- 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
Press releases
08/02/2023
Hundreds of Parliamentarians, Speakers and related officials gather in the lead-up the UN 2023 Water Conference
Statements
07/02/2023
The IPU and the global parliamentary community express their deepest sorrow at the devastation and extensive loss of life in the wake of the earthquakes that struck southern Türkiye and northern Syria earlier this week. We convey our deepest condolences
Case studies
31/01/2023
Changemaker Ms. Puan Maharani is the first woman and third youngest Speaker of the House of Representatives of Indonesia. She was among the first Speakers to sign up to the “I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament!” Campaign, and championed
Case studies
31/01/2023
After signing up to the “I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament!” campaign, the first woman Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, Changemaker Ms. Nelly Mutti, helped establish a groundbreaking new youth body, the ‘ Zambia Youth Parliamentary Caucus’
News in brief
31/01/2023
Last week the IPU welcomed at its headquarters in Geneva several parliamentary delegations to discuss parliamentary action on a number of issues, including human rights, climate change, global parliamentary diplomacy, and violence against women MPs. All ten members of the