IPU helps parliaments to build their capacity to use information and communication technologies (ICT) effectively. In a resolution adopted in 2003, the IPU Assembly called on parliaments to:
... make full use of the new information and communication technologies:
... take legislative action with the aim of providing an environment conducive to the dissemination, development and secure use of the NICTs.
- to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and transparency of their activities and to better connect with the electorate;
- to expand inter-parliamentary relationships and cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels, thus enhancing parliamentary democracy and diplomacy;
Global Centre on ICT in Parliament
The Global Centre on ICT in Parliament is a joint initiative of IPU and the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs that was launched in November 2005. Its objectives are to:
|Foster the introduction of ICT in parliaments to increase transparency and effectiveness and strengthen their central role as promoters of good governance and democracy|
|Reinforce the role of parliaments in establishing the legislative frameworks required for the development of sustainable ICT policies and an inclusive Information Society|
|Increase citizens' access to parliaments activities and documentation, thereby improving openness and accountability in legislatures|
|Find new modalities of coordination between the international community and parliaments in supporting ICT-related initiatives, both in their research and operational aspects|
The Global Centre acts as a clearing house for information and research on the use of ICT in parliament, and promotes a structured dialogue among parliaments and other organizations, in order to enhance the sharing of experiences, the identification of good practices and the implementation of appropriate solutions.
World e-Parliament Conference
The World e-Parliament Conference is the biennial forum of the community of parliaments on their use of information and communication technologies (ICT). It addresses, from both the policy and technical perspectives, how ICT can help improve representation, law-making and oversight and increase parliament’s openness, accessibility, accountability and effectiveness.
The World e-Parliament Conference was co-organized from 2007 to 2012 by the United Nations, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Global Centre for ICT in Parliament, in partnership with the host parliament.
World e-Parliament Report
The World e-Parliament Report documents the efforts of legislatures to use information and communication technologies (ICT) to support their constitutional functions, and gives an authoritative overview of the state of information and communication technologies (ICT) in parliament. The World e-Parliament Report is jointly prepared by the IPU and the United Nations, through the Global Centre for ICT in Parliaments.
Guidelines for parliamentary web sites
The Guidelines published by IPU in 2000 helped many parliaments to set up or develop their website. Now almost every parliament in the world is present online. Today's challenge is to make the most effective use of the Internet to enhance the relation between parliaments and citizens. The new edition of the Guidelines offers guidance on how to use the key elements of a successful website – content, tools, design, management – in the parliamentary context. The revised Guidelines take into account changes in technology and lessons learned since 2000, and have been prepared in cooperation with the United Nations and the Global Centre for ICT in Parliament.
World Summit on the Information Society
Parliamentary meetings took place the occasion of both phases of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).
As part of the follow-up to WSIS, IPU and UNDESA are co-facilitators of the Sub-group on Parliament and ICT under Action Line C1, "The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICT for development." The Sub-group meets annually to examine parliamentary participation in the follow-up to WSIS.
Resolutions of the IPU Assembly
The 109th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (Geneva, October 2003) adopted a resolution on The contribution of new information and communication technologies to good governance, the improvement of parliamentary democracy and the management of globalisation.
Technical assistance to parliaments
Many of IPU's projects of technical assistance have an ICT component. Just a few examples include:
|Setting up and developing information services in the Parliament of Ethiopia|
|Implementing a document management system in the Assembly of Kosovo|
|Supporting the development of a web site in the Chamber of the People's Representatives in Equatorial Guinea|