The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world.
It works to make parliaments more effective, representative and innovative so that they can take action to improve people’s lives in the following policy areas: climate change, democracy, human rights, gender equality, youth participation, peace, security and sustainable development for all.
The IPU has evolved into a global hub for parliamentary networking, particularly through its some 70 conferences that it organizes annually, including its twice-yearly Assemblies. These bring together Members of parliament (MPs) from around the world to debate global issues, adopt resolutions, and shape the organization’s policies. The IPU also has standing committees that focus on specific areas.
The Assemblies serve as the IPU’s main political forum, where MPs adopt resolutions related to peace, democracy and sustainable development. This is guided by four standing committees. These Assemblies offer a platform for MPs to exchange best practices and strengthen parliamentary ties. They are either hosted in Geneva or by Member Parliaments, attracting hundreds of participants with strong encouragement for female participation in line with the IPU’s gender equality goals.
The IPU is governed as follows:
• The Governing Council which manages the IPU’s policies and budget.
• The Executive Committee which oversees the administration and implementation of IPU decisions.
• The President of the IPU who represents the organization and chairs major events.
The Secretary General, as the Chief Executive of the Organisation, manages the IPU and is accountable to the Governing Council. Working with the President, the Secretary General plays a critical role in defining and implementing the IPU’s strategic direction under the supervision of the Executive Committee.
The Secretary General heads the Secretariat and ensures that the decisions of the IPU Membership are implemented and that the necessary resources are mobilised.
The IPU operates by facilitating collaboration among parliaments to strengthen democratic institutions and promote sustainable development. It provides institutional advice and practical assistance to national parliaments, covering areas such as library services, information and communications technology (ICT), committee structures, and procedural rules. Importantly, the IPU ensures that parliaments themselves drive the modernization and strengthening processes, fostering ownership and sustainability of reforms.
As the global organization of national parliaments, the IPU plays a vital role in bridging the gap between international commitments and their implementation at the national level. To support this mission, the IPU has established strategic partnerships with various multilateral organizations, most notably the United Nations, with which it has held Permanent Observer Status since 2002. Operating through its offices in Geneva, New York, and Vienna, the IPU collaborates closely with numerous UN bodies and agencies.
By contributing a parliamentary perspective to key UN mechanisms and treaties—it supports national parliaments in turning UN decisions into concrete action through legislation, budgeting, and oversight. Beyond the UN, the IPU partners with other international organizations by organizing parliamentary engagement at major global events such as the WTO Ministerial Conference and the G20. The IPU’s Committee on United Nations Affairs further strengthens this collaboration by enhancing parliamentary understanding of UN processes and ensuring that the perspectives of parliamentarians inform global decisions.
To keep the IPU focused on the issues at hand, it focuses on five strategic objectives that are intended to target areas and increase impact. These are:
1. Building effective and empowered parliaments
The IPU works to ensure the safety and freedom of MPs, defending those at risk through its Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians. It strengthens parliamentary capacity by organizing international exchanges, workshops, and technical support based on the Common Principles for Support to Parliament. The IPU also aids countries recovering from conflict, promotes peace and development, and supports parliaments in addressing climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, it uses its extensive data, expertise, and research to set standards that empower legislatures worldwide.
2. Promoting inclusive and representative parliaments
The IPU has long championed gender equality and youth participation, serving as a leading source of data and analysis on women and youth in parliament for media and academia. It tracks trends, highlights best practices, publishes cutting-edge research, and fosters knowledge exchange among parliaments. The IPU also emphasizes the role of parliamentary action in supporting vulnerable groups, particularly in relation to the SDGs, health, and climate change.
3. Supporting resilient and innovative parliaments
The IPU’s Centre for Innovation in Parliament supports parliaments in adopting new technologies and modern practices, tailored to their stage of development. By leveraging research, data, and shared knowledge, it helps parliaments adapt, innovate, and respond to external challenges, including climate change. The IPU also fosters online learning and exchanges, connecting parliamentarians and staff with experts and civil society to encourage collaboration and continuous improvement.
4. Catalyzing collective parliamentary action
Each year, the IPU hosts numerous regional and global events, including its flagship twice-yearly Assemblies, drawing thousands of parliamentarians to address key policy issues. Every five years, it convenes the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, uniting top parliamentary leaders to tackle urgent global challenges. Through its unique convening power, the IPU bridges the gap between international commitments and national implementation by amplifying parliamentary voices in UN processes like the Paris Agreement and the High-Level Political Forum, as well as in major global forums such as the WTO Ministerial Conference and the G20.
5. Strengthening the IPU’s accountability
The IPU fosters a culture of mutual accountability at all levels—among Member Parliaments, between Members and the Secretariat, and within its offices in Geneva, New York, and Vienna. It is advancing its digital transformation to better connect with Members remotely while pursuing sustainability goals, including carbon neutrality by 2030. The IPU also champions gender sensitivity through its Gender Mainstreaming Strategy and efforts to achieve gender parity. Oversight of transparency and accountability measures is led by its Working Group on Transparency, Accountability and Openness.
In line with the key objectives of the IPU mentioned above, the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in partnership with the United Nations, is scheduled to take place from 29 to 31 July 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Ahead of the main event, the 15th IPU Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament will convene on 28 July at the International Labour Organization 2025. Launched in 2000, the Conference has evolved into a vital platform for high-level dialogue and collaboration among parliamentary leaders worldwide. The 2025 edition represents the culmination of two years of preparation by a diverse committee of approximately 20 Speakers from various regions, and it is anticipated to be the largest conference of its kind.
Functioning as the world’s platform for cooperation and action, the IPU is helping to shape and monitor the functioning of parliaments, encouraging change where necessary and diversifying the landscape of global politics.