Inter-Parliamentary Union

Many leaders work together. They want to make the world fair. This group is called the IPU.

It started a long time ago. Two men started it. They wanted leaders to talk. This helps keep peace.

Now, many lands are members. There are 183 members today. They work with the United Nations. This is a big group for the world.

They help young people. They also help women. This makes things better for everyone.

Working together is important. It helps all people live well.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union, or IPU, is a large group for world leaders. It helps national parliaments work together. A parliament is a group of people who make laws. The IPU wants to help democracy grow. They also work to help women and young people join politics.

The group began in 1889. It was called the Inter-Parliamentary Conference back then. Two men started it. Their names were Frédéric Passy and William Randal Cremer. They wanted a place for leaders to talk and solve fights. This helped lead to the creation of the United Nations.

Today, 183 countries are members of the IPU. The group has a main meeting called an Assembly. They meet twice a year. Most meetings happen in Geneva, Switzerland. The IPU also works with the United Nations. It has a special role there as an observer. Eight people from the IPU have won the Nobel Peace Prize for their work.

Dr. Tulia Ackson is the current President. She is the second woman to lead the group. She was elected in October 2023.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union, or IPU, is a special group for the world. It brings together national parliaments from many different countries. A parliament is a group of people who make laws for their land. The IPU helps these groups work together to promote democracy. They also want to make sure people are held accountable for their actions. The group works on big goals like helping women join politics. They also help young people participate in government.

This organization works in several important ways. The main part is called the Assembly. Members meet in the Assembly twice every year. They use these meetings to talk about global issues. They also use standing committees to help prepare reports and resolutions. The Governing Council is another important part of the group. It meets twice a year to make big decisions. The Council also elects the President of the IPU.

The IPU has a very long history. It started on June 30, 1889. Back then, it was called the Inter-Parliamentary Conference. Two men founded it to help solve fights between nations. Their names were Frédéric Passy from France and William Randal Cremer from the United Kingdom. At first, only eight members joined the group. These included countries like Belgium, Denmark, and Italy. Over many years, the group moved its headquarters several times. It has been in Bern, Brussels, and Oslo. Since 1921, it has been based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Today, the IPU is much larger than it was at the start. As of 2025, there are 183 member parliaments. There are also 15 associate members that are often regional groups. The group is led by a President who serves for three years. The current President is Dr. Tulia Ackson from Tanzania. She was elected in October 2023. She is only the second woman to hold this top job. The group also has a Secretariat to help with daily work.

The IPU has helped build many important world institutions. It played a role in creating the Permanent Court of Arbitration. It also helped set the stage for the League of Nations. Most importantly, it works closely with the United Nations. The IPU has permanent observer status at the UN General Assembly. This means they can watch and join in on big talks. Eight people connected to the IPU have even won Nobel Peace Prizes. This shows how much their work matters for peace.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union, or IPU, is an international organization of national parliaments. It serves as a global forum for political multilateral negotiations. The IPU promotes democratic governance and accountability among its members. It also works toward gender parity within legislatures and youth participation in politics. Sustainable development is another core goal for the organization. By bringing different governments together, the IPU helps strengthen the foundations of peace.

The organization functions through several specific organs. The Assembly is the main political body of the IPU. It meets biannually to adopt parliamentary resolutions on global issues. This Assembly is supported by four thematic standing committees. These committees prepare reports and draft resolutions for the members. The Governing Council also meets twice a year to manage the union. It consists of three representatives from each Member parliament. The Council elects the President for a three-year term.

Administrative duties are handled by the Executive Committee and the Secretariat. The Executive Committee is the administrative organ of the IPU. It includes the President and 15 members from different parliaments. These seats are assigned based on geopolitical groups. Only parliamentarians from states where women have the right to vote and run for office can join this committee. The Secretariat consists of the staff who run the organization. It is led by a Secretary General. Currently, Martin Chungong of Cameroon serves in this role.

The history of the IPU began on June 30, 1889. It was originally known as the Inter-Parliamentary Conference. Two statesmen founded the group: Frédéric Passy of France and William Randal Cremer of the United Kingdom. Their initial goal was the arbitration of conflicts between nations. At its founding, only eight members joined the conference. These members included Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Liberia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Over the decades, the IPU has changed its structure and location. Initially, membership was reserved for individual parliamentarians. It has since transformed to include the legislatures of sovereign states. The headquarters have moved several times to follow the needs of the members. The group was in Bern from 1892 to 1911. It then moved to Brussels until 1914. After a period in Oslo, the headquarters moved to Geneva, Switzerland, in 1921. The IPU remains based in Geneva today.

The IPU has had a massive impact on international law and institutions. It helped set up the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. The organization also helped establish the League of Nations and the United Nations. As of 2025, the IPU has 183 member parliaments. There are also 15 associate members, which are often regional parliaments. The importance of its mission is reflected in its history of peace. Eight individuals associated with the IPU have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

The relationship between the IPU and the United Nations is very close. The IPU has permanent observer status at the United Nations General Assembly. This status was granted on November 19, 2002. The two organizations cooperate on peace, security, and human rights. They also work together on economic and social development. In 1995, the IPU held a special session to mark the 50th anniversary of the UN. This helped lead to a formal agreement signed in July 1996.

Leadership within the IPU continues to evolve. The current President is Dr. Tulia Ackson from the United Republic of Tanzania. She was elected in October 2023. Dr. Ackson is the second woman to hold this position. The IPU also hosts major events like the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. This event took place in September 2015 to mark the 70th anniversary of the UN. Such gatherings focus on the themes of peace, democracy, and development.