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:

• Nauru Parliament undertakes CPA Benchmarks self-assessment
• British Columbia hosts 13th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Canada Regional Outreach Programme
• Speaker of Belize recognised for promoting women’s representation
• Caribbean Women Parliamentarians meet in Trinidad and Tobago to discuss online gender-based violence
• BGIPU host roundtable on violence against women in public life
• Tobago Assembly hold first International Men’s Day Debate
• Bermuda Parliamentarians learn about parliamentary procedure at CPA UK Post-Election Seminar
• IPU Vice-President meets CPA Secretary-General during Westminster visit
• UK Parliamentarians visit The Gambia National Assembly to deepen parliamentary ties
• National and subnational representatives meet for devolution summit in Pakistan
• Speakers of Parliament meet in India for the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth
• 86th All-India Presiding Officers Conference, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India (including 62nd Secretaries Conference)

Nauru Parliament undertakes CPA Benchmarks self-assessment

A delegation from Commonwealth Parliamentary Association International Headquarters met with the Parliament of Nauru from 19 to 23 January 2026 as part of a CPA Benchmarks self-assessment exercise.

The CPA’s Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures provide a framework for excellence in Commonwealth parliamentary and legislative practice and, building on the 2006 and 2018 versions of the Benchmarks, were updated in 2025 to create a set of standards which meet high levels of good governance and robust parliamentary democracy. In recent years, a total of 43 Commonwealth Legislatures have undertaken self-assessments against the CPA Benchmarks. The Parliament of Nauru is now the 44th to do so.

Above: The CPA Benchmarks assessment team with the Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru, Hon. Marcus Stephen (centre)., 

Find out more about the self-assessment here and about the CPA benchmarks here.

British Columbia hosts 13th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Canada Regional Outreach Programme 

The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia hosted Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians from across the CPA Canada Region for the 13th CWP Canada Regional Outreach Programme from 20 to 21 January 2026. Delegates were welcomed by the British Columbia CWP Representative, Hon. Janet Routledge, MLA to the programme titled ‘Women Leading: Reflecting on Public Office’. 

Keynote speakers included Hon. Rachel Notley, former Premier of Alberta, the first Canadian CWP International Chairperson, Hon. Catherine Fife, MPP (Ontario) and the CWP Canada Chair, Hon. Susan Leblanc, MLA (Nova Scotia). The two-day in-person programme included panel discussions with women from across Canada who serve in public office including Bridgitte Andrson, the first woman to lead the Vancouver Board of Trade in its 139-year history.  

The CWP Canada Outreach Programme is an annual event in the Canadian Region that allows women Parliamentarians to engage with other women and girls in the community. The goal is to educate them about the political process and encourage them to get involved in politics and run for office. This is the first year that the programme has been held since 2019. The Programme complements the CWP mission, “to promote the representation of women in CPA Branches and women's full and equal participation in political and parliamentary leadership at all levels", and the 2026 CWP Workplan objectives on disseminating opportunities and information to support women's political participation in politics. 

Find out more about the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians network here.

Above: Members of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians network from Canada gathered in British Columbia.

Speaker of Belize recognised for promoting women’s representation

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Belize, Hon. Valerie Woods, has been recognised for her leadership and contribution to women’s representation in Belize’s Parliament. The Chairperson of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, Senator Hon. Janelle Chanona presented a special award to the Speaker in recognition her continued commitment to excellence in public service. Parliamentary staff and colleagues joined in acknowledging these achievements.

Hon. Valerie Woods has been a Vice-Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) and regional representative for the CPA Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Region within the CWP. She is currently the Chairperson of the CPA Small Branches network, representing Parliaments in the smallest jurisdictions in the Commonwealth.

Above: CPA Small Branches Chairperson and Speaker of the National Assembly of Belize Hon. Valerie Woods (right) being presented with her award by the Chairperson of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, Senator Hon. Janelle Chanona (left).

Caribbean Women Parliamentarians meet in Trinidad and Tobago to discuss online gender-based violence

Women Parliamentarians from across the Caribbean Region met in Trinidad and Tobago from 21 to 22 January 2026 to outline strategies to prevent and address technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), recognising the significant impact on women and girls across the region. The ParlAmericas meeting examined the results of a study conducted by UNFPA Caribbean, ECLAC and ParlAmericas on ‘Catalysing Regional Action on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Against Women in Public Life’ and then developed priority areas for parliamentary responses to these realities. 

Responses could include strengthening public education and awareness, the importance of women’s parliamentary caucuses, extending support to women leaders in public life and reviewing legislation to ensure protection against TFGBV as well as regional collaboration. 

Above: Participants from across the Caribbean at the ParlAmericas event on tackling Gender Based Violence in Trinidad and Tobago.

In the latest issue of The Parliamentarian, Hon. Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Minister of of Human Development, Family Support and Gender Affairs from Belize  writes about the prevalence of sexism, harassment and violence against women in Parliaments across the Caribbean and the Americas.

