Examination of the Status and Practical Measures of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Recent Years (2012–2022) from the Perspective of Experts

Abstract

The Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, within the framework of legal cooperation in the development of human rights, has defined for itself missions such as safeguarding parliamentary immunity and ensuring the freedom of action of parliamentarians. The research question is: To what extent has this Committee been able to undertake effective practical measures in support of the parliamentarians of member countries, and what status has it achieved as a result? We sought answers through a questionnaire administered to experts and analyzed the responses using thematic analysis with the assistance of MAXQDA software. After analyzing the statements, we were able to categorize them under themes such as institutionalization of human rights, global convergence, parliamentary diplomacy, effective rule of law, gender equality, transparency, and weakness in compelling states to cooperate. These categories reflect actions that, from the viewpoint of experts, have been evaluated as factors and indicators of the Committee’s enhanced status in recent years (2012–2022). The category concerning the weakness in compelling states to cooperate reflects expert criticism of the Committee’s performance. In summary, while the Committee has been able to enhance its status in recent years through appropriate and supportive actions, it still suffers from a fundamental weakness in enforcing state cooperation.