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The Governing Council (formerly called Inter-Parliamentary Council) is the plenary policy-making body of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. A number of committees and working groups are subordinated to it and report to the Council on their work. The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is ex-officio President of the Governing Council. The Council establishes the annual programme and budget of the Union, is responsible for the admission or suspension of members and Associate Members, and establishes the list of Assembly observers. Occasionally, the Council considers substantive issues and adopts thematic resolutions and policy statements, the most recent of which are listed below. The Governing Council is composed of three representatives from each member parliament. The Council works according to its Rules. For detailed information on the deliberations of the Council sessions held in recent years and on thematic resolutions and reports adopted by the Council, use the table below. When available, you can download a summary record of the corresponding Council session and a complete electronic version of a brochure containing the Results of the Assembly and related meetings. Council session Records Thematic resolutions and reports 201st session St-Petersburg (russian Federation) 15 and 18 October 2017 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Decisions on human rights cases Presidential statement on the state of democracy in the world today Programme and budget for 2018 Checklist of activities with the UN 200th session Dhaka (Bangladesh) 30 March and 5 April 2017 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Decisions on human rights cases Executive Committee Statement on the situation in Venezuela Presidential Statement on the recent attack on the Parliament of Paraguay Financial Report and Audited Financial Statements for 2016 Rules and Procedures for the Parliamentary Solidarity Fund Checklist of activities with the UN Proposal to establish a Centre for Innovation in Parliament Executive Committee Statement on support for a political settlement in Syria Rules and practices of the IPU Advisory Group on Health 199th session Geneva (Switzerland) 21 and 27 October 2016 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Decisions on human rights cases List of Permanent Observers of the IPU Programme and budget for 2017 List of activities conducted by the IPU with the UN Results of the roll-call vote on the decision to hold the 137th Assembly in St. Petersburg IPU Strategy for 2017-2021 198th session Lusaka (Zambia) 20 and 23 March 2016 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Decisions on human rights cases Financial Report and Audited Financial Statements for 2015 List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system since 133rd IPU Assembly Parliamentary Action Plan on Climate Change Guidelines relating to voluntary contributions to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Report on the PaperSmart Initiative Preliminary draft of the revised IPU Strategy 197th session Geneva (Switzerland) 18 and 21 October 2015 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Decisions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system since 131st IPU Assembly List of Permanent Observers of the IPU Programme and budget for 2016 Presidential Statement 196th session Hanoi (Viet Nam) 29 March and 1 April 2015 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Decisions on human rights cases Financial Report and Audited Financial Statements for 2014 List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system since 131st IPU Assembly Call for action "My power for Women's Power" 195th session Geneva (Switzerland) 13 and 16 October 2014 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Decisions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system since 130th IPU Assembly Implementation of the IPU Strategy 2012-2017: Common Principles for Support to Parliament List of Permanent Observers of the IPU Revised "Practical modalities of the rights and responsibilities of observers at IPU meetings" Programme and budget for 2015 194th session Geneva (Switzerland) 17 and 20 March 2014 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases Financial Report and Audited Financial Statements for 2012 List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system since 129th IPU Assembly 193rd session Geneva (Switzerland) 7 and 9 October 2013 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system since 128th IPU Assembly Implementation of the IPU Strategy 2012-2017: Gender Mainstreaming at the IPU Rules of the Committee to Promote Respect for International Humanitarian Law Programme and budget for 2014 192nd session Quito (Ecuador) 23, 26 and 27 March 2013 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases Financial Report and Audited Financial Statements for 2012 List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system since 127th IPU Assembly New format of IPU Assemblies, the functioning of the Standing Committees and their Bureaux and the status of the IPU Committee on United Nations Affairs 191st session Quebec City (Canada) 22 and 24 October 2012 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system between March and October 2012 Implementation of the IPU Strategy 2012-2017: Parliamentary dimension of the WTO Rules and practices of the IPU Advisory Group on HIV/AIDS and Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Rules