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

This edition includes:

• 46th Regional Conference of the CPA Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Region in Guyana
• 12th Commonwealth Youth Parliament in New Zealand
• New South Wales Governor becomes CPA Vice-Patron ahead of 67th CPC
• CPA hosts Parliamentary Academy Residency Programme in Malaysia
• 10th CPA India Regional Conference takes place in New Delhi
• Parliament of Eswatini undertakes CPA Democratic Benchmarks assessment
• 6th UK Overseas Territories Forum on oversight of public finances and good governance
• Royal visit marks 25 years of the Scottish Parliament
• Queensland hosts Australia’s First Deaf Youth Parliament

46th Regional Conference of the CPA Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Region in Guyana

The CPA Guyana Branch hosted the 46th CPA Regional Conference of the Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic (CAA) Region on the theme of ‘Democracy: Challenges facing modern Parliament’ from 1 to 7 September 2024 in Georgetown.

The Regional Conference was attended by Speakers and Members of Parliament and was hosted by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Parliament of Guyana, Hon. Manzoor Nadir, MP. 

The President of Guyana, Hon. Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali gave the keynote address and the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg also addressed delegates.

Above: A number of nations and territories were represented at the CPA CAA Regional Conference, including Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Dominica; Guyana; Nevis; Saint Lucia; St Kitts and Nevis; Trinidad and Tobago; Turks and Caicos Islands. The Acting CPA Chairperson and Speaker of the Barbados House of Assembly, Hon. Arthur Holder, MP, SC also attended.

To read more about the CPA Caribbean Regional Conference please click here.

Young Commonwealth leaders at 12th Commonwealth Youth Parliament in New Zealand

65 young people from 39 Commonwealth jurisdictions took part in the three-day ‘mock’ Parliament organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). 

Participants aged 18 to 29 acted as Members of the ‘Parliament of Okifenua’, a fictional island nation of 2.5 million people in the South Pacific, at the 12th Commonwealth Youth Parliament (CYP), which was hosted by the Parliament of New Zealand in Wellington from 2 to 5 September 2024.

Youth delegates were welcomed by the CPA President and President of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, Hon. Ben Franklin, MLC and the Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Gerry Brownlee, MP. 

Above: Black Rod leads the procession into the Chamber of the New Zealand Parliament with the Sergeant-at-Arms carrying the Commonwealth Youth Parliament mace. 

To read more about the 12th Commonwealth Youth Parliament in New Zealand please click here.

Engaging Youth in Governance

To mark this year’s International Day of Democracy, the CPA Headquarters participated in a webinar panel on ‘Youth Political Engagement for Inclusive Governance’ hosted by the United Nations Development Programme on 10 September 2024.

The webinar explored the avenues and strategies to advance youth political participation for responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative governance in the Asia-Pacific region.

This event also saw the Regional Launch of the CPA and UNDP’s joint Youth Parliament Toolkit. The Toolkit contains expert advice on establishing, planning, running and promoting a Youth Parliament with additional case studies and evaluation methods from across the Commonwealth.

Click here to watch the UNDP ‘Youth Political Engagement for Inclusive Governance’ webinar 

New South Wales Governor becomes CPA Vice-Patron ahead of 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Sydney

The Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley, AC, KC has agreed to become the Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association for 2024, ahead of the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference due to be hosted by the Parliament of New South Wales and CPA New South Wales Branch from 3 to 8 November 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Since 1989, the Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has traditionally been the Head of State or Government of the CPA Branch hosting the forthcoming annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.

To read more about the new CPA Vice-Patron please click here.

CPA hosts Parliamentary Academy Residency Programme in Malaysia

The CPA Parliamentary Academy Residency programme was held in Malaysia for 32 Commonwealth Parliamentarians, who examined how MPs can be better performing legislators and scrutineers.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat) at the Parliament of Malaysia, H.E. Tan Sri Dato' Johari bin Abdul welcomed delegates to Kuala Lumpur from 22 to 28 September 2024.

Above: Commonwealth Parliamentarians attend the CPA Parliamentary Academy Residency programme in Malaysia. 

The Residency programme provided an extension of the CPA Parliamentary Academy, the CPA’s portfolio of online courses specifically for Parliamentarians and parliamentary officials. To find out more please click here.

10th CPA India Regional Conference takes place in New Delhi

Members of Parliament from the federal and state level in India met for the 10th CPA India Regional Conference, held in New Delhi, India from 23 to 24 September 2024.

The Regional Conference was hosted by the CPA India Union Branch and is the second time that New Delhi has hosted. 

The Chairperson of the CPA India Region, Hon. Om Birla, MP, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha of India officially opened the CPA Regional Conference.

