Theme: Human Rights

© IPU

IPU marks historic milestones with new gender equality drive in 2025

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is pleased to announce its new gender campaign for 2025, Achieving gender equality, action by action. This initiative marks a pivotal year, in which the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the global blueprint for gender equality, is marking its 30th anniversary. The campaign aims to mobilize the global parliamentary community to […]

IPU celebrates 40 years of action through 40 women of action

At the 150th IPU Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the IPU Forum of Women Parliamentarians will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Initially an informal women’s global caucus, the first of its kind in 1985, the the IPU Forum of Women Parliamentarians has since evolved into a powerful platform for women MPs worldwide, driving significant advancements in gender equality and […]

©IPU Secretary General with Speakers from Colombia and Costa Rica

Inter-Parliamentary Union Secretary General visits Colombia and Costa Rica

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong visited Colombia and Costa Rica in March 2025 as part of broader efforts to better understand and engage with Latin American Member Parliaments, and to encourage their active participation in the work of the IPU. Colombia In Colombia, Mr. Chungong met key parliamentary figures, including Mr. Efraín Cepeda (President of […]

60% of women parliamentarians surveyed for the current study have been targeted by hate speech, disinformation, image-based abuse, or unwanted disclosure of personal data (doxing) online.

60% of women MPs from Asia-Pacific report online gender-based violence

A major new study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in partnership with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), has exposed the pervasive nature of sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments across the Asia-Pacific region. The report, Sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments in the Asia-Pacific region, is […]

Tashkent City Congress Centre

Milestone 150th IPU Assembly to take place in Uzbekistan in early April

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will hold its 150th Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 5 to 9 April 2025, hosted by the Parliament of Uzbekistan. The overall theme Parliamentary action for social development and justice will cover topics such as eradicating poverty, promoting decent work, fostering social inclusion, and increasing the participation of marginalized groups in decision-making. Key […]

BGIPU was represented by Dame Karen Bradley MP, Baroness Hooper and Dan Carden MP

IPU Global Conference of Women Parliamentarians calls for gender parity in parliament

The IPU concluded its Global Conference of Women Parliamentarians, held on 14 and 15 March 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico, emphasizing the urgent need for gender parity in parliaments worldwide. The Conference, attended by some 380 parliamentarians from 56 countries, as well as representatives from the Government of Mexico, international organizations and civil society, highlighted successful […]

According to the 2025 edition of the IPU-UN Women Women in Politics map, men outnumber women by more than three times in executive and legislative positions.

IPU analyses political leadership roles in 2025: Men continue to dominate

New data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women reveals limited progress in achieving gender equality in political leadership at the start of 2025, the year which marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the landmark UN framework which set out the roadmap for gender equality and women’s rights. […]

Lebanese Nationality Campaign sit in, My Nationality Is a Right For Me and My Family, 2019

Achieving the Beijing Declaration’s goals requires gender-equal nationality rights

As we mark International Women’s Day 2025 and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights, Equality Now, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UN Women are calling for expedited action to end gender discrimination in nationality laws and recommit to efforts to achieve gender-equal nationality rights around the […]

The 2024 election to the United Kingdom House of Commons resulted in a record 40% of seats being held by women, including 50 women MPs from Black and minority backgrounds, up from 39 in the previous Parliament. © House of Commons UK

Parliamentary gender gap narrowed in past 30 years but progress stalled in 2024

A new IPU report analysing three decades of women in national parliaments reveals that the percentage of seats held by women has risen from 11.3% in 1995 to 27.2% in 2025. The IPU report Women in parliament 1995-2025 commemorates 30 years since the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the landmark UN framework which set out […]

Delegation pictured with the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Delegation to Indonesia discuss need for collaboration on defence and increasing trade

A BGIPU cross party delegation visit to Indonesia took place during the February recess between 15 and 21 February with representatives from both Houses of Parliament. As delegation leader I was joined by John Slinger MP, Chris Webb MP, Graham Stuart MP, Baroness Northover, Lord Rennard and Joe Perry from the BGIPU secretariat. The key […]