Every two years, Commonwealth countries and organisations convene for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). This year, the 27th CHOGM is taking place from 21 to 27 October 2024 in Apia, Samoa. This is the first time that a small Pacific Island nation will host the event. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is being represented at CHOGM  by Commonwealth Parliamentarians from different jurisdictions and the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg. The CPA will be attending the conference to highlight some of our core cross-cutting themes, including: 

• The importance of inclusive political leadership. 
• Ensuring that the parliamentary voice is heard as the new Commonwealth Secretary-General is appointed
• Emphasising the role of small jurisdictions in the fight against climate change, especially considering Samoa’s status as the first Pacific small island host nation for CHOGM. 

Throughout the week, the Commonwealth Parliamentarians representing the CPA will also be participating in and hosting events, including: 

• The Commonwealth Women's Forum and Commonwealth Youth Forum 
• The CPA's keynote side-event on the theme 'Intersectional Political Leadership: Empowering Underrepresented Voices' with Parliamentarians from Fiji, South Africa and New Zealand
• Joining other Accredited and Associated Organisations to the Commonwealth Secretariat in presenting at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Roundtable.

In addition, the CPA Secretary-General will undertake a CPA Samoa Branch visit and attend the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Parliament of Samoa.

Please find below the work the CPA has undertaken in the run up to CHOGM, as well as updates throughout the week on the CPA’s activities:

100 days to CHOGM Webinar 

In July 2024, the CPA held a webinar to mark 100 days to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The webinar's theme was 'Building Resilient Democratic Institutions and Upholding Human Rights' with panellists from the Seychelles, Samoa and New Zealand.

They examined role of democratic institutions in upholding human rights protections in a climate of increasing erosion of citizens’ rights. Watch the full webinar and find out more by clicking here.

CHOGM Blog series 

Looking ahead to CHOGM 2024 in Samoa: The Commonwealth is known for its convening power in bring together nations and territories of different sizes, populations and development.  

This blog series looks at opportunities for Commonwealth dialogue with articles by the Samoa Prime Minister, the UK Commonwealth Minister, the CPA Secretary-General and the three candidates for Commonwealth Secretary-General. 

Read the CPA blogs series here.

DAY ONE AT CHOGM 2024

On day one of the Commonwealth Women’s Forum, the Deputy Speaker of Fiji, Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua, MP participated in a panel discussion on ‘Women in Leadership’. Other panellists were present from Kenya, Tonga, Pakistan and Trinidad and Tobago.

The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg also met with young delegates at the Commonwealth Youth Forum. 

DAY THREE AT CHOGM: INTERSECTIONAL POLITICAL LEADERSHIP: EMPOWERING UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES

During day 3 of CHOGM 2024, the CPA held a panel discussion on diversity in politics. The session explored the significance of inclusion and representation of marginalised groups in politics, the systemic barriers that these groups face and potential strategies to enhance marginalised voices in decision-making processes. 

The panel was chaired by Hon. Priyanca Radhakrishnan, MP from the New Zealand Parliament, with panellists:

• Hon. Steve Letsike, MNA, Member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Chairperson of The Commonwealth Equality Network 
• Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua, MP, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji 
• Dr Sruti Mohapatara, Disability Inclusion Expert and Chief Executive Officer of Swabhiman (State Disability Information And Resource Centre) 
• Lucy Slack, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Local Government Foundation. 

Earlier in the day, Hon. Priyanca Radhakrishnan represented the CPA’s Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network at a panel event entitled ‘Developing Disability Inclusion and Equality Across the Commonwealth’. This side-event was organised by the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum. During the panel, Hon. Priyanca Radhakrishnan said:

“There is an increasing recognition that attitudes and assumptions that people make about disabilities are the most significant barrier to the full participation of disabled people.” 

CPA SIGNS MEMORANDUM WITH PARLIAMENT OF SAMOA

The CPA Secretary-General Stephen Twigg visited the Parliament of Samoa in Apia on 24 October 2024 to meet with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa, Hon. Papalii Lio Oloipola Taeu Masipau and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the outcomes of the CPA Democratic Benchmarks Assessment that took place earlier this year.

The CPA Secretary-General met also briefed Members of the CPA Samoa Branch on the latest activities of the CPA, its work in the CPA Pacific Region and preparations for the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Sydney this November. Read more about the visit to the Parliament of Samoa.

KING CHARLES WELCOMES COMMONWEALTH LEADERS AT CHOGM 2024

The official opening of the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa welcomed representatives of 56 countries of the Commonwealth.

His Majesty King Charles III, Head of the Commonwealth, and also Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, said:

“Our cohesion requires that we acknowledge where we have come from. I understand from listening to people across the Commonwealth how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate. It is vital therefore that we understand our history, to guide us to make the right choices in the future. Where inequalities exist for example in access to opportunity, to education, to skills training, to employment, to health and to a planet in whose climate our human race can both survive and thrive, we must find the right ways and the right language to address them.” Click here for full speech.

Delegates were also welcomed by the the Prime Minister of Samoa, Hon. Fiame Naomi Mata'afa; the outgoing Chair of the Commonwealth and the President of Rwanda, H.E. Paul Kagame; and the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland, KC. This is the first time that a small Pacific Island nation will host the event.

King Charles also visited the Head of State of Samoa, Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II and attended a Royal Ava Ceremony at the National University of Samoa (NUS) for a Fale Samoa by the village of Falelatai. The King then visited the Moata’a mangroves to highlight their importance in protecting the environment.

Accompanied by Queen Camilla, King Charles also saw Samoan traditions and customs exhibited at the Cultural Center and met children at the Samoa Tourism Authority’s Culture Village. Meanwhile, Queen Camilla pursued her passion for education and women’s rights by attending a reading session with the young EFKS Moataa students and speaking at a Commonwealth Women’s Forum event advocating for women and girls in the Commonwealth.

-ENDS-

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

For media enquiries, please contact communications@cpahq.org.