CPA Academy
<a href="https://www.freepik.com/photos/woman">Woman photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com</a>
Knowledge Centre

CPA Blogs

Equality and human rights in the Commonwealth

To mark this year’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, a Commonwealth Parliamentarian from Canada shares his experience.

Read the blog
A photo of the Legislative Buildings of the Isle of Man, a large white rounded building on a street corner

Why your Parliament should conduct an accessibility audit

Lessons learnt from the Isle of Man

Members and parliamentary staff discuss the Isle of Man’s journey towards a more accessible Parliament and the support provided by the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network.

Read the blog

The King and Commonwealth Parliaments

As the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III takes place, this blog article looks at his relationship with the Commonwealth and his many visits to Commonwealth Parliaments over the years.

Read the blog

Examining Commonwealth Parliaments’ clock towers

As the chimes of Big Ben ring out once again at the UK Parliament after falling silent during the restoration of the Elizabeth Tower for almost five years, this blog article examines this iconic clock tower and some of the many different clock towers in Parliaments around the Commonwealth.

Read the blog

How to start a women's parliamentary caucus in 5 stages

This article outlines five key steps to follow in order to establish a successful women’s parliamentary caucus. It is adapted from the content of the 'Effective Women's Parliamentary Caucuses' course on the CPA Parliamentary Academy.

Read the blog

Mapping and connecting Parliamentary Research Services around the world

Research evidence has an important role to play in the work of Parliaments as they scrutinise, debate and pass legislation.

This blog highlights a new online resource that provides a global map of parliamentary research services - some well-known and others that are new - that will be of use to the wider parliamentary and academic communities.

Read the blog

5 things I wish someone told me when I was first elected to Parliament

By one of Australia’s longest-serving MPs

Hon. Kevin Andrews, an MP in the Australian House of Representatives from 1991-2022, gives five pieces of advice for new Members of Parliament.

Read the blog

75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its impact on the Commonwealth

Every year on 10 December, the world celebrates UN Human Rights Day, this year marking the 75th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly adopting the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

To mark the day, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has launched a series of blog posts sharing different perspectives on human rights in the Commonwealth and highlighting the 2022 theme of ‘Dignity, Freedom and Justice for All’.

Discover the blog series

Q & A: Grenada Women's Parliamentary Caucus

Glynis Roberts, Vice-President of the Grenada Women's Parliamentary Caucus, offers an insight the history, vision, and activities of the Caucus.

Read the blog

From COP26 to COP27: 4 climate laws passed in the last year

Australia, The Bahamas, India and Nigeria have all made legislative progress on climate change since COP26. Using data from the Climate Change Laws of the World database, this article assesses the impact of these developments in domestic climate legislation.

Read the blog
Trade union protest outside UK Parliament

The role of trade union movements in democracy: A Commonwealth history

Owen Tudor, convenor of the Commonwealth Trade Union Group, explores the relationship between trade unions and parliamentary democracy.

Read the blog

Climate Change, Democracy and Parliaments

Members of Parliament from Barbados, Belize and Seychelles reflect on what they can do to keep climate commitments at the forefront of government agendas and key takeaways from the 'Empowering Climate Democracy' workshop co-hosted by CPA Small Branches and UNDP.

Read the blog

The CPA Secretary-General at CHOGM 2022

The CPA Secretary-General reflects on his time at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda from 20 - 25 June 2022.

Read the blog

Marking the Platinum Jubilee of the CPA Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

This blog article looks at her role as the Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and also delves into the CPA archives to reveal how the Association marked the Coronation in 1953.

Read the blog

An Appreciation of International Humanitarian Law

Looking ahead to the UN's International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, this blog post introduces the updated International Humanitarian Law handbook and the vital role IHL plays in the minimising of human suffering.

Read the blog

Seychelles: A Parliament for the Planet

Find out how the National Assembly of Seychelles took action on climate change and transformed its approach to sustainability

Read the blog

9 Journals providing international research on Commonwealth Parliaments

Find out what you should be reading for the latest analysis and research from around the world - essential reading for MPs and parliamentary staff.

Read the blog

Virtual CPC Workshops: Resources for MPs

Use the lessons from our Virtual CPC Workshops to take action in your Parliament with these resources on disability rights, diversity, federalism and counter-terrorism.

Browse the resources

Our Winners: The CPA Youth Creativity Competition

Find out more about the winning entries from the CPA Youth Creativity Competition 2021.

Our Winners

Q&A: The CPA Working Group on Human Rights

Find out everything you need to know about the CPA Working Group on Human Rights from its Chairperson, Hon. Akierra Missick (Turks & Caicos Islands)

Introducing: The CPA Working Group on Human Rights

The CPA and the Belize Women's Parliamentary Caucus

Hon. Tracy Ann Panton, a Member of the Belize House of Representatives, reflects on the CPA's Women Parliamentarians' Roundtable and Public Engagement Dialogue with the National Assembly of Belize

Read the blog

Climate change challenges for the Commonwealth

As the COP26 conference takes place, the CPA launches a series of blog posts taking a look at the climate change challenges facing the Commonwealth and the role of Parliamentarians.

Discover the blog series

How can Commonwealth Parliaments become more diverse workplaces for their staff?

A member of parliamentary staff at the UK Parliament writes for the CPA blog about how the introduction of Workplace Equality Networks (WENs) has helped to create a diverse and inclusive workplace for all.

Read the blog

How the pandemic changed Commonwealth democracies

On International Day of Democracy, the CPA has published a series of blogs taking a look at the ways in which, as a result of the pandemic, ‘democracy looks different' in 2021. Topics include online voting, elections and livestreaming, with case studies from across the Commonwealth. 

Discover the series

The game-changing women leading human rights movements around the Commonwealth

On International Day of Democracy, the CPA invites Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and Kaleidoscope Trust (KT) to tell us more about the Commonwealth Equality Project and share examples of women who are making a difference and leading human rights movements around the Commonwealth. 

Read the blog

12 resources for Parliamentarians about the future of technology

Find articles, reports, videos and more to help Parliamentarians respond to the 4th Industrial Revolution

Read the blog

Equality for all in the Commonwealth

To mark this year’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, Commonwealth Parliamentarians from Australia (Federal, South Australia and New South Wales), New Zealand and Canada share their experiences.

Read the blog

Weapons of Mace Democracy

Is a mace an appropriate symbol for Parliament's authority in the 21st century?

Read the blog

Please note: The views and opinions expressed in these blog posts are not the responsibility of the CPA Headquarters Secretariat and should not be attributed to any Parliament or Parliamentarian.


Join the debate on the CPA social media channels: Twitter @CPA_Secretariat and Facebook.com/CPAHQ.

For further information about the CPA blog please contact communications@cpahq.org.