CPA Parliamentary Academy

New online human rights course launched with CPA Parliamentary Academy

The new course provides a comprehensive understanding of human rights and the critical role that Parliaments play in their protection.
Click here to find out more

Parliamentary Conversations in the Commonwealth: Monarchy to Republic

This CPA Podcast speaks to Senator Crystal Drakes from Barbados about the transition from monarchy to republic and what it means for democracy
Click here to listen

Meet the new CPA Chairperson from Zambia

Our Q&A with Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila from Zambia explores his previous experience and what his top priorities are in his new role with the CPA
Read the Q&A blog

Professional Development: The CPA Parliamentary Academy

Access our online courses on parliamentary processes, with free and paid options available.
Register for the Academy

Directory: Our Branches

The CPA is made up of 180 Parliaments and Legislatures across the Commonwealth. Browse our directory to find out more about each CPA Branch.
CPA Branches A to Z

Season's Greetings across the Commonwealth!

Please note that the CPA Headquarters office will be closed for the holiday season from Friday 20 December 2024 and will reopen on Monday 6 January 2025. During this time, if you have an urgent enquiry, please email hq.sec@cpahq.org and one of the CPA Secretariat team will respond. You can also find a wide range of resources and information on this website. We look forward to working closely with CPA Branches, Members and partner organisations again in 2025!

 

What We Do

What We Do

Find out more about our projects, programmes, outputs and activities
Where We Work

Where We Work

Find out more about the CPA's Regions and Branches
Knowledge Centre

Knowledge Centre

Discover CPA resources from our library, blog, podcast and research service
Blogs

Blogs

Find policy case studies, resource collections, interviews and personal reflections from Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff across the Commonwealth
CPA News

CPA News

Read the latest news about the CPA and its activities
Events

Events

Find out about upcoming events from the CPA

Latest News

First Gender-Sensitive Legislation Workshop held in Pakistan
News

First Gender-Sensitive Legislation Workshop held in Pakistan

Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Chair highlights work to encourage gender-sensitive institutions at workshop in Islamabad.

Solomon Islands Parliament undertakes CPA Benchmarks self-assessment
News

Solomon Islands Parliament undertakes CPA Benchmarks self-assessment

National Parliament of Solomon Islands undertakes CPA Benchmarks self-assessment to focus on parliamentary strengthening and reform.

News from the CPA and Commonwealth Parliaments (October and November 2024)
News

News from the CPA and Commonwealth Parliaments (October and November 2024)

Our monthly round-up of the latest news, events and activities with the CPA and in Parliaments and Legislatures around the Commonwealth

Caribbean workshop on gender responsive Parliaments
News

Caribbean workshop on gender responsive Parliaments

CWP network holds joint Caribbean workshop with ParlAmericas and UN Women on making parliaments responsive to the needs of women and men

2024 CPA General Assembly and CPA Executive Committee
News

2024 CPA General Assembly and CPA Executive Committee

Key decisions taken in New South Wales at 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference

2024 CPA Awards announced at 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference
News

2024 CPA Awards announced at 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference

Parliamentarians from Pakistan, Jersey, Guyana and New South Wales recognised at Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year 2024 Awards at 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in New South Wales

Upcoming Events

First Joint CPA Asia and CPA South-East Asia Regional Conference

First Joint CPA Asia and CPA South-East Asia Regional Conference

Punjab, Pakistan
CPA Parliamentary Academy: Advanced Professional Development and Skills-building Residency Programme

CPA Parliamentary Academy: Advanced Professional Development and Skills-building Residency Programme

Valetta, Malta
International Women's Day 2025

International Women's Day 2025

International
Commonwealth Day 2025

Commonwealth Day 2025

Commonwealth
CPA Small Branches Workshop 2025
A photo of the Legislative Buildings of the Isle of Man, a large white rounded building on a street corner

CPA Small Branches Workshop 2025

Douglas, Isle of Man
Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Workshop 2025

Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Workshop 2025

Nassau, The Bahamas

The Parliamentarian - Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments

Latest Issue:

The Parliamentarian: 2024 Issue Four – How are Commonwealth Parliaments addressing demands for a modern and inclusive Legislature?:

The Parliamentarian is the quarterly Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments published by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and features articles, news and legislative reports written by Members of Parliament, parliamentary staff and international experts across the Commonwealth about a wide range of global issues.

Find out about the publication here, or to read this issue on ISSUU, our online reading platform, click here ->

CPA Small Branches

Established in 1981, the network represents Commonwealth jurisdictions with populations under 1,000,000 and operates within the framework of the CPA. The CPA Small Branches network seeks to "empower small parliaments to overcome national and global challenges through cooperation, advocacy and the strengthening of parliamentary democracy and good governance"

Learn more

Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP)

The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) was founded in 1989 to increase the number of female elected representatives in Parliaments and legislatures across the Commonwealth and to ensure that women’s issues are brought to the fore in parliamentary debate and legislation.The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) network provides a means of building the capacity of women elected to parliament to be more effective in their roles; improving the awareness and ability of all Parliamentarians, male and female, and encouraging them to include a gender perspective in all aspects of their role - legislation, oversight and representation and helping parliaments to become gender-sensitive institutions. 

Learn more

Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD)

Recognising the need to increase representation of persons with disabilities in political institutions, the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network has been established to facilitate activities and programmes to champion and increase representation of persons with disabilities in Commonwealth parliaments and to work towards the mainstreaming of disability considerations in all CPA activities and programmes.

Learn more

Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference

The CPA's annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) brings together Parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth to discuss global political issues.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference

Our latest resources

CPA Standards for Codes of Conduct for MPs and the Parliamentary Workplace

As a result of extensive research and consultation with Parliaments across the world, the CPA ‘Standards for Codes of Conduct for Members of Parliament and the Parliamentary Workplace’ provides guidance for Parliaments and Legislatures. With the need for continuous improvement and tackling the additional challenges of harassment, bullying and abuse in the workplace as well as the challenges of new technology and online harms, the CPA Secretariat worked with Deakin University to develop an updated set of Standards for Codes of Conduct.

Front cover of the Parliamentary Handbook on Disinformation, AI and Synthetic Media
Parliamentary Handbook on Disinformation, AI and Synthetic Media

This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of disinformation, including its different forms and the various techniques used to spread it. It also covers the basics of AI and synthetic media, including their potential applications and implications for democracy, within and beyond the electoral cycle. You can also view the handbook on our ISSUU platform click here >

Handbook for Parliaments in Election Planning

This new CPA Handbook for Parliaments in Election Planning is designed to assist Legislatures in planning for an election and the influx of Members of Parliament that follows with examples of best practice from across the Commonwealth.

CWP Gender-Sensitising Parliaments: A Seven-Step Field Guide

This Field Guide complements the 'CWP Gender Sensitising Parliaments Guidelines', providing a blueprint for Parliaments interested in undertaking a gender sensitive review and making their institution more inclusive and representative.

Mental Health Toolkit for Commonwealth Parliaments

This toolkit provides guidance, advice and education on how to protect and promote the mental health and well-being of Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff.

Engagement, Education and Outreach Handbook for Commonwealth Parliaments

This Handbook provides guidance to Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures on how to increase public engagement and outreach, to ensure the public get a greater say in how they are governed.