VIEW FROM THE CHAIR
USING THE CHARTER AS A BLUEPRINT FOR ACTION
Having had time to reflect on the 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) I am pleased to celebrate the successes and achievements of the meeting.
I would like to express my gratitude to Hon. Chairperson Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, MP, for hosting this year’s conference. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting South Africa again and found the conference facilities provided to be of the highest standard. The conference team should be commended for their helpful and proactive attitude towards the organisation of the complex and challenging programme of meetings. I was delighted to be welcomed so warmly to Johannesburg and was pleased that so many colleagues were able to attend this year.
Our conference theme this year was ‘Effective Solutions to Commonwealth Development Challenges’. A personal highlight was the opportunity to attend so many informative and timely workshops relating to the contribution Parliamentarians in particular can make to pressing global concerns.
Delegates and experts had the opportunity to debate and seek consensus on issues such as the challenges of attaining the Millennium Development Goals by 2015; Inequitable Resource-Sharing and Governing
Charter should not be lost.
Some major governance decisions were taken during CPC and a number of new initiatives launched. The CPA’s 2013-2015 Business Plan was adopted; the Executive Committee agreed to consult Small Branches as to whether a Small Branches Representative should be elected to sit on the Committee; members were invited to complete an online survey relating to CPA programmes and the Parliamentarians Mentoring Scheme was officially launched.
Rt Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst, MP
Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee
Democratically in a Tech-Empowered World. As part of the overarching theme of the conference, the final plenary examined the ‘Parliamentary Response to the Commonwealth Charter’.
Speakers at the final plenary presented their views on the Charter and delegates agreed that it was a “blueprint for action” and a document which “empowers us as Parliamentarians to challenge our Governments if they fail to uphold its values”.
The clause relating to gender equality was celebrated, as was the inclusion of so many highly topical issues such as climate change and the important role young people have to play in the Commonwealth today. It was further noted that the Charter should be used to enhance discussions on issues such as women’s rights, education, economic inequalities, sexual orientation, HIV and the progress of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It was recognized that although there were differences of opinion on particular issues, the overall importance of the
238 | The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue Four
The issue of status of the Association was further discussed and I have now written to each Commonwealth Head of Government to seek their views on a proposed change to the status of the Association. I was delighted to be invited to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November as part of the CPA delegation. The delegation included Hon. Ronald Kiandee, MP, and Hon. Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, MP, respectively the newly elected Vice Chairperson of the Executive Committee and CWP Chairperson. We had the opportunity to meet with Commonwealth Foreign Ministers to discuss the CPA’s work and programmes and I was pleased to be able to promote the new initiatives launched in Johannesburg. I will go into more detail in the next Issue.
As we celebrate the successes and achievements of CPC 2013, we can look to CPC 2014 with enthusiasm and excitement. I am delighted that Cameroon will host CPC 2014 in Yaoundé and look forward to working closely with the distinguished Speaker of the Cameroon National Assembly, Hon. Cavayé Yéguié Djibril who has been speaker of the National Assembly since 1992.
I also look forward to working with the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, MP, who has represented Cameroon at many previous CPA meetings.
2014 will undoubtedly bring further opportunities for colleagues to work together through the CPA. I look forward to hearing about the new relationships formed through the Parliamentarians Mentoring Programme and thoughts and suggestions received from members through the Members Survey. I wish all my colleagues and friends health and happiness for the coming year.
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