Theme: Trade and Sustainable Development

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 […]

Meeting with Francisco Coy, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs

Cross-Party delegation explores Peace, Human Rights and Climate in Colombia

From 27 – 31 May 2024, a BGIPU delegation of UK Members of Parliament visited Colombia to strengthen bilateral Parliamentary links. The delegation included Tim Loughton MP, Baroness Blower, Patrick Grady MP and Baroness Northover, and was supported by Holly Sloan from the BGIPU Secretariat. The visit started days after the General Election was called, […]

The IPU will celebrate its 135th anniversary on 30 June as the world's oldest multilateral political body.

IPU Anniversary on 30 June: Watch 135 years of the IPU in 135 seconds

On 30 June 1889, visionary parliamentarians Frédéric Passy of France and William Randall Cremer of the United Kingdom brought together MPs from Belgium, Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy, Liberia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the USA in the first inter-parliamentary meeting in Paris, France. The Inter-Parliamentary Conference, later to become the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was born. […]

Akmal Saidov, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Uzbekistan addresses the UN in Geneva. © UN/Jean Marc Ferré

Enhancing the IPU partnership with the Uzbek Parliament to implement the SDGs

As part of a wider strategic objective to connect parliaments with UN processes, the IPU invests in support for parliamentary implementation of the SDGs. Through our annual survey, we encourage parliaments to contribute to the preparation of voluntary national reviews, the UN process through which countries present their progress on the SDGs. While the IPU surveys show uneven parliamentary […]

© korkeng/Shutterstock

IPU highlights the AI-powered parliament: Exploring Risks and Opportunities

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has released a new Issue brief, Using generative AI in parliaments, which explores the potential opportunities and risks associated with the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in parliamentary settings. GenAI is a new form of AI that can generate entirely new content, such as texts or images, based on large volumes […]

Which countries, sectors and facilities emit the most greenhouse gases?

IPU provides guidance to MPs on how to track greenhouse gas emissions in your country

Discover how the global tech community is tracking greenhouse gas emissions with unprecedented detail and speed to tackle the climate crisis. The Climate TRACE database, mobilized by the global tech community, provides an inventory of emissions of more than 352 million assets, and its data is freely available to the public including parliamentarians. Supported by ASU […]

The two youngest MPs at the 148th IPU Assembly - Emma Muteka from Namibia and Akara Tongjaisod from Thailand reading the final Assembly declaration.

The 148th IPU Assembly concludes meeting in Geneva with a pledge for peace

Hundreds of parliamentarians from over 140 countries, gathered at the 148th IPU Assembly from 23-27 March 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland, have reconfirmed their commitment to parliamentary diplomacy to support peace efforts, and to reinvigorate multilateralism through parliamentary action. In their final declaration, Parliamentary diplomacy: Building bridges for peace and understanding, the lawmakers recognize the importance of “inter‑parliamentary dialogue and cooperation, and the […]

IPU President Tulia Ackson, SG Martin Chungong and WHO DG Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Working together for a healthier, safer world: WHO and IPU renew partnership

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) today signed a new memorandum of understanding, reaffirming the critical role that parliamentarians play in enabling good health to foster stable and equitable societies. The new five-year memorandum was signed by Mr. Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General, and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, at the […]

Samuelu Teo, former Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu and winner of the 2023 Cremer-Passy prize

IPU announces call for geopolitical groups to nominate for the 2024 Cremer-Passy Prize

The Cremer-Passy Prize, named after the IPU’s founders, William Randall Cremer and Frédéric Passy, is awarded every year to sitting parliamentarians who make an outstanding contribution to the defence and promotion of the IPU’s objectives, as well as those ”who contribute to a more united, peaceful, sustainable and equitable world.” In 2022, the inaugural prize was […]