Peace and security

Peace and security

Throughout our history we have worked to promote peace and stability through dialogue and negotiation. Both our founders and six other leading personalities of the IPU won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Today we help parliaments deal with threats such as terrorism, organized crime, cyber warfare and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). We work in many countries facing conflict, seeking to promote political dialogue and national reconciliation.

We play a special role in countries emerging from conflict or in transition to democracy, helping to develop their parliaments as robust and democratic institutions that can work to heal national divisions. We support parliaments that build peace founded on dialogue, cooperation and understanding. Lasting peace can only be established through democracy, good governance and the rule of law.

Disarmament is also crucial for peace. We work towards achieving a nuclear weapons-free world and promoting the full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1540 on preventing non-state actors from obtaining WMDs. We do this by providing tools for MPs, who play a major role in assessing risks, legislating to mitigate them and monitoring government compliance with domestic and international obligations.

Because war often affects women and youth disproportionately, we focus on peace and security in relation to these groups, based on UNSC resolutions 1325 and 2250.

We work with the United Nations, Interpeace, PNND and other groups that share our commitment to peace.

We are founded on the premise that conflicts and differences should be settled through peaceful means, such as mediation and inclusiveness.
We encourage, train and support parliaments and MPs in their important responsibility to act to ensure sustainable security for future generations.
We work on peace and security, taking into account the specific situation and perspectives of women and youth.