Our monthly round-up of the latest news, events and activities with the CPA and in Parliaments and Legislatures around the Commonwealth

This edition includes:

• Fiji hosts 5th Pacific Islands Parliaments Group (PIPG) Conference
• 85th All India Presiding Officers Conference at the Delhi Legislative Assembly
• Commonwealth Parliamentary Association facilitates Parliamentary Whips Training Session for Belize National Assembly
• 54th CPA Africa Regional Conference takes place in Banjul, The Gambia
• South African Parliament hosts P20 Women’s Parliament
• Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians from St Lucia and Grenada address Latin America and Caribbean Parliamentary Forum in Mexico
• Cook Islands celebrates 60 years of self-governance
• New Zealand Prime Minister visits Papua New Guinea's Parliament

Commonwealth Parliamentarians discuss strengthening democratic resilience at 54th CPA Africa Regional Conference

From 10 to 16 August 2025, Commonwealth Parliamentarians from across Africa met in Banjul, The Gambia to attend the 54th CPA Africa Regional Conference on the theme of ‘Strengthening democratic governance and resilience in Africa: tackling conflicts, economic shocks and climate change.’

The main programme included workshops examining the role of African Parliaments in tackling graft and corruption, boosting industrialisation and economic growth and empowering persons with disabilities to achieve full inclusion with the opportunity to share best practice and ideas from different CPA Branches within the Region.

Above: attendees at the 54th Africa Regional Conference (image credit: National Assembly of The Gambia).

Above: CPA Chairperson Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila, MP (Zambia) addresses the 54th CPA Africa Regional Conference (image credit: National Assembly of The Gambia).

Read more about the CPA Regional Conference here.

CPA facilitates Parliamentary Whips Training Session for Belize National Assembly

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), in partnership with the National Assembly of Belize, organised a virtual Parliamentary Whip Training Session underscoring the Parliament's commitment to capacity building and fostering effective parliamentary democracy in Belize.

The training was aimed at strengthening parliamentary practice and enhancing the roles of the Whips in the Belize House of Representatives. A Parliamentary Whip is the Member of Parliament responsible for keeping colleagues in their party informed of House business and ensuring their attendance, particularly during key votes on legislation. It is a common feature of Commonwealth Legislatures and so there is huge value in sharing best practice across the CPA network. An experienced Member of the UK Parliament also provided an insight into the role.

Above: participants in the CPA Belize Parliamentary Whips training session.

Read more about the training here.

New Zealand Prime Minister visits Papua New Guinea’s Parliament 

The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Hon. Christopher Luxon, MP lead a delegation on a State Visit to Papua New Guinea from 4 to 6 August 2025. He was welcomed at the Parliamentary Chambers by Hon. Job Pomat, MP, CMG, Speaker of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.

In his address, Hon. Job Pomat said that this marked the second time a global leader had addressed Papua New Guinean MPs in Parliament, and that the New Zealand Prime Minister’s visit is a testament to the strength of the shared values of democracy, respect for the rule of law, mutual cooperation, and the pursuit of peace and prosperity for the people of both nations.

Hon. Christopher Luxon emphasised the importance of deepening bilateral relations through ongoing and future partnership programmes, building on the strong foundation already established between the two nations.

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape, MP also addressed the Chamber and reaffirmed Papua New Guinea’s commitment to regional solidarity and expressed appreciation for New Zealand’s continued support for the stability and prosperity of the Pacific.

He further acknowledged and thanked Hon. Christopher Luxon for New Zealand’s constructive role in supporting Papua New Guinea in its ongoing dialogue toward a fair and peaceful resolution on the Bougainville Independence issue.

The Opposition Leader, Hon. Douglas Tomuriesa, MP, also highlighted how Papua New Guinea could draw valuable lessons from New Zealand’s long-standing history of practicing democracy.

Above: New Zealand's Prime Minister Hon. Christopher Luxon was welcomed to the Parliament of Papua New Guinea by Hon. Job Pomat, MP, CMG, Speaker of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.

Cook Islands marks 60 years of self-government

4 August 2025 marked the 60th anniversary of the Cook Islands self-governance in free association with New Zealand. At the official ceremony of celebration in Rarotonga, Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand, delivered an address conveying her congratulations and best wishes:

“As Governor-General, on behalf of all New Zealanders, I wish the Cook Islands a peaceful and prosperous future, for all Cook Islanders, for your families, for generations into the future – knowing that New Zealand remains at your side.”

International delegations gathered in Raratonga for the celebrations. Some guests present included the Prime Minister of Niue, Hon. Dalton Tagelagi; Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji and the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Hon. Feleti Teo.

Above: Delegates from across the world attending the opening ceremony of the Cook Islands anniversary celebrations.

