 T h e I nter-P arliamentary U nion (I P U )  Brings together s ome 1 6 0 national  lts objec tive is to s trengthen democ rac y through Democratic parliament  A democrat ic parliament is a parliament that is : - repres entative, both s oc ially and politic ally, of the people; - trans parent, i.e. open to the nation; - ac c es s ible to the public s o that they c an c ontribute to work in parliament; a parliament that is its elf ac c ountable to the people both for the performanc e in offic e and the integrity of its members ; - and a parliament that is effec tive in c arrying out its core functions.