Who We Are
The Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (PIPA) is the regional inter-parliamentary organisation bringing together parliaments and legislatures from across the Pacific.
PIPA provides a permanent forum in which Pacific parliamentarians can meet across national, political and constitutional boundaries, exchange experience, develop common perspectives on shared regional challenges, and strengthen the contribution of legislatures to Pacific regional and international affairs.
PIPA was formally established on 28 August 2025 in Natadola, Fiji, through the adoption of the Natadola Declaration and the PIPA Statutes by eleven founding legislatures.
Its establishment marked the transition from several years of cooperation through the Pacific Islands Parliaments Group (PIPG) to a permanent regional institution.
The Natadola Declaration describes PIPA as an organisation “created by the Pacific, owned by the Pacific, for the Pacific.” Its creation responds to a longstanding gap in the Pacific regional architecture: while regional cooperation has traditionally been led primarily through executive governments, PIPA provides a dedicated space for the region’s elected legislatures and parliamentarians.
From parliamentary cooperation to a permanent institution
PIPA builds on a progressive process of cooperation among Pacific legislatures.
The Taraho’i Declaration adopted in French Polynesia in 2019, the Fangatapu Declaration adopted in Tonga in 2023 and the Ngibtal Declaration adopted in Palau in 2024 progressively strengthened cooperation between Pacific parliaments and laid the foundations for the creation of a permanent regional organisation.
At Natadola in August 2025, participating legislatures adopted the PIPA Statutes and established the Assembly’s first governance structures.
PIPA was founded by eleven Pacific legislatures:
Membership is open, in accordance with the Statutes, to eligible Pacific national and sub-national legislatures. Applications for membership and observer status are considered by the General Assembly.
A distinct parliamentary contribution to Pacific regionalism
PIPA does not seek to duplicate the work of governments or existing Pacific regional organisations.
Its distinctive contribution comes from the nature of parliaments themselves.
Parliaments bring together government and opposition, different political perspectives, communities and constituencies. They scrutinise public policy and expenditure, adopt legislation and national budgets, hold governments to account, represent citizens, and contribute to the ratification and implementation of international commitments.
Through PIPA, these functions can also contribute to regional cooperation.
The Assembly provides a platform through which Pacific parliamentarians can:
Exchange across political and national boundaries;
Build greater understanding of shared regional challenges;
Strengthen parliamentary scrutiny of regional and international commitments;
Develop common initiatives and parliamentary perspectives;
Reinforce dialogue and solidarity between Pacific legislatures; and
Contribute a parliamentary voice to regional and global debates affecting the Pacific.
PIPA also seeks to strengthen the agency of Pacific countries and territories by ensuring that parliamentary perspectives are represented in discussions concerning the future of the region.
How PIPA is governed
General Assembly
The General Assembly is PIPA’s ultimate decision-making body. It brings together delegations from member legislatures and meets ordinarily once each year.
Board
Between General Assemblies, the Board oversees the operational governance of the organisation.
Secretariat
The Secretariat provides administrative, technical and substantive support to the General Assembly, Board and members, implements institutional decisions, maintains PIPA’s records and communications, supports partnerships and activities, and manages the organisation’s day-to-day work under Board oversight.