Commonwealth Parliamentarians mark World Parliament Day 2025
‘Achieving gender equality, action by action’
The International Day of Parliamentarism, also known as World Parliament Day, is celebrated every year on 30 June. It was established in 2018 through a United Nations General Assembly Resolution and the day also marks the anniversary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) establishment.
To mark World Parliament Day 2025, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association highlighted the work of Parliaments across the world and held a webinar on ‘The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities & The Role of Parliamentarians’ through its Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network.
The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg said:
“On International Day of Parliamentarism/World Parliament Day 2025, the CPA is pleased to highlight the role of Parliaments in promoting democracy as well as promoting cooperation and dialogue.
In acknowledgement of this year’s theme of ‘Achieving gender equality, action by action’, we also recognise the work of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) network in promoting gender equality in Parliaments as well as ensuring that Parliaments are gender sensitive institutions.”
CPA Podcast: Democratic Transition
To mark International Day of Parliamentarism/World Parliament Day 2025, the CPA is also launching a new CPA Podcast on democratic transition.
In this new Podcast, the CPA talks to H.E. Danny Faure, former President of the Seychelles and head of five recent Commonwealth Election Observation Missions and Professor Maya Tudor, Professor of Politics and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. They discuss some of the most pressing threats to democracy, as well as some of the practical and structural reasons why a country might undergo democratic transition.
Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities explore systemic barriers to disability inclusion to mark World Parliament Day 2025
To celebrate the International Day of Parliamentarism/World Parliament Day 2025, the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network hosted a webinar on ‘The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities & The Role of Parliamentarians’.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is a landmark international treaty adopted by the United Nations which obligate the States Parties to ensure the full inclusion and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Ahead of the webinar, the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) Chairperson Hon. Laura Kanushu, MP from Uganda, shared her insights on the responsibility of Parliaments to uphold the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities following the Conference of States Parties held from 10-12 June 2025 at the United Nations.
“The International Day for Parliamentarism is an opportunity to reflect on the role of Parliaments and Parliamentarians in upholding democracy and continue their contributions to good governance, representation and accountability.
For countries across the Commonwealth, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has ben a critical tool in guiding legislative policy and institutional reforms. It has affirmed that disability is not inability, and that exclusion is failure of systems and not of individuals. Therefore, the true measure of our commitment comes in implementation. And this is where we, as Parliamentarians, have a defining role to play.”
The CPwD webinar was an opportunity to engage in discussions on disability advocacy and upholding the rights of those with disabilities. Panellists included disability-focused civil society organisations and Members of Parliament, covering the relationship between civil society and in upholding the CRPD, advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities and how the accessibility of parliamentary institutions upholds the Convention.
Webinar Panellists
- Chair - CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg
- Hon. Liesl Tesch, MP - a Member of the Parliament of New South Wales and former Paralympian
- Shitaye Astawes - Director for Advocacy and Communication at the African Disability Forum
- Hon. Dawn Kinnish, MLC - Member of the Legislative Council of Isle of Man
- Louise Trimble - Corporate Service Manager at the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald
Above: Stephen Twigg, Hon. Dawn Kinnish, Louise Trimble, Hon. Liesl Tisch, Shitaye Astawes
Hon. Liesl Tech highlighted some of the projects she has been involved with as Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Inclusion, Families and Communities in New South Wales, including a passporting system outlining accessibility needs for public sector workers, the sunflower lanyard system for highlighting invisible disabilities and provisions for working from home for Parliamentarians and Parliamentary staff.
Hon. Dawn Kinnish and Louise Trimble outlined some of the projects undertaken to improve the accessibility of Tynwald, the Parliament of the Isle of Man. These included creating accessible toilets in the Parliament, providing an accessibility guide for visitors and converting event spaces to make them accessible for Tynwald day, the national day of the Isle of Man.
Shitaye Astawas looked at the history of the UN CRPD, and its principles of non-discrimination, respect for inherent dignity, respect for difference and full inclusion for disabled people within society. She also stated that regional efforts would be necessary to continue to advance disability rights across the Commonwealth.
-ENDS-
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is an international community of 180 Parliaments at national, state, provincial and territorial level working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance. Visit www.cpahq.org for further information.
