The IPU on air Podcast Series features conversations with MPs and parliamentary experts from around the world on issues that impact citizens and democracies.
Tune in to find out what parliamentarians think on a plethora of global issues.
When AI makes decisions that affect your life, who is accountable ?
AI has permeated across society and the economy. It can now help decide who gets a loan, who is shortlisted for a job, and who is eligible for a public service. But when those decisions go wrong, can people understand them, challenge them and put them right? That is a democratic governance question, and it is one for parliaments.
In IPU on air #17, the IPU speaks with Lord Nagaraju of Bloomsbury, a member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom and founder of the think tank AI Policy Labs and Dr Andrei Baciu, a Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania with a specialisation in AI policy. They were speaking on the sidelines of AI governance events in Geneva in July 2026. The discussion was moderated by Alex Read, IPU expert on AI.
12 May 2026
Interview with outgoing Secretary General Martin Chungong
Interview with outgoing Secretary General Martin Chungong
IPU on air #16 features an interview with Secretary General Martin Chungong as he concludes his 12-year tenure. In 2014, Martin Chungong made history as the first African and first non-European to be elected Secretary General of the IPU, and he was subsequently re-elected twice. In this special edition, Thomas Fitzsimons, IPU Director of Communications, interviews Martin Chungong on 24 February 2026, using photographs as prompts for the conversation.
Entretien avec le secrétaire général sortant Martin Chungong
Le 16e épisode de l’UIP à l’antenne propose un entretien avec le secrétaire général Martin Chungong, alors qu’il achève son mandat de 12 ans. En 2014, Martin Chungong est entré dans l’histoire en devenant le premier Africain et le premier non-Européen à être élu secrétaire général de l’UIP ; il a ensuite été réélu à deux reprises. Dans cette édition spéciale, Thomas Fitzsimons, directeur de la communication de l’UIP, s’entretient avec Martin Chungong le 24 février 2026, en s’appuyant sur des photographies pour alimenter la conversation.
30 Jan 2026
Championing sexual and reproductive health and rights
In IPU on air #15, Ms. Petra Bayr, a Member of Parliament from Austria, and Ms. Catherine Mumma, Kenyan Senator and Member of the IPU Committee on Health member, discuss strategies for parliamentarians to shape legislation, allocate budgets and mobilize support for sexual and reproductive rights amid challenges to these rights in some countries. Moderated by Miriam Sangiorgio, IPU health expert.
1 Dec 2025
Championing democracy: A Dialogue with MPs M E Blanc (France) and Ms. L. Fehlmann Rielle (Switzerland) on protecting parliamentarians
Championing democracy: A Dialogue with MPs M E Blanc (France) and Ms. L. Fehlmann Rielle (Switzerland) on protecting parliamentarians
In IPU on air #14, on the eve of the 151st Assembly and 216th session of the Governing Council held in Geneva from October 19-24, 2025, representatives from the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, President Blanc and Madam Fehlmann Rielle spoke to Rogier Huizenga, Head of the IPU Human Rights Programme. The discussion explores the importance of protecting MPs for the sake of safeguarding the institution of parliament and democracy, and how the CHRP continue to support parliamentarians worldwide.
Défendre la démocratie : dialogue avec les parlementaires E. Blanc (France) et L. Fehlmann Rielle (Suisse) sur la protection des parlementaires
Dans l'émission L'UIP à l'antenne n° 14, à la veille de la 151e Assemblée et de la 216e session du Conseil directeur qui se sont tenues à Genève du 19 au 24 octobre 2025, des représentants du Comité des droits de l’homme des parlementaires de l'UIP, le Président E. Blanc et Mme Fehlmann Rielle, se sont entretenus avec Rogier Huizenga, Responsable du Programme des droits de l'homme de l'UIP. Le débat porte sur l'importance de la protection des parlementaires pour préserver l'institution parlementaire et la démocratie, et sur la manière dont le Comité continue de soutenir les parlementaires à travers le monde.
18 Nov 2025
From parliament to people: Pathways to fund health and the SDGs
In IPU on air #13, on the eve of the 151st Assembly held in Geneva from October 19-24, 2025, Paddy Torsney, IPU Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York, discusses the current global financing landscape for health, how it is impacting countries, and health taxes as an emerging policy option with Kalipso Chalkidou, Director of Performance, Financing and Delivery at WHO, and Jacqueline Sabao, Zambian Member of Parliament and vice-Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee.
Des parlements aux citoyens : les voies pour financer la santé et les ODD
Dans l'UIP à l'antenne n° 13, à la veille de la 151e Assemblée qui s'est tenue à Genève du 19 au 24 octobre 2025, Paddy Torsney, observatrice permanente de l’UIP auprès des Nations Unies à New York, discute du paysage actuel du financement mondial de la santé, de son impact sur les pays, ainsi que des taxes sur la santé en tant qu'option politique émergente avec Kalipso Chalkidou, Directrice de la performance, du financement et de la mise en œuvre à l’OMS, et Jacqueline Sabao, parlementaire de Zambie et vice-Présidente du Comité des comptes publics.
