News about the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) in 2018


Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Africa Region Chairperson supports Malawi Women’s Role-modelling Conference to inspire future Women Parliamentarians ahead of elections
The Malawi Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare in partnership with UN Women, the UNDP and the South African High Commission to Malawi, has convened a role-modelling conference for aspirant women Parliamentarians from 20 to 21 November 2018, in Lilongwe, Malawi. In preparation for the upcoming 2019 Malawi Tripartite General Elections, the Ministry of Gender has been working with the Women’s Caucus to encourage women to take part in the upcoming elections with over 800 women showing interest. The Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Africa Region spoke as the guest speaker at the conference about the work of the CWP and its programmes across the Africa Region and beyond.
Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians in New Zealand unite to celebrate 125 years of women’s suffrage and historic milestones in politics            
New Zealand Members of Parliament, both male and female, and from all political parties of the left and right, gathered for a special event on 19 September 2018 to celebrate 125 years of women’s suffrage in New Zealand. The breakfast event was convened by the Co-Chairpersons of the New Zealand group of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP), Louisa Wall, MP and Jo Hayes, MP, and the Deputy Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament, Hon. Anne Tolley, as a poignant start to an important day of celebration and reflection. New Zealand women first achieved the right to vote in 1893.
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Commonwealth African Women Parliamentarians help to strengthen Women’s Parliamentary Caucuses in Lesotho           
The Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Africa Region has visited Lesotho to share experiences of gender equality and to help to strengthen the Women’s Multi-Party Parliamentary Caucus. This initiative aims to help Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians to appreciate their role in advancing women’s interests through legislation and to work across regional and national borders to share positive experiences that can advance women’s interests and equality.
Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) East Africa Regional Gender Sensitization Workshop in Uganda focuses on mainstreaming gender in parliamentary business            
The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Africa Region have held a four-day gender sensitization workshop for Commonwealth Parliamentarians from the East Africa region at the Parliament of Uganda in Kampala from 21 to 26 July 2018. The Chairperson of the CWP Africa Region, Hon. Thoko Didiza, MP, gave a keynote address under the theme of ‘Mainstreaming Gender in Parliamentary Business’.
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Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Canada Region launch new website ahead of Steering Committee meetings highlighting forthcoming priorities in 2018           
The CWP Canada Region held its Steering Committee meeting and launched a new website ahead of the 56th CPA Canada Regional Conference in Ottawa, Canada. The CWP Canada Region held a regional meeting and workshop sessions introduced by the CWP Canada Regional Chair, Hon. Laura Ross, MLA (Saskatchewan).
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Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Africa Regional Workshop in Eastern Cape discusses women’s economic empowerment            
The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Africa Region have held a three-day workshop and women’s parliament dialogue for Commonwealth Parliamentarians at the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature in South Africa to expand accountability by Members on women’s representation and to mobilise the active participation of women in government programmes. The dialogue also aimed to raise awareness and debate towards the emancipation of women and representation of women in leadership.




CWP New Zealand meet with visiting UK delegation to discuss gender equality initiatives           
Members of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) New Zealand group held a meeting with UK Parliamentarians as part of a visiting CPA UK delegation in April 2018. The agenda included discussion of conducting a survey of women MPs (and potentially male MPs) on their experience of sexual violence, abuse and harassment. The CWP New Zealand Members are continuing to progress its work to end forced and under aged marriage and are looking at its cross-party legislative agenda for this term.


Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians British Islands and Mediterranean Regional Conference held in London          
The United Kingdom Parliament and CPA UK Branch hosted the annual British Islands and Mediterranean Regional Conference for Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) on 26 and 27 April 2018. The theme of the conference was ‘Women in Parliament: Past, Present and Future’ and it was attended by over 25 Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians from across the region.

Gender equality and overcoming barriers to political participation emphasised at 2018 Commonwealth Women's Forum           
The 2018 Commonwealth Women's Forum has emphasised women's positive political, economic and societal contributions ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) in the United Kingdom. The three-day Commonwealth Women’s Forum (CWF) saw many Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) speaking at the forum on a wide range of issues.

Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians highlight gender equality and women’s representation in Parliaments to mark International Women’s Day 2018
Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) today marked International Women’s Day 2018 by highlighting gender equality and increasing women’s representation in Parliaments. International Women's Day (8th March) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity, with the theme of International Women's Day 2018 calling for 'Progress for Women and the Vote in the Commonwealth'.  

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A new chapter in democracy as the National Assembly of Mauritius joins other Commonwealth Parliaments in establishing a gender caucus to advance democratic governance  

The National Assembly of Mauritius has launched a new Parliamentary Gender Caucus aimed at promoting gender equality in Parliament. Hon. Mrs Santi Bai Hanoomanjee, Speaker of the National Assembly of Mauritius spoke of the catalytic effect that gender equality has in the achievement of an inclusive and progressive society and promoting good governance and Mr Akbar Khan, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) was guest of honour at the launch in Mauritius. . 

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