Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

Source: DD News

Context: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

About the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU):

• What is IPU?

• The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is a global platform for parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation, founded to promote peace, democracy, and human rights.

• Established in: 1889 (Paris) – First multilateral political organization globally

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

• Members: 180 national parliaments + 15 associate members

• Motto: “For democracy. For everyone.”

• Core Aims:

• Promote representative democracy and support parliamentary institutions Facilitate dialogue and diplomacy among parliaments to resolve international conflicts Advance gender equality, youth empowerment, and sustainable development Defend the human rights of parliamentarians globally

• Promote representative democracy and support parliamentary institutions

• Facilitate dialogue and diplomacy among parliaments to resolve international conflicts

• Advance gender equality, youth empowerment, and sustainable development

• Defend the human rights of parliamentarians globally

• IPU Structure and Features:

• IPU Assembly: Main decision-making forum to discuss global political and social issues Issues recommendations for international parliamentary action Governing Council: Policy body comprising 3 representatives from each member parliament Sets programme and budget; elects the Executive Committee Executive Committee:17-member body that oversees IPU’s operations and administration Standing Committees: Focused on key themes like peace, democracy, development, and cooperation Funding: Primarily financed by public funds from member parliaments

• IPU Assembly: Main decision-making forum to discuss global political and social issues Issues recommendations for international parliamentary action

• Main decision-making forum to discuss global political and social issues

• Issues recommendations for international parliamentary action

• Governing Council: Policy body comprising 3 representatives from each member parliament Sets programme and budget; elects the Executive Committee

• Policy body comprising 3 representatives from each member parliament

• Sets programme and budget; elects the Executive Committee

• Executive Committee:17-member body that oversees IPU’s operations and administration

• Standing Committees: Focused on key themes like peace, democracy, development, and cooperation

• Funding: Primarily financed by public funds from member parliaments