Read the article online or download the CPA Journal here.

BGIPU host roundtable on violence against women in public life

The British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (BGIPU) held a roundtable on violence against women in public life to highlight the harassment facing women MPs and journalists across the world. The event was held on 21 January 2026 and was chaired by UK Parliamentarians, Pam Cox, MP and Baroness Blower.

Panellists included Penny East, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, Sana Gulzar, News Editor at the BBC World Service (Urdu) and Bénite Dibateza, Gender Lead at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Benite highlighted a recent joint IPU, CPA and AIPA report that exposed the pervasive nature of sexism, harassment and violence against women in Parliaments across several CPA Regions (Asia, South-East Asia, Australia and Pacific Regions). The report was based on interviews with 150 women Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff from 33 countries and showed that 60% of women Parliamentarians surveyed had been targeted with online abuse.

To read the report click here.

Above: Panellists at the BGIPU event, including CPA Gender Lead Bénite Dibateza (centre right).

Tobago Assembly hold first International Men’s Day Debate

The Tobago House of Assembly created history in the Chamber on 10 November 2025 by hosting its first-ever all-men’s International Men’s Day Debate which discussed issues plaguing men’s mental health and identity. The debate saw men and boys from all sectors of society in Tobago assume the role of Assembly Members and councillors for a lively session. 

One of the event’s coordinators, Justin John said that the idea for a men’s debate was proposed some time ago by Youth Parliamentarians and Legislature staff. The Legislature had previously organised events to mark International Women’s Day and the idea of a men’s debate followed. 

“We realised that within the conversations we are having that there is a lot of gender disparity when it comes to gender-based programmes. There are a lot of women-based programmes but not for men, particularly in the Tobago space.” 

The Tobago Government has introduced some programmes targeting men, such as the Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection’s Blue Room initiative, but there are local concerns over the issues of mental health and suicide affecting men and boys. 

A number of training sessions for participants were held in the run-up to the debate to ensure that legislative procedure could be followed and contributors were prepared on the topics to be discussed.

Tobago media practitioner Akinlabi Holder performed the role of Chief Secretary (the leader of the Tobagonian Government), while Keigon Denoon served as the Minority Leader and Akiel Andrews as the Presiding Officer.

Tobago House of Assembly Presiding Officer at the time of the debate, Abby Taylor welcomed the initiative and the positive response from stakeholders and participants saying: 

“Giving the greenlight for the first-ever International Men’s Day Debate was about legacy and responsibility. The Assembly must lead conversations that shape the future of Tobago, even when they are uncomfortable. Mr Ajay Alleyne and Mr Justin John brought forward a vision rooted in empathy, awareness and action. The public response was powerful and affirming, with many praising the Tobago Assembly for addressing men’s mental health and identity head-on via social media commentary and posts, newspaper articles and national discourse. This debate placed humanity at the centre of governance, and that is exactly where it belongs.”   

In addition, as a result of the debate and the issues raised, a Government Minister has announced new legislation will be introduced to expand paternity benefits and paid leave for fathers.

Above: Participants in Tobago's first International Men's Day Debate.

IPU Vice-President meets CPA Secretary-General during Westminster visit 

The Vice-President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Senator Hon. Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka met with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Stephen Twigg on 27 January 2026 to discuss a wide range of activities including the CPA’s work in human rights and development as well as the work of the CPA networks for Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP), CPA Small Branches and the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD).

The IPU Vice-President is a Senator from the Polish Parliament and was leading a delegation of three Senator and three MPs from Poland on a three-day bilateral visit to the UK Parliament organised by the British Group of the IPU.

During their visit, the Polish delegation met with the Speaker of the UK House of Commons, Rt Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, MP; met with UK MPs and Peers; observed several Parliamentary Select Committees; and met with policy experts at Chatham House.

The Polish delegation included: Senator Hon. Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka (Leader); Senator Hon. Stanisław Gawłowski; Senator Hon. Wiktor Durlak; Hon. Rafał Kasprzyk, MP; Hon. Dorota Olko, MP; Hon. Jolanta Zięba-Gzik, MP.

Above: Members of the Polish delegation and the CPA Secretariat, including the IPU Vice-President Hon. Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka and CPA Secretary-General Stephen Twigg (centre).

UK Parliamentarians visit The Gambia National Assembly to deepen parliamentary ties

The National Assembly of The Gambia welcomed a delegation from the CPA UK Branch for an intensive peer-to-peer exchange from 12 to 16 January 2026 which focused on enhancing the effectiveness of Parliamentary Committees.

The UK Parliament delegation began their visit with an official welcome with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta followed by a meeting with the Clerk, Mr. Kalipha M.M. Mbye. The UK delegation was led by the CPA UK Branch Chairperson, Hon. Kate Osamor, MP.

