From 1 July 2026, for the first time in its 137-year history, the Secretariat of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will be managed by a woman. Anda Filip of Romania was elected the tenth Secretary General of the IPU at the 152nd IPU Assembly in Istanbul, becoming the first woman to hold the post since the Organization […]
In 2025, the National Assembly of Zambia became the latest parliament to implement the IPU’s I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament! campaign. Work began in 2021 when the Speaker signed up to the campaign, followed by the creation of the Zambia Youth Parliamentary Caucus in 2022 and a national campaign launch in 2024. Building […]
“Gender equality isn’t just a women’s issue, it requires everyone’s leadership,” said Nomin Chinbat, an MP in Mongolia’s State Great Hural (Parliament). “By working together, we are increasing the number of women in leadership and decision-making roles, building a more balanced and equitable future for all.” Nomin was just one of the new cohort of […]
Chad’s first elections in more than a decade marked the end of a three-year transitional period and paved the way for a return to parliamentary democracy. It was fitting that the elections came shortly after Haroun Kabadi – former Speaker of Chad’s National Assembly, Head of the National Transitional Council and now President of the […]
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) successfully concluded its 152nd Assembly, hosted by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye in Istanbul from 15-19 April 2026. The “parliament of parliaments” drew over 1,500 delegates, including more than 720 parliamentarians from 126 countries. Women comprised 37% of lawmakers present. Some 13% of the parliamentarians attending were under 40. The high-level […]
In a historic first, Anda Filip has been elected the ninth Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the first woman to hold the post in the IPU’s 137-year history. As a result, the IPU joins the small but growing club of international organizations led by women for the first time. Anda Filip was elected […]
For the first time in over a decade, global youth representation in parliaments has shown no progress, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) biennial report, Youth participation in national parliaments. The findings come amid growing demands from young people for a greater say in political decisions. The new IPU report reveals that the proportion of members […]
Women constitute about 52% of Bhutan’s population, yet they remain significantly underrepresented in its Parliament. While Bhutan’s Constitution is grounded in the principle of equity, and progress has been made in women’s participation in local government and public services, their representation in Parliament has declined in recent years. The IPU report Women in parliament: 1995-2025, highlighted […]
The Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) will convene its 152nd Assembly in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 15 to 19 April 2026. Hosted by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, the overall theme of the event is Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations. Against a backdrop of unfolding and ongoing wars, with severe humanitarian consequences, in […]
New Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) – UN Women data shows women remain far from having equal political power, holding just 22.4% of cabinet posts and 27.5% of parliamentary seats worldwide. Across the world, women remain vastly under-represented in political leadership, with the most powerful decisions still overwhelmingly made by men. In 2026, only 28 countries are led by […]