of the Committee on Middle East Questions Fraud and Corruption Prevention and Control Policy Code of Conduct for IPU Personnel New format for IPU Assemblies, the functioning of the Standing Committees and their bureaux, and the status of the IPU Committee on United Nations Affairs Analysis of statutory provisions relating to IPU membership Statement on the IPU visa policy Programme and budget for 2013 190th session Kampala (Uganda) 1 and 5 April 2012 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system between October 2011 and March 2012 Financial Report and Audited Financial Statements for 2011 189th session Bern (Switzerland) 16 and 19 October 2011 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system between 14 April and 15 October 2011 IPU Strategy for 2012-2017 Programme and budget for 2012 188th session Panama City (Panama) 16 and 20 April 2011 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases Draft IPU Strategy for 2012-2017 List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system between 6 October 2010 and 14 April 2011 Parliamentary declaration in support of the UNHCR and refugee protection Financial Report and Audited Financial Statements for 2010 187th session Geneva (Switzerland) 4 and 6 October 2010 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system between 2 April and 4 October 2010 Statement on the MDGs Programme and budget for 2011 186th session Bangkok (Thailand) 28 March and 1 April 2010 Overview of decisions Summary record Corrigendum to the Summary record Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system between 19 October 2009 and 27 March 2010 Overview of progress in IPU-UN cooperation since 2005 Rationale for concluding an international convention on the IPU Report on recent IPU activities to strengthen parliaments and democracy Statement on AIDS-related restrictions on entry, stay and residence Statement of the Committee on Middle East Questions, endorsed by the Council Declaration of the Meeting of women parliamentarians on violence against women, endorsed by the Council 185th session Geneva (Switzerland) 19 and 21 October 2009 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system between 11 April and 18 October 2009 184th session Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) 6 and 10 April 2009 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system between 15 October 2008 and 31 March 2009 Environmental policy framework of the IPU Evaluation of the second IPU Assembly of the year Recommendations on HIV-related travel restrictions 183rd session Geneva (Switzerland) 13, 14 and 15 October 2008 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system between 19 April and 12 October 2008 Parliamentary Message to the the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus Report on questions relating to development IPU policy to ensure the participation of persons with disabilities in the work of the Inter-Parliamentary Union 182nd session Cape Town (South Africa) 13 and 18 April 2008 Overview of decisions Summary record Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system between 8 October 2007 and 13 April 2008 Parliamentary Message to UNCTAD XII Memorandum of Understanding signed between the United Nations Development Programme and the IPU in November 2007 Modalities for the functioning of the Committee on UN Affairs and its Advisory Group Modalities for the functioning of the Committee to Promote Respect for International Humanitarian Law Proposals for the IPU and parliaments to mark the International Day of Democracy Rules and practices of the Advisory Group on HIV/AIDS 181st session Geneva (Switzerland) 8, 9 and 10 October 2007 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system between 5 May and 8 October 2007 Declaration on the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Democracy 180th session Nusa Dua, Bali (Indonesia) 30 April and 4 May 2007 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system from 16 October 2006 to 29 April 2007 179th session Geneva (Switzerland) 16, 17 and 18 October 2006 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system from May to October 2006 Resource mobilization strategy for the IPU 178th session Nairobi (Kenya) 8 and 12 May 2006 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of recent and current activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system The need to obtain appropriate status for members of parliament at WTO Ministerial Conferences 177th session Geneva (Switzerland) 18 October 2005 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases Cooperation with the United Nations Statement of endorsement of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct for International Elections Observers 176th session Manila (Philippines) 3 and 8 April 2005 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases List of recent and current activities carried out by the IPU in cooperation with the United Nations system Report: Observing the out-of-country poll for the Transitional National Assembly of Iraq 175th session Geneva (Switzerland) 28 September and 1 October 2004 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases Report and recommendations on priorities for cooperation with the United Nations for the coming years 174th session Mexico City (Mexico) 19 and 23 April 2004 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases 173rd session Geneva (Switzerland) 1 and 3 October 2003 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases Report by the