ABSTRACT
The Council is responsible for approving membership and the annual programme and budget of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and for electing the Secretary-General. The Association of Secretaries-General of Parliaments, an autonomous, self-managing body that meets during the IPU Assembly, has consultative status at the IPU. The IPU and the United Nations (UN) pursue a strategic partnership with the UN, incorporating a parliamentary voice into global decision-making processes. Co-operation between the IPU, the UN and national parliaments is renewed on a biennial basis through a series of resolutions of the UN General Assembly. The IPU sets standards and guidelines based on the collective expertise of member parliaments. A fundamental Universal Declaration on Democracy was adopted by IPU member parliaments in September 1997. The IPU has worked constantly to promote international and regional efforts towards disarmament, as part of the process of enhancing peace and security.
