51³Ô¹Ï

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 organisations, 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.

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 , which aims to prevent non-State actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.

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 , highlighting their contributions to global peace efforts.

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.

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 51³Ô¹Ï 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 51³Ô¹Ï General Assembly, in its resolution , recognized the role of parliaments in national plans and strategies and in ensuring greater transparency and accountability at national and global levels.

• General Assembly resolution establishing the International Day of Parliamentarism ()
• UN Secretary-General's report on the interaction between the 51³Ô¹Ï, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union ()
• 51³Ô¹Ï and the Rule of Law
• International Day of Democracy
• UNDP:
• 51³Ô¹Ï Democracy Fund (UNDEF)