International Day of Parliamentarism 2018 observed across the globe

30 June: International Day of Parliamentarism

The 2018 International Day of Parliamentarism was observed across the globe on June 30, 2018 with an aim to recognise the role of parliaments in national plans and strategies and in ensuring greater transparency and accountability at national and global levels.

The Day celebrates parliaments and the ways in which parliamentary systems of government improve the day-to-day lives of people the world over. It is also an opportunity for parliaments to take stock, identify challenges, and ways to address them effectively.

The year 2018 marked the first celebration of the International Day of Parliamentarism.

Facts and Figures

• Parliamentary system of government falls into two categories: bicameral (with two chambers of parliament) and unicameral (with one chamber).

• Out of 193 member countries of the United Nations, 79 are bicameral and 114 are unicameral.

• These 272 chambers of parliament comprise over 46000 members of parliament.

• The oldest parliament is the Althingi, the Icelandic Parliament that was founded in 930.

When was the Day proclaimed?

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the Day in May 2018 itself through its resolution A/RES/72/278, recognising the role of parliaments in national plans and strategies.

The resolution called on the United Nations system and Member States to work more closely with parliaments as well as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on issues relating to human rights, health, gender equality, and peace and youth empowerment.

The parliaments represent the voice of the people, pass laws, allocate funds to implement laws and policies, and hold governments to account.