Information brochure Working with communications consultants Saatchi & Saatchi, the Inter-Parliamentary Union has recently issued a new information brochure in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. This publication is designed to upgrade the image of the organization of the world's parliaments. The new brochure showcases the dynamism and diversity of the organization's work, and highlights the unique niche occupied by the IPU among international political organizations.

	Parliamentary elections in 2005 Close to 330,000 people cast their vote in parliamentary elections in 39 countries in 2005. As a result, 7,845 persons were elected to parliament, and one of every five was a woman. Generally, voter turnout was high, although countries like Egypt, Venezuela and Zimbabwe reported very low participation. In most countries, the government was returned to power, although in seven this was not the case. In one country - Mauritania - parliament was dissolved unconstitutionally. These are some of the facts presented in a new IPU publication entitled "Panorama of parliamentary elections in 2005". The study examines parliamentary elections from the perspective of the IPU criteria for free and fair elections.

	Annual report of the Secretary general A backward glance over 2005 shows a hectic year in which events followed one another in rapid succession. In fact, the Inter-Parliamentary Union has never undertaken so many activities in a single year. The focus in IPU's work in recent years has been on promoting democracy. 2005 was no exception. Traditional activities continued unabated: there were four needs and review missions to different parliaments, eight projects to strengthen parliaments and four new parliamentary handbooks. 2005 got off to a rapid start with the Organization present in the Middle East for the election of a new President of the Palestinian Authority and, immediately thereafter, observing the out-of-country voting for the Iraqi Transitional Assembly. The pace of events continued unabated and by the time the year came to a close, the IPU had organized twentyone meetings attended by over 4,000 members of parliament, an all time record.