How can forums like the IPU strengthen democratic resilience and the participation of women in legislatures worldwide? Illustrate with recent IPU Assembly themes.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), founded on 30 June 1889 [4], is an organisation of national parliaments rather than governments. Its aims include peace and the "firm establishment of representative institutions" [2]. Through parliamentary diplomacy, it helps legislatures withstand democratic erosion and bring more women into them.

Strengthening democratic resilience

• Peer learning: The IPU promotes the exchange of experience among parliaments on reforms. Indian MPs have served as rapporteurs and committee office-bearers [2].
• Protecting legislators: Since 1976, the Committee on Human Rights of Parliamentarians has exposed violations against MPs [4]. This protects dissent, which democracy depends on.
• Building oversight capacity: The new IPU Committee on Health held its first meeting at the 151st Assembly. It focuses on unequal access to healthcare [5], and MPs can turn its work into national budgets and laws.
• Global norm-setting: The UN marks 30 June as the International Day of Parliamentarism [4].

Advancing women's participation

• Benchmarking: Women hold only 27.2% of parliamentary seats worldwide, up just 0.3 percentage points in a year [4]. Publishing slow progress creates peer pressure on countries.
• Agenda-setting: Women's participation is a listed topic at the 153rd Assembly, and 4 of India's 9 delegates are women [1].
• Spreading models: India can showcase the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023. It reserves one-third of Lok Sabha and State Assembly seats for women once delimitation follows the next Census [6].

Recent Assembly themes as illustration

• 151st, Geneva (Oct 2025): "Upholding humanitarian norms and supporting humanitarian action in times of crisis": the rule of law under stress [5].
• 152nd, Istanbul (Apr 2026): "Nurturing hope, securing peace, and ensuring justice for future generations": justice between generations [7].
• 153rd, Arusha (Oct 2026): "Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all": it links inclusion directly to public trust in institutions [1].

Limits

• IPU resolutions do not bind any state, because it is a body of parliaments rather than governments [2]. Their impact depends on whether MPs follow them up at home.

Overall, the IPU builds resilience by connecting legislatures, protecting legislators and putting gender gaps on the record. Its value would grow if national Houses debated Assembly outcomes and set targets for women's representation. That would advance SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 16 (inclusive institutions), and give real substance to the Arusha theme of inclusivity and trust.