Current Context : Recently, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, while leading an Indian Parliamentary delegation to the 149th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, highlighted the importance of multilateralism in addressing global issues.

ABOUT THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU):

• Founded: 1889 in Paris to promote peace and representative democracy.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland (since 1921).
• Members: 180 national parliaments and 15 associate members.
• Objective: Promotes parliamentary diplomacy, gender balance, youth representation, and defends MPs’ human rights.
• Funding: It is financed primarily by its members out of public funds.

STRUCTURE OF IPU:

• IPU Assembly: Main body that discusses international issues.
• Governing Council: Sets policy and budget, led by the IPU President.
• Executive Committee: 17 members managing IPU’s administration.
• Standing Committees: Assist the Assembly in its work.