To read more about the CPA India Regional Conference please click here.

Punjab Assembly officials from Pakistan meet with CPA Secretary-General

The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg met with parliamentary officials from Pakistan when they visited the CPA Headquarters during their visit to the United Kingdom.

The Secretary-General of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab and CPA Punjab Branch Secretary, Mr Chaudhry Amer Habib and the Assistant Secretary-General, Mr Ali Hussnain Bhalli were able to hear about the work of the CPA in Pakistan and the wider CPA Asia Region as well as professional development programmes available for MPs and parliamentary staff through the CPA Parliamentary Academy.

Canada’s Senate President visits New Zealand Parliament

Senator Hon. Raymonde Gagné, CM, OM, Speaker of the Senate of Canada and Joint CPA Canada Federal Branch President led a delegation visit to the Parliament of New Zealand on 11 September 2024 joined by Senators Patrick Brazeau, Senator David Arnott and Senator Judy White.

The Canadian delegation was greeted by the Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Gerry Brownlee, MP following a traditional mihi whakatau at Parliament House. They took a tour around the Parliament Buildings and met with MPs and parliamentary staff including the Ministers for Climate Change and Women.

During the programme, the delegates also met with the University of Canterbury Artificial Intelligence Research Group, as well as representatives from Ngāi Tahu and the Rotorua Lakes Council to hear about the Māori culture and heritage.

Above: The Canadian delegation meet with the Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives following a traditional mihi whakatau at Parliament House.

Falkland Islands MPs visit UK Speaker

The Speaker of the UK House of Commons, Rt Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, MP met with Members of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly - Hon. Leona Roberts, MLA and Hon. Mark Pollard, MLA - in Speaker's House on 13 September 2024. They discussed the ongoing importance of diversifying the economy of the Falkland Islands, the impact of climate change on the islands and the growth of tourism following COVID-19.

The Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands is the unicameral Legislature and comprises eight elected Members, three ex-officio Members (the Chief Executive, the Director of Finance and the Attorney-General) and the Speaker.

Parliament of Eswatini undertakes CPA Democratic Benchmarks assessment to focus on parliamentary strengthening and reform

A delegation from CPA Headquarters met with the Parliament of Eswatini as part of a CPA Benchmarks self-assessment. The CPA’s Recommended Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures provide a framework for excellence in Commonwealth parliamentary and legislative practice.

As part of their visit to Eswatini, the CPA delegation met with the Speaker of the House of Assembly and the President of the Senate, as well as wider Members and staff from both Houses.

The CPA Benchmarks self-assessment was undertaken with support from the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and CPA Headquarters.

Click here to find out more about the CPA Benchmarks visit to Eswatini and the self-assessment process.

6th UK Overseas Territories Forum on oversight of public finances and good governance

Thirty-nine delegates from Overseas Territories attended the 6th UK Overseas Territories Forum on Good Governance and Oversight of Public Finance hosted by the UK Parliament, the UK Government Internal Audit Agency and the UK National Audit Office from 10 to 12 September 2024.

The Forum was attended by Parliamentarians, parliamentary officials and government auditors from Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena, and the Turks and Caicos Islands as well as UK Members and is an opportunity to share best practice on the oversight of public finances.

Anguilla’s Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Cora Richardson-Hodge was the keynote speaker at the Forum as well as speaking on the challenges of being a Parliamentarian.

Sarah Dickson OBE, CPA UK Branch Secretary and CEO, said:

“Over the past eight years, the UK Overseas Territories Project has brought together people from across the Overseas Territories, the UK, and the Crown Dependencies to share good practice and exchange ideas. The Forum is a great opportunity to strengthen the existing networks and partnerships and build new ones.”

Since 2016, the Forum partners have worked with the authorities in the Overseas Territories to deliver training and knowledge sharing as well as opportunities for professionals to visit their counterparts overseas.

CPA India Zone III Conference takes place in Mizoram

The Legislative Assembly of Mizoram has hosted the 21st Annual Conference of the CPA India Zone III from 27 to 28 September 2024 in Aizawl. The CPA India Region is sub-divided into four zones with Zone III including the sub-national CPA Branches in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

Representatives from all eight CPA Branches joined the Speaker of the Lok Sabha at the Parliament of India and CPA India Regional Chairperson, Hon. Shri Om Birla who addressed the conference delegates on India’s commitment to democracy and progress, as well as inaugurating the new library and archives facility at the Mizoram Legislative Assembly.

Attendees also included Hon. Lalbiakzama, MLA, Speaker of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly; the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Shri Lalduhoma; and the Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Shri Sharingain Longkümer, who is also the Chair of the CPA India Zone III.

