Inter-Parliamentary Union

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is an international inter-parliamentary organization established in 1889 to promote cooperation between national parliaments.

According to the IPU Charter, a member is the parliament of a sovereign state.

The main organs of the IPU are the Assembly, the Governing Council, and the Executive Committee.

The organization's activities are carried out through standing committees:

• Standing Committee on Peace and International Security
• Standing Committee on Sustainable Development
• Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights
• Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs

In addition to the standing committees, the IPU includes specialized bodies:

• Committee on Human Rights of Parliamentarians
• Committee on Middle East Issues
• Committee for the Promotion of International Humanitarian Law
• Committee on Health
• Forum of Women Parliamentarians
• Forum of Young Parliamentarians
• Working Group on Science and Technology
• Gender Partnership Group
• Subcommittee on Finance
• Working Group on Transparency, Accountability, and Openness.

The Republic of Belarus's participation in the IPU is aimed at:

developing international parliamentary cooperation; promoting national interests; participating in addressing global issues of peace and security; strengthening the role of parliamentary diplomacy; exchanging legislative experience and strengthening cooperation with the parliaments of IPU member states; developing bilateral inter-parliamentary cooperation, including expanding political, trade, and economic ties.

The Republic of Belarus has been a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union since 1995.