Looking at the road ahead for gender equality in Parliaments at 9th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference in Barbados

Women Parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth held their 9th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference in Barbados to discuss women’s representation in Parliaments, amongst a wide range of topics.

The main theme of the conference was: ‘Parliaments since Beijing +30: Progress, challenges and the road ahead for gender equality' and highlighted 30 years since the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, China in 1995, where the United Nations (UN) adopted the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on gender.

The 9th CWP Conference also brought together Members of Parliament to discuss equal representation in Parliaments through a series of workshops and governance meetings including four learning and development workshops for delegates. The host Branch of Barbados also held an open debate session where women Members provided contributions from the floor.

The CWP Conference was opened by the CWP Chairperson, Hon. Dr Zainab Gimba, MP, Member of the House of Representatives at the National Assembly of Nigeria who welcomed delegates and gave an update on the activities of the CWP network.

The CWP President (2025), Hon. Marsha K. A. Caddle, MP (Barbados) spoke to the CWP conference about her experience as a legislator. She also highlighted that the Caribbean Region has been a leading advocate for gender equality and so it was particularly nice to welcome the CWP network to Barbados for this Conference. She added that the Caribbean aims to be a beacon for peace and security in the world and this can be extended through the work of the CWP and the CPA.

Over 100 Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians and delegates attended the conference from across the Commonwealth.

The CWP conference saw leading figures in Commonwealth Parliaments addressing the conference and included four wide-ranging sessions for delegates on the following issues:

• Good Practices and Strategies to Realising Gender-Sensitive Parliaments across the Commonwealth;
• ‘Debate Not Hate’: Not Accepting Abuse as an Outcome of Free Speech;
• Parliamentarians Combatting Discriminatory Laws that Perpetuate the Disempowerment of Women;
• Overcoming the Barriers to the involvement of Women with Disabilities in Politics (a joint Workshop with the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities network).

The CWP Conference also heard from a wide range of Members including the Parliaments of Zambia, Jersey, Western Cape, Fiji, Guernsey, British Virgin Islands, Sri Lanka, Barbados, Scotland, India, New South Wales as well as experts from UN Women and the Barbados Council for the Disabled.

Delegates at the CWP Conference also elected a new Chairperson for the CWP network – Hon. Catherine Fife, MPP (CPA Ontario Branch). It is the first time that a woman from the CPA Canada Region has held the role.

Click here for more about the new CWP Chairperson.

The CWP Business meeting updated on the CWP network’s activities during this year and the plans for the year ahead. The CWP Chairperson also pledged to renew the effort to increase women’s representation and political participation in Parliaments across the Commonwealth.

Following the 9th CWP Conference, the CWP Steering Committee met in Barbados representing the nine CPA Regions: Africa; Asia; Australia; British Islands and the Mediterranean; Canada; Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic; India; Pacific; and South East Asia. CWP Steering Committee Members discussed activities for the year ahead as well as key themes for future conferences and meetings.

The CWP Steering Committee elected Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller (Guernsey) as the CWP Vice-Chairperson for a one-year term.

Above: Ahead of the CWP Steering Committee, a historic photograph was taken with the past, present and future Chairpersons of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) network - Hon. Lindiwe Maseko MP, former Speaker of the Provincial Legislature of Gauteng who was the first CWP Chairperson from 2004 to 2007; current CWP Chairperson, Hon. Dr Zainab Gimba, MP (Nigeria) and the newly elected CWP Chairperson-elect for 2025 to 2028, Hon. Catherine Fife, MPP (Ontario).

The CWP Conference was previously triennial (every three years) but in 2023, CWP Members agreed to hold an annual conference to held in the margins of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.

The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) is the network of women Members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s Parliament and Legislatures. The CWP network provides a means of building the capacity of women elected to Parliament to be effective in their roles; improving the awareness and ability of all Parliamentarians, male and female, and encouraging them to include a gender perspective in all aspects of their role - legislation, oversight and representation and helping Parliaments to become gender-sensitive institutions.

The 9th CWP Conference took place as part of the wider 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados.

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.