Opinion piece by Ms. Deborah O’Neill, member of the Senate of Australia It was a late night at a committee hearing in the Australian Senate on 15 February 2023 when a shocking truth came to light. In response to my question, the CEO of the Tax Practitioners Board revealed that a tax partner within the […]
Against the backdrop of the climate crisis, unsustainable debt burdens and growing inequality, parliamentary leaders from the world’s largest economies agreed today on bold actions to accelerate climate resilience, ensure fairer energy transitions and unlock sustainable development. Meeting in Cape Town under the leadership of the Parliament of South Africa and with the support of […]
On behalf of the global parliamentary community, we reiterate our grave concern over the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. We are profoundly horrified by the immense suffering being inflicted upon the civilian population of Gaza, including famine, caused by the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and severe restrictions on humanitarian and other vital aid entering […]
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will convene its 151st Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland from 19-23 October 2025 under the theme: Upholding humanitarian norms and supporting humanitarian action in times of crisis. Against a backdrop of 120 ongoing conflicts and 310 million people in need of humanitarian assistance around the world – as documented by the International Committee […]
Parliament House is not only the heart of Australia’s parliamentary democracy, it is also the most high-profile workplace in the country. So when accounts of sexual assault, harassment and bullying in the Parliament emerged in 2020, there was no doubt that changes needed to be made. The accounts led to a national conversation about workplace […]
Close to three billion people were called to the polls last year in a record number of elections worldwide, demonstrating how widely democracy has spread in the last 100 years. However, democracy’s true value should be measured not only by the number of elections held but also by the extent to which the results produce […]
Young and more seasoned parliamentarians from around the world, gathered in Lima for the IPU’s 11th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, have called for urgent action to advance the representation of women in political life, especially young women. Hosted by Peru’s Congress of the Republic from 11 to 12 September 2025, the Conference was opened by […]
The IPU is following with concern the unrest in Nepal, especially the attacks on Parliament. The IPU and the wider global parliamentary community call for calm and urge an immediate end to the violence, which has led to a tragic loss of lives. Attacks on public institutions and private property, including the recent targeting of […]
The International Day of Democracy is celebrated around the world on 15 September each year. It was established through a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in 2007, encouraging governments to strengthen and consolidate democracy. We encourage all our Member Parliaments to mark the day with events and celebrations. Since the day was first […]
Bahrain’s Council of Representatives has become the first legislative body in the region to secure the ISO 14001:2015 certification for environmental management. The Council’s journey to the certification, awarded in July 2025, involved several key initiatives. Solar panels were installed andnow supply a portion of the chamber’s energy needs, reducing reliance on traditional power sources and promoting wider […]
