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OVERVIEW The IPU is the international organization of Parliaments of sovereign States (Article 1 of the Statutes of the Inter-Parliamentary Union). 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. To that end, it: Fosters contacts, co-ordination, and the exchange of experience among parliaments and parliamentarians of all countries; Considers questions of international interest and concern and expresses its views on such issues in order to bring about action by parliaments and parliamentarians; Contributes to the defence and promotion of human rights -- an essential factor of parliamentary democracy and development; Contributes to better knowledge of the working of representative institutions and to the strengthening and development of their means of action. The IPU supports the efforts of the United Nations, whose objectives it shares, and works in close co-operation with it. The Union also co-operates with regional inter-parliamentary organizations, as well as with international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations which are motivated by the same ideals. The IPU is financed primarily by its members out of public funds. The site of the Union's Headquarters is Geneva (Switzerland). FURTHER INFORMATION For further information, send us your questions or contact the Union's Information Officer at the following address: Inter-Parliamentary Union 5, chemin du Pommier Case postale 330 CH-1218 Le Grand-Saconnex / Geneva Switzerland Telephone: +4122 919 41 50 Fax: +4122 919 41 60 E-mail: postbox@mail.ipu.org For information concerning job vacancies at the IPU Secretariait, visit a special page at this site. Click here for information on Consultancy work opportunities in technical assistance to parliaments. To get in touch with the Office of the Permanent Observer of the IPU to the United Nations in New York, use the following contact information: Office of the Permanent Observer of the IPU to the United Nations 220 East 42nd Street - Suite 3002 New York, N.Y. 10017 United States of America Telephone: +1212 557 58 80 Fax: +1212 557 39 54 E-mail: ny-office@mail.ipu.org