Royal visit marks 25 years of the Scottish Parliament

HM King Charles III, Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, together with Queen Camilla visited the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on 28 September 2024 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Legislature.

The royal couple were welcomed to Holyrood by the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament and CPA Scotland Branch President, Rt Hon. Alison Johnstone MSP and the First Minister of Scotland, Rt Hon. John Swinney, MSP. The event included special performances from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Sistema Scotland, Còisir Alba and Calum McIlroy, showcasing Scottish music and culture. The royal couple also met with Members, parliamentary staff, representatives of the Scottish Youth Parliament and ‘local heroes’ nominated by MSPs.

The Presiding Officer said:

“25 years of the Scottish Parliament marks a significant milestone in the country’s political journey, and I am delighted that Their Majesties The King and The Queen joined us to mark this special occasion. This anniversary offers the perfect opportunity for us not only to reflect on the last 25 years but to look to the future and consider how Parliament can continue to best meet the needs of those it serves.”

King Charles has a long association with The Scottish Parliament, having attended the official opening in 1999 and the 20th anniversary celebrations in 2019.

Women Parliamentarians establish UK Women’s Caucus

Drawing on inspiration from the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Parliament and the Scottish Parliament, the Fawcett Society, one of the UK's leading charities campaigning for gender equality and women's rights, convened women MPs to facilitate the launch of a women’s parliamentary caucus in the UK Parliament on 9 September 2024.

The launch event was supported by the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Network Coordinator, Bénite Dibateza, who provided information on what the UK Parliament can learn from other women's caucuses in Parliaments across the Commonwealth and beyond.

The CWP supports Parliaments to develop their own women’s caucuses and provides an online course on effective women's parliamentary caucuses through the CPA’s Parliamentary Academy using examples from across the network.

The UK Parliament now joins other Commonwealth Legislatures such as those of Sri Lanka, the Seychelles and Tanzania in having an official women’s caucus. You can also read a case study about the setting up of the Grenada Women’s Parliamentary Caucus. Parliamentary women’s caucuses can play a vital role in encouraging representation and equality within Legislatures.

Image credit: Stella Creasy, MP

New Podcast | Kate Doust: Being a Presiding Officer and barriers for women in politics

In our most recent episode of ‘Parliamentary Conversations in the Commonwealth’, the CPA’s Podcast, we spoke to Hon. Kate Doust, a Member of the Legislative Council from the Parliament of Western Australia about her role as a Presiding Officer and the barriers facing women in politics.

Hon. Kate Doust is the current Vice-Chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) network.

Click here to listen to the latest CPA Podcast.

Queensland hosts Australia’s First Deaf Youth Parliament

In September 2024, history was made at the Queensland Parliament.

In collaboration with Deaf Connect and Queensland’s Department of Education, Australia’s first-ever Deaf Youth Parliament took centre stage, conducted entirely in Auslan (Australian Sign Language).

This event was a powerful example of how Parliaments can offer valuable opportunities for inclusion, giving Deaf and hard-of-hearing students from across Queensland a real chance to experience governance in action.

Read more about the Queensland Deaf Youth Parliament in our special blog.

Debate between candidates for Commonwealth Secretary-General

Ahead of CHOGM 2024, the three candidates for the next Commonwealth Secretary-General joined an event at Chatham House to share their vision for the future of the Commonwealth.

The three declared candidates from Ghana, The Gambia and Lesotho convened at Chatham House in London to present and debate their vision for the future of the Commonwealth.

The new Commonwealth Secretary-General will succeed Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland, KC, who has held the post since 2016.

To read more and watch the debate please click here.

Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges examine environmental justice at CMJA Annual Conference in Rwanda

The Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association (CMJA) Annual Conference has been held in Kigali, Rwanda from 8 to 12 September 2024. The conference was opened by the President of Rwanda, His Excellency Paul Kagame on the theme of 'Environmental Justice'. Keynote speakers included the Chief Justice of Rwanda, Hon. Dr Faustin Ntezilyayo; the CMJA President, Lady Justice Lynne Leitch (Canada); and CMJA Executive Vice-President, Tim Workman.

“The human right to a healthy environment is becoming increasingly significant. Courts play an important role in environmental justice. Climate litigation is becoming an important tool in delivering environmental justice.” - Lynne Leitch, CMJA President

“Ultimately, the legitimacy of any justice system rests in the trust that citizens have in it. That is the basis of the ability of the courts to ensure respect for due process, and respond swiftly and impartially to any dispute. Without this foundation, we cannot make a fairer and more peaceful world.” President Kagame | Commonwealth Magistrates’ & Judges’ Association (CMJA) Annual Conference 2024.

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