Theme: Human Rights

Stanley Mutale, a student at Kafue College of Nursing, poses for a portrait at the Shikoswe Health Centre in Kafue, Zambia © Michael Candelori / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP

IPU responds to the health needs of vulnerable and marginalized populations

In a collaborative effort, the IPU and the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) have conducted a study aimed at enhancing the capacities of national parliaments to address the health needs of vulnerable and marginalized women, children and adolescents. This study underscores the importance of evidence-based approaches and the necessity for continuous monitoring […]

The President of the Board of Young Parliamentarians of the IPU is currently Dan Carden MP of the House of Commons

IPU looks at who are the youngest (and oldest) parliamentarians in world?

As elections unfold throughout this super election year, much of the discussion has revolved around the advanced age of some candidates running for office. However, what about the younger voices that are adding fresh perspectives and energy to the political arena? The IPU has been meticulously tracking the average age of parliamentarians at national, regional […]

©IPU

Artificial intelligence: Draft IPU resolution and “use cases” for AI in parliaments published

When ChatGPT was launched in 2022, the world crossed a new frontier in technological advancement. With the development and deployment of large language models, a new chapter opened in the development of artificial intelligence (AI). This presented an opportunity for parliaments to explore ways to close the gap between technological advancements and the pace of […]

IPU welcomes Gambia’s decision to uphold female genital mutilation (FGM) ban

The Inter-Parliamentary Union welcomes the Parliament of Gambia’s recent vote to uphold a 2015 ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), rejecting a controversial bill seeking to reverse the law. On July 15 parliamentarians voted down the proposed law following months of public debate and advocacy efforts. IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong, who had been vocal in his […]

The Parliamentary Forum at 2024's HLPF ©IPU

IPU Forum at UN highlights parliamentary role in tackling global goals

This week, the IPU convened dozens of parliamentarians from around the world for its annual meeting at the High-Level Political Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the United Nations Office in New York. New countries attending included, for the first time, representatives of the China’s National People’s Congress, underscoring the growing relevance of this event […]

UK and French flags Riccardo Milani / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP

Gender equality highs and lows: a tale of two parliamentary elections from IPU

Following an intense week of elections, the IPU’s two founding members, France and the United Kingdom, have just completed their parliamentary elections. How have both parliaments fared in terms of gender equality? How do they compare to previous chambers and the IPU’s global average of women in parliament which stood at 26.9% before these latest […]

The 148th IPU Assembly in Geneva ©IPU

IPU global poll finds that world’s MPs are cautiously optimistic despite global challenges

On the eve of International Day of Parliamentarism and the IPU’s 135th anniversary on 30 June 2024, the IPU is presenting the findings of its first global perceptions poll of the parliamentary community. The IPU polled members of parliament and related stakeholders from around the world to gauge their levels of optimism, their perceptions of the greatest […]

Opening session of the 23rd IPU Parliamentary Conference in October 1925 in the US Congress. Copyright Harris & Ewing.

Marking its 135th anniversary the IPU recalls its proud history and global contribution

The late nineteenth century was an uncertain and turbulent period. For many world powers, war was the only way to settle any differences. But two parliamentarians – one British, one French – realized that it did not have to be this way. Visionaries at the time, William Randal Cremer and Frédéric Passy believed that a more peaceful and […]