The Institute serves as a clearinghouse for information on democracy and human rights world-wide.
Special attention is given to such issues as civil society, minorities, women and media.
The Institute has extensive contacts with the parliaments of almost all European countries in addition to its links with both the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament . The Institute runs a programme-oriented database and acts as a documentation centre. The database covers organisations world-wide. Training An annual training seminar on European parliamentary assemblies and parliamentary practice and procedure takes place in Strasbourg. The themes discussed include inter alia budgetary procedure, the role of parliamentary committees, the public service and civil servant' ethics.