31 Oct 2025
Holding the Gavel: Behind the role of the speaker with Australia’s Milton Dick
In IPU on
air #12, on the eve of the 151st Assembly held in Geneva from
October 19-24, 2025, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick spoke
to IPU’s Kate Brooks on how he approaches the role of Speaker in Australia. The
conversation explores the surprises he encountered on taking up the gavel, why
the Speakership matters to democracy, what he gains from interacting with the
IPU and how he hopes to encourage youth’s excitement about politics.
19 Aug 2025
Holding the Gavel: Behind the role of the speaker with Sweden’s Andreas Norlen
In IPU on air #11, on the eve of the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Geneva from July 29-31, Speaker of the Parliament of Sweden, Andreas Norlen spoke to IPU’s Kate Brooks on the significant role of the speaker. The conversation explores the multifaceted responsibilities of a Speaker, the challenges they face, and the opportunities they seize to enhance legislative processes.
13 Aug 2025
Holding the Gavel: Behind the role of the speaker with Namibia’s Saara Nandjila Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
In IPU on air #10, on the eve of the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Geneva from July 29-31, Speaker of the Parliament of Namibia, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila spoke to IPU’s Kate Brooks on the significant role of the speaker. The conversation explores the multifaceted responsibilities of a Speaker, the challenges they face, and the opportunities they seize to enhance legislative processes.
7 Aug 2025
Holding the Gavel: Behind the role of the speaker with Malta’s Dr Angelo Farrugia
In IPU on air #9, on the eve of the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Geneva from July 29-31, Speaker of the Parliament of Malta, Dr Angelo Farrugia spoke to IPU’s Kate Brooks on the significant role of the speaker. The conversation explores the multifaceted responsibilities of a Speaker, the challenges they face, and the opportunities they seize to enhance legislative processes
13 Jun 2025
The Power of Interfaith Dialogue
Sarah Markiewicz interviews Dame Karen Bradley and Dr. Ali Al-Nuaimi about the importance of interfaith dialogue in fostering global peace and the role of parliamentarians.
29 Apr 2025
Confronting discrimination for health equity
In IPU on air #7 Irish Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee, Chair of IPU’s Committee on Health, hosts Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara of the National Assembly of Malawi, and Claire Summerville, Executive Director of the Graduate Institute’s International and Development Studies Gender Centre to explore legislative frameworks affecting access to health services for women, girls and marginalized populations, and strategies to address harmful social norms.
29 Apr 2025
Climate change and health: Bridging policy for a resilient future
In IPU on air #6, Irish Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee, Chair of the IPU Committee on Health, discusses the multi-faceted health impacts of climate change and the need for integrated responses with Mr Soltan Moladov, Azerbaijan Member of Parliament and rapporteur of COP29’s Parliamentary Meeting and Dr Maria Neira, Director of the Department of Public Health and Environment, WHO.
31 Mar 2025
Good practice in climate legislation
In IPU on air #5, Ms. Amanda Ellis, Senior Director at Arizona State University’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory. discusses good practice in climate legislation with Dr. Michal Nachmany, founder of Climate Policy Radar and developer of the London School of Economics’ Grantham Research Institute Climate Change Laws of the World database, of which the IPU is a partner.
4 Mar 2025
Orphanage trafficking: The hidden crisis aided by good intentions
More than 50 million people worldwide have been trafficked into slavery. Addressing such a complex issue can be overwhelming, particularly from a legislative perspective. A good area to start is with the estimated 5.4 million children globally who are trafficked into unregulated orphanages. This practice, known as “orphanage trafficking,” involves the recruitment or transfer of children into residential care institutions for the purpose of exploitation and profit. When these children are relocated to an institution, many lose contact with their families and are provided with false identity documents to legitimize their classification as orphans.
21 May 2024
Health: A moving target for migrants and refugees?
In #IPU on air #3, our host, Irish Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee, Chair of the IPU Advisory Group on Health, discusses the role of parliaments in addressing the health of migrants with Ms. Yvonne Apiyo Brändle-Amolo, Delegate for Migration, Swiss Socialist Party; and Prof. Patrick Taran, President of Global Migration Policy Associates.
21 May 2024
Access to health: Are parliaments redressing inequalities for women and girls?
IPU on air #2 features a dialogue between host Irish Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee, Chair of the IPU Advisory Group on Health, and Rt.Hon. Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Chair of the Board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
23 Apr 2024
Sexual and reproductive health rights: what role for parliamentarians?
In this first IPU podcast, Irish Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee, Chair of the IPU Advisory Group on Health, hosts Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, a fellow MP from the United Republic of Tanzania and Vice-Chair of the IPU Advisory Group on Health; and Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at the World Health Organization.
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