In response, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the world organisation of sovereign parliaments, agreed with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the largest global network of volunteers,and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV), the focal point for follow-up to IYV 2001, to prepare a Guidance Note on Volunteerism and Legislation for use by parliamentarians around the world. The Note was prepared following extensive consultations, primarily through a questionnaire, with parliamentarians from all regions, North and South, volunteer-involving organisations and Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies. Supplementary information was obtained from research papers, Internet searches, and face-to-face and phone interviews.