2024 Emilia Monjowa Lifaka Lecture
About the Lifaka Lecture
The 2nd Emilia Monjowa Lifaka Lecture will take place at the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on human rights in the Commonwealth with renowned guest speaker, Hon. Michael Kirby, AC CMG.
An international jurist, educator and former judge from Australia, Michael Kirby has undertaken many international activities for the United Nations, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Global Fund Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. He was also a member of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group who examined the future of the organisation in 2011/12. Find out more about his career.
The topic for this year’s Lifaka Lecture is the complex relationship between human rights and governance within the Commonwealth, emphasising the critical role of Parliamentarians in upholding, promoting and protecting these rights.
The Lecture will examine the key human rights issues affecting Commonwealth jurisdictions such as:
- Freedom of speech and expression: Challenges related to press freedom and civic space in different political contexts.
- Gender equality and women's rights: Efforts to combat gender-based violence, discrimination and improving access to education and healthcare for women and girls.
- The rights of marginalised groups: a focus on indigenous populations, LGBT+ communities, and other groups, particularly in regions where their rights are restricted or unrecognised.
- Access to justice and the Rule of Law: the importance of fair legal systems and the protection of citizens from abuses of power and corruption.
The Lecture also examined the Commonwealth Charter, adopted in 2013, which outlines the shared values and commitments of its Members, including the promotion of human rights, democracy and good governance.
Parliamentarians hold a unique position as both legislators and representatives of the people, giving them the power to shape policies, pass laws and hold governments accountable for human rights violations.
The reply to this year's Lifaka Lecture will be given by Hon. Nontembeko Boyce, MPL, the Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature and the Q&A will be chaired by Hon. John Ajaka, a former President of the New South Wales Legislative Council and CPA Vice-Chairperson.
Date: Tuesday 5 November 2024
Time: 17:30 - 19:00
Location: Sydney International Convention Centre
The inaugural Emilia Monjowa Lifaka Lecture took place in October 2023 at the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Accra, Ghana, in memory of Hon. Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, the late Chairperson of the CPA International Executive Committee and Deputy Speaker of Cameroon.
Hon. Emilia Monjowa Lifaka was a passionate champion of the CPA and served as CPA Chairperson from November 2017 to her untimely passing in April 2021. The Lecture is intended to provide a fitting tribute to her work.
Who will deliver the 2nd Lifaka Lecture?
A keynote address will be delivered by a special guest at the at the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Who can attend the Lecture?
All delegates, observers and panellists at the 67th CPC are invited to attend the Lecture, which will take place on Tuesday 5 November 2024.