CPA launches new Parliamentary Academy online human rights course

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has launched a new online course for its Parliamentary Academy; “Human Rights; A Parliament's Role.” The CPA Parliamentary Academy has been developed for the benefit of the CPA’s membership of 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures. It provides parliamentary professional development courses online and through Academy residency events.

This new human rights course will provide Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff with a comprehensive understanding of human rights and the critical role that Parliaments play in their protection and promotion. The material explores parliamentary action at local, national and international levels, examining how Parliaments can develop and implement human rights legislation, conduct oversight and hold governments to account.

The course also looks at how Parliaments can engage with civil society, promote public awareness and address specific human rights challenges such as discrimination and access to justice. Through case studies and best practices, the course will empower participants to champion human rights within their Parliaments and contribute to positive change in their communities and beyond.

This course was developed in partnership with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI). Sneh Aurora, CHRI Director said:

“This course is for those who wish to become familiar with the international human rights framework and to see how Parliamentarians can protect human rights through their work. This course takes a closer look not only at what human rights are, but also their importance in policy development and policy implementation.”

The course allows Legislators to learn from other Parliamentarians and experts in human rights, with video contributions from the Parliaments of South Africa and Canada, the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Nigeria’s Representative on the UN CEDAW Committee, the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories (Canada) and the Seychelles National Assembly.

The CPA Parliamentary Academy provides a Centre of Excellence for Commonwealth Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff with a portfolio of parliamentary professional development courses delivered through an online learning portal with video and online resources. Visit www.cpahq.org/parliamentary-academy to find out more and to register your interest.