- 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
IPU Events
- An interactive dialogue on the current state of democracy
Geneva, Switzerland, 15 September, Palais des Nations, Room XII, 2-4 pm
Organized with the State Chancellery of Geneva and the United Nations Office at Geneva
The special guests will provide their unique perspectives on the current state of democracy in the world, on challenges facing our societies today and innovative ways to rejuvenate democracy and ensure human rights and dignity for all.
Speakers are Izzah Anwar (Malaysia), Member of Parliament and human rights activist; Joachim Son-Forget (France), Member of the National Assembly, La République En Marche; and John Githongo (Kenya), journalist and leading figure in the fight against corruption.
This event will be the start of Geneva Democracy Week (15-23 September).
Those without a UN badge can register at https://reg.unog.ch/event/21835.
Watch the Facebook Live videos (part 1 and part 2).
- In defence of democracy: The 20th anniversary of IPU’s Universal Declaration on Democracy
New York, USA, 15 September, United Nations, Conference Room 12, 1:15-2:45 pm
This panel discussion will highlight IPU’s Universal Declaration on Democracy as an international standard to guide governments, parliaments and citizens through today’s many challenges to democracy around the world. It will explore the tension within various relativist notions of democracy while discussing concrete ways to support democracy as a concept that all people everywhere can appropriate as theirs.
Speakers are Sven Spengemann, MP, House of Commons of Canada, Member of the IPU Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights; Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary General, Department of Political Affairs, United Nations; Nermeen Shaikh, Co-host and Producer, Democracy Now!; and Pennelope Beckles, Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations.
©Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0