International Day of Parliamentarism | United Nations (original) (raw)

Traditional dancers celebrated the launch of the Interim Jubba Administration (IJA) in Somalia.

Photo:UN Photo/David Mutua

Parliamentary diplomacy: Building bridges for peace and understanding

Parliamentary diplomacy is a way to build relationships and promote cooperation between national parliaments. Many parliaments encourage their members to participate in inter-parliamentary organizations, bilateral exchanges, and other parliamentary diplomacy initiatives. In this way Parliamentarians can represent their countries' interests, foster dialogue and cooperation with counterparts from other nations, and work towards building consensus on international issues.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), established in 1889, holds the distinction of being the first political multilateral organization aimed at fostering international cooperation and resolving conflicts through dialogue rather than warfare. Throughout its history, the IPU has been a pivotal platform for parliamentary diplomacy, enabling nations to engage in meaningful conversations and mediation. The organization's impact is underscored by the fact that its founders and numerous other prominent members have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, highlighting their contributions to global peace efforts.

In countries emerging from conflict or transitioning to democracy, the IPU plays a critical role in building strong, democratic parliamentary institutions capable of uniting divided societies. The organization’s commitment to peace is further demonstrated through its vigorous advocacy for disarmament. The IPU actively lobbies for a world free of nuclear weapons and supports the thorough implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1540, which aims to prevent non-State actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.

Recognizing that war disproportionately impacts women and youth, the IPU places a special emphasis on peace and security for these groups. This focus is guided by UN Security Council resolutions 1325 and 2250, which address the roles and protections of women and youth in conflict situations.

135 years in 135 seconds

The international Day of Parliamentarism is also the anniversary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. How did the IPU grow from a handful of parliamentarians from 9 countries who met for the first time on 30 June 1889 to become the global organization of parliaments? Discover the IPU's 135-year history in 135 seconds.

Background

The International Day of Parliamentarism is celebrated every year on 30 June, the date in 1889 on which the IPU was founded. The Day was established in 2018 through a United Nations General Assembly Resolution.

Instituting an international day for parliaments is particularly important at this critical time for parliamentary democracy, when people are losing trust in political institutions and democracy itself is facing challenges from populist and nationalist movements. If democracy is to thrive, then parliaments, as the cornerstone of functioning democracies, need to be strong, transparent, accountable and representative.

The International Day of Parliamentarism is a time to review the progress that parliaments have made in achieving some key goals to be more representative and move with the times, including carrying out self-assessments, working to include more women and young MPs, and adapting to new technologies.

The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution A/RES/72/278, recognized the role of parliaments in national plans and strategies and in ensuring greater transparency and accountability at national and global levels.

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Did you know?

• Every country in the world has some form of representative government.
• Parliamentary systems fall into two categories: bicameral (with two chambers of parliament) and unicameral (with one chamber).
• IPU membership is made up of 180 national parliaments.
• Out of 190 countries, 78 are bicameral and 112 are unicameral, making a total of 268 chambers of parliament with over 44,000 members of parliament.
• 26.9% of the world's members of parliament are women.
• Half the world’s population is under 30 and yet only under 3% of MPs globally represent this age group

A Brief history of the IPU

Resources

• General Assembly resolution establishing the International Day of Parliamentarism (A/RES/72/278)
• UN Secretary-General's report on the interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (A/74/759)
• Inter-Parliamentary Union
• United Nations and the Rule of Law
• International Day of Democracy
• UNDP: Agora Portal for Parliamentary Development
• United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF)

Conflict prevention, peacebuilding and reconciliation

The numerous wars around the world highlight the importance of political plurality and dialogue in achieving peace and security. We believe parliaments should be central to conflict prevention, mediation, reconciliation, and peacemaking processes. MPs can lead by example in working across political, cultural, or religious divides and engaging in constructive dialogue. Our support is crucial for parliaments in countries emerging from conflict or transitioning to democracy, as they often have limited resources and experience.

Global Parliamentary Report 2022

This third global parliamentary report is focused on public participation in the work of parliament. The data, conclusions and recommendations contained in the report outline a way forward to strengthen this link between the public on the one hand and parliaments and parliamentarians on the other, actively working with the community to build participatory, inclusive and responsive parliaments.

Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.