely heading for an election in 2024, British MP Vicky Ford worries that the accelerating levels of online violence will discourage even more women from entering political life

As part of her three-day visit to IPU Headquarters, newly elected IPU President Tulia Ackson spoke at a webinar on violence against women in African parliaments, organized by the IPU in partnership with the African Parliamentary Union (APU). The webinar was held in the lead-up to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, which opens 16 days of activism culminating with International Human Rights Day on 10 December. MPs from around the African continent joined the online event to share experiences and solutions for eliminating violence against women. The webinar provided an opportunity to

We applaud the humanitarian pause to the fighting in Gaza and the deal to release Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. We hope the pause will alleviate the immense suffering of the people of Gaza and allow essential food, medicine and other supplies to enter the Gaza Strip. We urge all parties to use this opportunity as the foundation for a longer lasting peace settlement for the region. On 23 November 2023, we were pleased to meet separately their excellencies, Ms. Meirav Eilon Shahar, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and Mr

The IPU and Adaptation at Altitude, a programme of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, have published a new Issues Brief for parliamentarians: Responding to climate change in the mountains: Opportunities for parliamentarians to act. The Brief is designed to help parliamentarians identify policies and actions to adapt to the consequences of climate change in mountain ecosystems. The publication comes in the lead-up to COP28, the UN Climate Change Conference, which starts on 30 November 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and at which adaptation will be a critical item on the agenda. Mountains are vital ecosystems for people