Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities highlight engaging with local communities and elect new CPwD Chairperson during 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados
The Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network, led by the CPwD Chairperson, Hon. Laura Kanushu, MP (Uganda), have highlighted how Parliaments can engage with local communities on disability inclusion during a town hall event in Barbados.
The CPwD Regional Champions and delegates attended a town hall event in Bridgetown that examined how Parliaments can engage with civil society and representative organisations in shaping inclusive public policy.
The Chairperson of the CPwD network, Hon. Laura Kanushu, MP said:
“While many Legislatures express goodwill toward disability inclusion, meaningful engagement with civil society often falls short due to limited resources and poor mechanisms for consultation. This event aims to provide a platform for open dialogue between Parliamentarians and disability advocates, grounded in shared learning and mutual accountability.”
Panellists at the town hall event included:
- Hon. Kerryann Ifill, President of the Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD) and former President of the Barbados Senate;
- Hon. Kirk D. M. Humphrey, MP, the Barbados Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs;
- Mr Edmund G. Hinkson, former Member of the Parliament of Barbados; and
- Senator Andwele Boyce (Barbados).
The event also heard opening remarks from local disabilities advocate, Janelle O’Dell.
The CPwD network was established by the CPA to support Parliamentarians living with disabilities to be more effective in their roles and to help improve awareness of disability issues amongst all Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff. The network also seeks to address inequalities facing persons with disabilities and helps to raise awareness within the parliamentary context.
The Regional Champions of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network also met during the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados. The CPwD Regional Champions represent each of the CPA’s nine Regions and promote the rights of Commonwealth Parliamentarians with disabilities in their respective Regions and represent disability interests within the CPA.
During the meeting, the CPwD Regional Champions elected Senator Hon. Isaiah Jacob (Member of the Senate of Malaysia) as the new Chairperson of the CPwD network for a new three-year term. Hon. Liesl Tesch, AM, MP (Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly) was elected as the CPwD Vice-Chair.
Senator Hon. Isaiah Jacob is a Member of the Senate of Malaysia, having been appointed by the King of Malaysia in 2023. He is the CPwD Regional Champion for the CPA South-East Asia Region.
The CPwD Regional Champions also set the agenda of the network for the year ahead including the CPwD Capital Investment Fund which supports Commonwealth Parliaments to become more accessible.
Delegates at the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados also joined two workshops promoting disability inclusion.
The CPC Workshop C looked ahead to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) due to be hosted in Antigua and Barbuda in 2026 and how Parliamentarians could champion the ‘human factor from a gender and accessibility lens’ with panellists including Richard Rieser, the General Secretary of the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum.
Delegates also joined a joint Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) and CPwD Workshop on overcoming the barriers to the involvement of women with disabilities in politics where panellists included Hon. Kerryann Ifill, President of the Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD) and former President of the Barbados Senate; Roz McCall, MSP (Scotland); and Hon. Liesl Tesch, AM, MP (New South Wales).
For images from the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference visit the CPA Flickr page where images will be uploaded throughout the week.
To find out more about the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network, please click here.
One of the largest gatherings of Commonwealth Parliamentarians, the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference will bring together over 500 Parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and decision makers from across the Commonwealth for this unique conference and networking opportunity.
During the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, there will also be a number of additional conferences and meetings including: 41st CPA Small Branches Conference; 9th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference; meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network; the 2025 CPA General Assembly and meetings of the CPA Executive Committee; and the 59th Society of Clerks at the Table (SOCATT) meetings.
During the conference, a number of elections will also take place for the Chairpersons of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) and the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network, the CPA Treasurer and the CPA Vice-Chairperson.
The 3rd Lifaka Lecture will also take place as well as the presentations for the 2025 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Awards.
-ENDS-
Further information about the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) can be found at the 68th CPC Hub.
On social media follow the hashtag #68CPC
Images of the 68th CPC are also available at the CPA's Flickr page.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) organises its annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) to address global political issues and developments in the parliamentary system through conference workshops and sessions for leading Parliamentarians representing Parliaments and Legislatures throughout the Commonwealth.
The CPA is an international community of almost 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.
For media enquiries, please contact communications@cpahq.org.
