Delegates from across the Caribbean attended a workshop organised by the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) network, ParlAmericas and UN Women Caribbean on the theme of ‘Making the Work of Parliaments Responsive to the Needs of Women and Men’. The workshop took place from 4 to 6 December 2024 and was hosted by the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain. 

The workshop was opened with speeches by the Speaker of the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament, Hon. Bridgid Annisette-George, MP who is also the Vice-President of ParlAmericas; Tonni Brodber from UN Women Caribbean and Alisha Todd, Director-General of ParlAmericas. The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg also provided virtual opening remarks welcoming the delegates and reflecting on the workshop’s theme. He said: 

“I’m delighted that the CPA and CWP are working in partnership with brilliant organisations like ParlAmericas and UN Women, and I would like to thank the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago for hosting this important workshop. The CPA is focused on our shared commitment to inclusive and gender-senstive Parliaments and it is important that there is a gender lens throughout the work of Parliaments.” 

The workshop aimed to support Parliamentarians in furthering the effectiveness of their work in meeting the unique needs of women, men and all societal groups across all facets of parliamentary responsibility with sessions on mainstreaming gender equality in Parliaments, parliamentary workplaces and constituency engagement. 

The CPA Secretariat was represented at the workshop by CWP Network Coordinator and Programmes Manager, Bénite Dibateza, who presented on the work of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians network and shared best practice for creating gender-sensitive Legislatures. She also highlighted the CWP’s Gender Sensitising Parliaments Guidelines.

Also speaking on the panel were Hon. Justice Peter Jamadar from the Caribbean Court of Justice; Monique Long, Planning and Coordination Specialist for UN Women Caribbean; and Eilish Elliott, Deputy Director of Programme Management from ParlAmericas. 

Commonwealth Parliamentarians including a number of Presiding Officers from across the CPA Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Region were present, including delegations from The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Guyana and Dominica. Observers from the Parliament of Uganda were also in attendance. 

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The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) was founded in 1989 to increase the number of female elected representatives in 180 Parliaments and Legislatures across the Commonwealth and to ensure that women’s issues are brought to the fore in parliamentary debate and legislation. The network campaigns for gender equality in all spheres.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is an international community of 180 Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance. Founded in 1911, the CPA brings together Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and implement the enduring values of the Commonwealth. It offers a vast opportunity for Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff to collaborate on issues of mutual interest and to share good practice. 

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