Gabriela Cuevas Barron, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU): "The World Needs to Change and Stop being so Individualistic"

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was founded 130 years ago as the first political multilateral organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Meanwhile the organization unites 179 national parliaments from all over the world and works closely with the United Nations. The IPU focuses on the protection of and respect for human rights, the promotion of peace, democracy, the rule of law, and sustainable development. Sven Lilienström, founder of the Faces of Democracy initiative, spoke with the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Ms. Gabriela Cuevas Barron about democracy, multilateralism and the importance of the IPU today, Faces of Democracy reported.

Ms. Cuevas Barron, the Faces of Democracy initiative wants to support a better understanding of democracy in Germany, Europe, and around the world. How significant are democracy and democratic values to you personally?

Definitely now more than ever! Parliamentarians must opt for paths and initiatives that foster multilateral cooperation. Democratic values support the belief that an orderly society can exist. The world needs to change and stop being so individualistic.

As President of the IPU, I have been urging countries to realize that no single state can manage emerging global situations on its own. Cooperation, collective actions, and strengthened governance are crucial elements. I genuinely believe that change has to be done through democracy.

The Faces of Democracy initiative seems to be one of the most important ones in these times, since it invites us - as you say - to understand democracy better; to understand it as a democracy that opts for freedom, that allow us to express our opinions and to have the power to be...