Theme: Human Rights

© STR/NurPhoto/NurPhoto via AFP

New handbook: Mobilizing parliaments to eliminate discrimination against women

Twenty years after the first edition, the IPU and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have published a new version of a handbook for parliamentarians on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol. What is the CEDAW Convention? More than four […]

Mr Tankoano, Rabbi HaCohen and Imam Barakat ©IPU

World MPs commit to stronger ties with religious leaders to promote peaceful coexistence

The first global Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue: Working together for our common future is expected to conclude with a declaration that encourages interfaith dialogue and calls for all religions and beliefs to be treated equally. The Marrakesh Communiqué calls on parliamentarians to ensure that “all religions, beliefs and faith-based organizations are treated equally and without discrimination under the […]

Religious leaders were invited to the New Zealand Parliament after the Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019. © VNP/Daniela Maoate-Cox

New IPU report explores the place of religion and belief in parliament

For the first time, the IPU has published a report which examines how parliaments around the world engage with issues of religion and belief. The IPU Parliamentary report on religion and belief explores how religion and belief are institutionalized in parliaments; for example, through legislation, representation, parliamentary committees and mechanisms for consultation with faith-based organizations or the […]

What impact did the IPU have in 2022? Read the recent Impact Report to find out more

2022 was the first year of the implementation of the five-year IPU Strategy for 2022-2026. Through its five objectives, the Strategy has given the IPU a renewed mandate to continue strengthening and connecting parliaments for peace, democracy and sustainable development. In this newly structured Impact Report, we demonstrate how, throughout the year, the IPU has […]

A parliamentary roadshow in Djibouti. © Parliament of Djibouti

IPU seeks to better connect Djibouti’s MPs with their constituents

Democracy requires that MPs are connected with their constituents, explaining their work to them and ensuring that constituents’ needs are represented. In Djibouti, one of the hottest and smallest countries in Africa, the IPU has been helping with that two-way exchange of information, connecting parliament with the people. First, it has enabled Djibouti’s parliamentarians to […]