Inter-American Parliamentary Group on Population and Development

The IAPG is a regional network of parliamentarians in the Western Hemisphere who are committed to population, development and human rights issues. Members work together to ensure the implementation of laws and policies that guarantee equitable development of women, men, adolescents and children in all countries in the Americas.

The IAPG’s regional Secretariat supports the network of member parliamentary groups by providing appropriate information and advocacy opportunities. The IAPG’s programs seek to empower parliamentarians through a series of workshops and seminars, by disseminating technical information and providing special assistance, including comparative legislative analyses. Additionally, the parliamentary groups collaborate with civil society groups, local and regional NGOs, and various United Nations agencies. The IAPG promotes open dialogue among parliamentarians, and between parliamentarians and the executive branch, to facilitate their active participation in approving, applying and monitoring laws and programs that empower women and create an environment favorable to implementing the sexual and reproductive health programs specific to each country in the region.

The IAPG works within the framework of a broad human development agenda that includes, as an integral part, various health-related topics as well as sexual and reproductive rights, takes into consideration population variables. The international law instruments and commitments ratified by governments at the Cairo (1994) and Beijing (1995) conferences and the Millennium Summit (2000) are the legal frameworks that guide the network’s activities.

Since its founding in 1983, the IAPG has played a key role in mobilizing the parliamentary network, thereby facilitating improved understanding of population and development issues by creating opportunities to exchange ideas and experiences, by disseminating information, by developing networks and providing training to its members.