This is the agenda to the International Conference on Benchmarking and Self-Assessment for Democratic Parliaments. It starts with the general context and continues with the objectives sought to achieve. Although every parliament is a product of its own country’s history and culture, certain norms and standards regarding democratic parliaments transcend the particularity of political and legislative systems. Today, the development of such standards can contribute to parliament’s own evaluative and reform efforts, as well as guide parliamentary development practitioners and donors in designing more appropriate support programmes. The conference was useful in further internationalizing the debate on what constitutes a democratic parliament and democracy in general.