Founded in 1889, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the world organization of parliaments. Its aim is to ensure that all national parliaments and their constituent parliamentarians can freely, safely, and effectively do the job they were elected to do: express the will of the people, adopt laws, and hold government to account for their actions.

Through parliamentary assemblies and specialized meetings, the IPU mobilizes parliamentary action on a wide range of subjects, including peace building, disarmament, sustainable development, protection of the environment, international trade, migration, democracy, gender equality, violence against women\n, child protection, human rights and humanitarian law, migration, and HIV/AIDS and other pandemics.

To this end, the IPU has developed a range of programmes to strengthen parliaments as democratic institutions. It audits parliaments, provides technical assistance and advice, undertakes research, and develops standards and guidelines. In addition, the organization promotes and defends human rights including the rights of the child, and facilitates women's participation in politics.