Secretary General on the implementation of observer status at the United Nations General Assembly Report of the Executive Committee on the 110th Assembly of the IPU 172nd session Santiago (Chile) 7, 9 and 12 April 2003 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases Report on the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO Preparations for a Second Conference of Presiding Officers of National Parliaments 171st session and the Special Session Geneva (Switzerland) 25 - 27 September 2002 Overview of decisions Deliberations of the special session Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases Resolution on Financing for Development Report (PDF file, 113K) 170th session Marrakech (Morocco) 18, 19, 21 and 23 March 2002 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases General approach and operational details of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s contribution to the work of the United Nations Draft resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union" Parliamentary Message to the World Food Summit: five years later Follow-up to the resolution on "Support for the United Nations International Year of Volunteers: 2001" Message of congratulations to the Parliament and the people of East Timor Modalities for the special session of the Council, to be held in Geneva in September 2002 169th session Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) 10, 11, 13 and 14 September 2001 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases 168th session Havana (Cuba) 2 and 7 April 2001 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases Fiftieth Anniversary of the Adoption of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees Support to the United Nations International Year for Volunteers: 2001 Parliamentary Message to the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries Cooperation between the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the United Nations 167th session Jakarta (Indonesia) 16 and 21 October 2000 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases 166th session Amman (Jordan) 1 and 6 May 2000 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases Results of the Parliamentary Meeting on the occasion of UNCTAD X Results of the Third CSCM Statement on "Financing for Development" Guidelines for the Content and Structure of Parliamentary Web sites 165th session Berlin (Germany) 11 and 16 October 1999 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases 164th session Brussels (Belgium) 11 and 16 April 1999 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases Statement on "Tourism and the imperatives of sustainable development" Partnership between men and women at the Inter-Parliamentary Union Results of the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on "Attaining the World Food Summit's objectives through a sustainable development strategy" Practical modalities of the rights and responsibilities of observers at the IPU meetings 163rd session Moscow (Russia) 12 September 1998 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases International humanitarian law, the International Criminal Court and anti-personnel mines. 162nd session Windhoek (Namibia) 11 April 1998 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases Parliamentary action for national follow-up to international agreements and treaties regarding women Parliamentary action to secure the entry into force and implementation of the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines Declaration on declining official development assistance and financial aid in general 161st session Cairo (Egypt) 16 September 1997 Overview of decisions Results brochure Resolutions on human rights cases Universal Declaration on Democracy 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Co-operation between the Union and the FAO 160th session Seoul (Republic of Korea) 12 April 1997 Overview of decisions Resolutions on human rights cases Overall review of parliamentary action to implement Agenda 21 159th session Beijing (China) 21 September 1996 Overview of decisions Resolutions on human rights cases Priority actions for implementation by parliaments of the results of the World Summit for Social Development 158th session Istanbul (Turkey) 20 April 1996 Resolutions on human rights cases The follow-up to Rio: Financing and transfer of technology Parliamentary support to the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) 157th session Bucharest (Romania) 14 October 1995 Co-operation with the United Nations Promoting respect for international humanitarian law 154th session Paris (France) 26 March 1994 Declaration on criteria for free and fair elections Action in support of the International Conference on Population And Development 153rd session Canberra (Australia) 13 September 1993 Parliamentary support to the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the International Labour Organisation and of the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the ILO's Declaration of Philadelphia 152nd session New Delhi (India) 17 April 1993 Support for the United Nations International Year of the Family 151st session Stockholm (Sweden) 12 September 1992 Support for the International Conference on Assistance to African Children On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations, the Inter-Parliamentary Council held a Special Session at the UN Headquarters in New York and adopted a Declaration entitled "The parliamentary vision for international co-operation into the 21st century".