Across Latin America and the Caribbean, sexual violence remains one of the most pervasive forms of gender inequality, with outdated and sex-discriminatory legal frameworks failing to provide effective protection for victims. A new guide by Equality Now and ParlAmericas provides a comprehensive framework for legislating on sexual violence to help ensure national laws align with international human...

In the framework of Peru’s recently approved transition back to a bicameral legislature—established through Law No. 31988 passed by the Congress of the Republic—a high-level international parliamentary delegation conducted an official visit to Lima on April 1-2. The agenda featured meetings with legislative authorities and a conference exploring comparative experiences with bicameral systems in Latin America. The...

Against a backdrop of evolving security threats, heightened geopolitical tensions, and increasing challenges to democratic governance across the region, the ParlAmericas Annual Parliamentary Delegation to Washington, convened from March 25 to 27, 2025, addressed the central role of parliaments in shaping comprehensive security strategies and promoting a multidimensional approach to regional security. Held under the theme “Multidimensional...

Recognizing that the empowerment of young women in leadership is crucial for driving forward the agenda for gender equality, this Beijing +30 Webinar served as a platform to re-engage participants of the Young Women in Leadership (YWiL) and YES! Leadership Programmes in meaningful dialogue on gender equality to deepen their understanding of the Beijing Declaration...

This morning, Senator Blanca Ovelar of Paraguay, President of ParlAmericas, and The Honourable Bridgid Annisette-George, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Vice-President of ParlAmericas, addressed the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) during its regular meeting in Washington, D.C. Their participation occurred in alignment with the mandate of OAS General...

Gender parity is a distributive justice measure, rooted in the principle of equal participation in decision-making processes being an essential component of democracy. To support in fostering such an approach in parliaments, and thereby contribute to building more just and equitable societies, ParlAmericas participated in the 2025 Global Conference of Women Parliamentarians, a global forum...

Digital transformation is reshaping legislative institutions, creating new opportunities to enhance transparency, accessibility, and security. Recognizing this, the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Staff Network on Open Parliament convened today to exchange knowledge on strategies for integrating digital technologies in parliamentary processes. A robust digital infrastructure is fundamental to legislative efficiency and public engagement, underscored Luis Rojas, Deputy...

Effective climate action requires political will, financing aligned with environmental commitments, and a robust legislative framework that considers society as a whole. To analyze the most pressing environmental challenges and explore transformative legislative responses, parliamentarians leading on climate action, chairs of environmental committees, and non-governmental stakeholders exchanged ideas at today’s meeting of the Executive Committee...

ParlAmericas is pleased to announce the launch of its Strategic Plan 2025-2030, which will serve as a roadmap for strengthening parliamentary diplomacy with the aim of fostering regional integration and stability, and promoting the participation of parliamentarians from the Americas and the Caribbean in the Inter-American System. Developed through a broad and inclusive consultation process,...

As democracy adapts to new challenges, accountable and effective legislatures—and the professionals who support them—are more essential than ever. Parliamentary clerks and staff are the backbone of these institutions, ensuring smooth operations and processes. The critical functions of parliamentary staff were the focus of this week’s 2025 Caribbean Clerks Programme, hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary...