Latest News
MPs meet to discuss sustainable trade at the WTO Public Forum
Although many countries and people have benefited from global trade, work still remains to be done to make sure that these benefits are equally distributed and that no one is left behind. How can parliaments ensure this? To look at how parliaments can contribute to more sustainable trade, the IPU and the European Parliament organized a parliamentary session during the 2017 World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum on 26 September. The session focused onon “Making trade fair: The contribution of parliaments”. The parliamentary session was part... read more
IPU Secretary General receives Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister at House of Parliaments
Yemen’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abdel Malik Al-Mikhlafi, visited IPU HQ on 25 September. He met with IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong with whom he discussed the current situation in Yemen. The SG briefed him on the Organization‘s efforts to mobilize more resources for humanitarian assistance to the Yemeni people. The Organization was also working to promote dialogue within the Yemeni parliament to help it forge a unified response to the challenges facing Yemen. “I urge the Yemeni Parliament to form a united front in defence of the Yemeni peo... read more
Working with Benin’s National Assembly on legislative drafting
The IPU held a seminar for the Parliament of Benin to help strengthen the legislative drafting capacity of parliamentary staff and Members of Parliament. The seminar, attended by about 40 staff, took place on 26 and 27 September 2017. It was followed by an information session for Members of Parliament on 28 September at the National Assembly in Porto-Novo. The seminar was given by Ibrahima Niane, Parliamentary Law and Practice Consultant and formerly head of the legislative services of the National Assembly of Senegal, and Alphonse Nombre, MP and former Secretary General of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso. This approach.. read more
The global organization of parliaments, IPU works to establish democracy, peace and cooperation among peoples.
Representative Democracy
A strong and efficient parliament is critical to democracy. IPU works to make parliaments more effective in fulfilling their government oversight and legislative roles, in guaranteeing people’s rights and liberties and in securing peace and development.
Women in Politics
Democracy means all voices are heard. IPU is committed to ensuring that women - half of the world’s population - are able to participate equally in politics. Its unique research and data on women’s political participation is a widely used barometer on progress.
International Peace and Security
IPU’s primary goals are peace and democracy. It gives special priority to preventing and eliminating conflict through political dialogue. It responds to crises which affect world or regional security and monitors certain conflict situations.
Promoting Human Rights
Parliament has a special responsibility to ensure human rights are respected. IPU provides protection and redress to MPs at risk of abuse and helps parliaments to make human rights a reality for everyone.
Sustainable Development
Parliaments play a critical role in social and economic development. IPU supports parliaments on key international development goals, on making development aid more effective and on strengthening parliamentary action on climate change.
Cooperation with the UN
IPU works closely with the United Nations and other multi-lateral bodies to ensure there is a parliamentary dimension to international cooperation, global governance as well as in the resolution of major international issues.
Key Events
IPU brings together parliamentarians from around the world to actively find solutions to global and regional problems.
You can find a list of Future Events here.
