The IPU is the international organization of Parliaments . It was established in 1889. The Union is the focal point for world-wide parliamentary dialogue and works for peace and co-operation among peoples and for the firm establishment of representative democracy.

The IPU’s work is underpinned by the belief that democracy should be based on the participation and perspectives of both men and women in decision-making. The organization therefore aims to achieve a gender partnership in political life by facilitating women’s access to, and influence in, parliament. It also aims at supporting parliaments in addressing gender issues in an effective way. One such issue is violence against women.

At its 114th Assembly held in Nairobi in 2006, the Member Parliaments of the Inter-Parliamentary Union adopted a resolution on How parliaments can and must promote effective ways of combating violence against women in all fields.

Recognizing that the efforts to eliminate this kind of violence require systematic and sustained action, the IPU launched a campaign and developed a programme of activities to mobilize parliaments and support their efforts to end violence against women. These parliamentary initiatives and IPU’s commitment aim as well to strengthen parliaments’ contribution to the current international mobilization to end violence against women, led by the UNite to End Violence against Women campaign.

The IPU campaign focuses on all forms of violence against women at the international, regional and national levels, and aims to respond to the particular concerns of parliaments. It involves men and women parliamentarians and builds on their political leadership to drive change. Programme activities target three main areas: building a strong and effective legal framework, securing effective implementation of legislation, and reinforcing awareness, sensitization and visibility of violence against women.