CPA Online Community Platform

Parliamentary Security: New CPA handbook provides guidance to Parliaments

This guide is intended to provide best-practice approaches and identify actions that can be taken by Parliaments.
Find out more

Reparations and Reconciliation: Unpacking the Commonwealth’s Divided Legacy

Explore how Parliamentarians are discussing the Commonwealth’s colonial legacy and how best to address these issues for the future.
Read the blog

CPA launches Environmental Impact Fund for Parliaments

In recognition of the critical task of tackling climate change, the CPA has launched a new Environmental Impact Fund.
Click here to find out more

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
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

CPA Secretary-General visits Belfast to mark the 50th meeting of the CPA Northern Ireland Branch
News

CPA Secretary-General visits Belfast to mark the 50th meeting of the CPA Northern Ireland Branch

From 18 to 19 February 2025, the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg visited the Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast to mark the 50th meeting of the CPA Northern Ireland Branch.

Punjab hosts first joint CPA Asia, South-East Asia Regional Conference
News

Punjab hosts first joint CPA Asia, South-East Asia Regional Conference

The Conference in Lahore focused on development, Artificial Intelligence, climate change and gender equality.

Scottish Parliament publishes Gender-Sensitising Parliaments Guide to share best practice with Legislatures
News

Scottish Parliament publishes Gender-Sensitising Parliaments Guide to share best practice with Legislatures

Following recommendations from CPA/CWP, The Scottish Parliament have launched a new publication which aims to improve equal participation and representation of women in Parliaments around the world.

News from the CPA and Commonwealth Parliaments (January 2025)
News

News from the CPA and Commonwealth Parliaments (January 2025)

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

Parliamentary Security: New CPA handbook provides guidance to Parliaments
News

Parliamentary Security: New CPA handbook provides guidance to Parliaments

This CPA Introductory Guide is intended as a resource to guide best-practice approaches around parliamentary security and identify actions that can be taken to minimise the risk to Parliaments.

CPA launches 2025 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Awards
News

CPA launches 2025 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Awards

As part of the CPA’s mission to strengthen parliamentary democracy, the Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Awards will again take place in 2025

Upcoming Events

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
Mid-Year CPA Executive Committee meeting 2025

Mid-Year CPA Executive Committee meeting 2025

Hybrid - London, UK/Online

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

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 ‘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 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.