85th All-India Presiding Officers Conference at the Delhi Legislative Assembly

The India Union Home Minister, Hon. Amit Shah inaugurated the two-day 85th All-India Presiding Officers Conference at the Delhi Assembly in the National Capital of India held from 24 to 25 August 2025. Speakers and Presiding Officers from across the CPA India Region, including National and State Legislatures, attended the event. The Conference had been organised to commemorate the centenary year of the election of Vithalbhai Patel as the first Indian Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly in 1925.

The India Home Minister emphasised that, like freedom of the country, it is equally important to run the country democratically after independence. He also underscored the need to work towards enhancing the dignity of Legislatures and ensuring respect for the post of Speaker.

The CPA India Regional Chairperson and Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla addressed the Valedictory Session at the Conference and stressed the decline in the dignity of legislative institutions is a matter of concern for all legislators.

Other key attendees included the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Hon. Kiren Rijiju, the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi, V. K. Saxena and the Chief Minister of Delhi, Hon. Rekha Gupta.

The deliberations during the two-day event provide a meaningful platform for Presiding Officers to share experiences, exchange best practices and explore new approaches for the functioning of Legislatures. This Conference also had a special focus on digital innovations such as AI-enabled tools to strengthen transparency, efficiency and responsiveness in lawmaking.

Above: Presiding Officers from across India gathered at the Delhi Assembly.

Fiji hosts 5th Pacific Islands Parliaments Group (PIPG) Conference 

The Parliament of Fiji hosted the 5th Pacific Islands Parliaments Group (PIPG) Conference from 26 to 29 August 2025, bringing together representatives from 15 Pacific Island nations.

Held under the theme of ‘Pacific Islands in a Changing Global Landscape: From Challenges to Parliamentary Action’, the Conference served as a crucial forum for Pacific Parliaments to address global challenges, exchange insights and chart a unified course of parliamentary action.

Delegates engaged in a range of discussions, including an analysis of how global shifts impact Pacific economies and resilience, and examine the role of Parliaments in advancing sustainable development and safeguarding citizens’ welfare.

The President of the Republic of Fiji, His Excellency Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu officially opened the PIPG Conference welcoming parliamentary leaders from across the Pacific, including seven Speakers of Parliaments and Heads of Legislatures and saying:

“The Pacific has always been a region of resilience, innovation and unity. Our shared history, culture and values bind us together. It is through our communities and collective strength that we can navigate the uncertainties of the global landscape.”

At the conclusion of the Conference, delegates agreed to the formal establishment of a new regional interparliamentary institution, the Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (PIPA). Previously known as the Pacific Islands Parliaments Group (PIPG), the transformation to PIPA signifies strengthening regional commitment of Legislatures to fostering dialogue, collaboration and shared legislative priorities among Pacific Parliaments.

Lord Fakafanua, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, was elected as Chairperson of the PIPA Board and French Polynesia (Tahiti) was confirmed as the host and Presidency of the first PIPA Conference to be held in 2026.

Above: participants at the 5th Pacific Islands Parliaments Group (PIPG) Conference in Fiji

Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians from St Lucia and Grenada address Latin America and Caribbean Parliamentary Forum in Mexico 

The Presidents of the Senate of St Lucia and Grenada addressed the Parliamentary Forum of Latin America and the Caribbean, co-organised by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of Mexico, together with CEPAL and UN Women, which aimed to advance towards a society of care.

The President of the Senate of Santa Lucia in her role as Vice-President of ParlAmericas, Senator Hon. Alvina Reynolds reaffirmed the need to drive consensus through multiparty groups to strengthen gender equality in Parliaments.

The President of the Senate of Grenada and CPA Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Regional Representative on the CPA Executive Committee, Senator Hon. Dessima Williams shared parliamentary strategies to promote women's political leadership, in line with UN Agenda 2030 and the Beijing Declaration.

Image credit: Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of Mexico.

South African Parliament hosts P20 Women’s Parliament

The Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, Hon. Thoko Didiza, MP and the Deputy President, Paul Mashatile have called for the enhancement of efforts to achieve gender equality and inclusivity in South Africa. They were addressing the first day of the 2025 Women’s Parliament held from 13 to 14 August 2025, which was organised as part of the activities for the forthcoming P20 Speakers’ Summit to be held later this year as part of South Africa’s G20 Presidency.

The event, hosted by the Parliament of South Africa, aligns with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 10-year milestone of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Women’s Parliament is one of several sectoral Parliaments held annually and this year, it was held under the theme of ‘Accelerating Equality, Sustainability and Shared Growth: Correcting the gender re-distributional bias of growth and development through the Women’s Charter, the MTDP and the 2025 G20 Development Priorities’. Other participants included MPs, government leaders, the United Nations Development Programme and civil society organisations.

Above: participants of the Women's Parliament 2025 held in South Africa as part of the country's G20 Presidency.

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