In a joint session with the National Assembly’s Committee on Gender, Children and Social Welfare, participants engaged in goal setting and a technical session on the roles of Parliamentarians and Clerks in addressing how to balance institutional expectations with constituency work and the impact of gendered demands on legislative roles.

The programme will also examine ‘The Forensic Oversight of Committees’, identifying Committees as vital forums for public participation as well as how to plan inquiries and produce evidence-based reports that drive government accountability.

Above: Members of the UK delegation in the Chamber of the National Assembly of The Gambia.

National and subnational representatives meet for devolution summit in Pakistan

The Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan underscored that devolution must be treated as a constitutional system backed by law, fiscal resources, and strong institutions, and not merely a political slogan. Hon. Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Pakistan Devolution Summit 2026, which took place from 13-14 January in Islamabad. The Punjab Local Government Caucus organised the event. 

Hon. Ahmad Iqbal Chaudhary, Convener of the Punjab Local Government Caucus, opened the Conference. He outlined recent efforts undertaken by the Caucus to strengthen the discourse and practice of devolution in Pakistan, emphasising the need to move beyond episodic reforms toward a durable constitutional, fiscal, and administrative framework that can sustain empowered local governance. 

Hon. Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Law & Justice and Human Rights, delivered the keynote address. He expressed support for the principle of devolution but noted that existing power structures and incentive systems have historically discouraged genuine decentralisation. 

Above: Hon. Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, addressing the Devolution Summit delegates.

Speakers of Parliament meet in India for the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth

Speakers and Presiding Officers from across the Commonwealth have met in New Delhi, India for the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) which took place from 14 to 16 January 2026.

Sixty-one Speakers and Presiding Officers from more than 45 Commonwealth Parliaments were hosted by the Speaker of the Parliament of India (Lok Sabha), Hon. Shri Om Birla, MP, who is also the Chairperson of the CPA India Region, and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Hon. Harivansh Narayan Singh.

The Speaker of the Parliament of India said:

The objective of CSPOC is to uphold and strengthen impartiality in the Parliaments of the Commonwealth, and to empower parliamentary democracy and institutions." He also wrote about ‘Harnessing technology to strengthen democracy’ in The Hindustan Times. The Parliament of India shared its technological achievements in this area with delegates.

Find out more about the 28th CSPOC here.

Above: Speakers of Parliament from across the Commonwealth at the 28th CSPOC in New Delhi, India.

Bermuda Parliamentarians learn about parliamentary procedure at CPA UK Post-Election Seminar

Following Bermuda's general election in February 2025, newly elected and returning Members of both the House of Assembly and the Senate have participated in a CPA UK Post-Election Seminar from 26 to 28 January 2026.

The programme provided an opportunity for Bermuda’s Legislators to engage with Parliamentarians and parliamentary officials from Anguilla, The Bahamas, Isle of Man, Jersey, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the UK.

Above: Delegates met with the Governor of Bermuda, Andrew Murdoch CMG. 

Session topics included the responsibilities of Members and Clerks, the separation of powers, cross-party collaboration, exploring the use of AI and technology in Parliaments, and effective Committee inquiries. The keynote speech was given by Bermuda’s Minister of Innovation, Technology and Energy, Hon. E. Jay Saunders, who spoke about how the island has utilised technology in its Parliament and local institutions to ensure effective oversight.

The seminar is a continuation of CPA UK’s work with Bermuda as part of the UK Overseas Territories Project (UKOTP) which supports good governance and oversight of public finances in the UK Overseas Territories.

Above: Hon. Tara Carter, Speaker of the Anguilla House of Assembly, and Lenox J. Proctor, Clerk of the House of Assembly presented on Anguilla's recent AI and technological advances at the CPA UK Post-Election Seminar.

India Speaker inaugurates 86th All India Presiding Officers Conference at Uttar Pradesh Legislature 

The CPA India Regional Chairperson and Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla inaugurated the three-day 86th All India Presiding Officers Conference in Lucknow held from 19 to 21 January 2026. Speakers and Presiding Officers from across the CPA India Region, including National and State Legislatures, attended the event held at the Uttar Pradesh Legislature.

The Conference focused on leveraging technology for transparent governance, capacity building for legislators and strengthening legislative accountability.

Delegates were welcomed to Vidhan Bhawan (the Uttar Pradesh Legislative building) by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Smt. Anandiben Patel, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Satish Mahana, MLA, Hon. Harivansh Narayan Singh, Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, and other dignitaries.

In addition, Secretaries-General, Secretaries and Senior Parliamentary Clerks from across the CPA India Region also attended the 62nd Conference of Secretaries of Legislative Bodies in India, which was held on 19 January 2025 ahead of the Presiding Officers Conference. The Secretary–General of the Lok Sabha, Shri Utpal Kumar Singh chaired the Secretaries Conference.

Above: Hon. Om Birla, Speaker of Lok Sabha, India, opening the 86th All India Presiding Officers' Conference.

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