Women Parliamentarians from across the CWP British Islands and Mediterranean Region met at the Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast for the 12th CWP BIM Regional Conference from 8 to 10 February 2026.

The event was held under the theme of ‘Power and Peace: Protecting Our Mental Health in Public Life’ providing women Parliamentarians with a forum to discuss an issue that is prevalent throughout the Legislatures in the British Isles and Mediterranean Region and across the Commonwealth.

Across two and a half days, delegates reflected on the unique mental health challenges faced by women in politics and the event featured sessions on a wide range of issues affecting women across the CPA’s membership, including online abuse, emotional labour and the pressures of constant public scrutiny – with delegates having the opportunity to collectively design practical, lasting solutions.

VIDEO: Hear from women Parliamentarians at the 12th CWP BIM Regional Conference below - video credit: Northern Ireland Assembly.

Delegates were welcomed by the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Hon. Edwin Poots, MLA who said:

“One of the great strengths of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is the way it enables Parliaments and Assemblies to learn from one another as peers. You each bring significant professional experience from different political systems and contexts, and gatherings such as this create valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, share best practice and explore approaches that can be adapted across jurisdictions.

The Northern Ireland Assembly Branch is an active and engaged part of the CPA network, and we are keen to continue fostering and developing strong relationships with Parliaments and Assemblies across the Commonwealth. We value the dialogue, collaboration and mutual understanding that comes from that engagement.”

Hon. Michelle McIlveen, MLA, a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly CPA Branch Executive Committee and CWP BIM Regional Steering Committee said:

“One of the enduring strengths of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians network is the sense of connection it fosters. These conferences bring together women with deep experience of public life, but they also create a space for openness, honesty and mutual support. Over the years, I have seen how relationships built through CWP extend well beyond the conference itself, shaping conversations and sharing best practice across Parliaments and across borders.

A central outcome of our time together will be the development and launch of the Wellbeing Pledge for Women in Public Life. This pledge will be shaped by your voices and your experiences, and it represents a shared commitment — not only to individual wellbeing, but to the cultures and structures that surround women in political life.”

The Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) International, Hon. Catherine Fife, MPP (Ontario) attended the CWP Regional Conference in Northern Ireland and updated Members on the activities of the CWP network and its work on tackling online abuse of MPs. This was the first CWP Regional event that the CWP Chairperson had attended since her recent election in Barbados.

The CWP Regional Conference brought together women Parliamentarians from the UK, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Malta as well as the Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man and Sark) to work together to support initiatives to address mental health on achieving gender equal Parliaments.

-ENDS-

The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) promotes equal participation in all Legislatures and is the network of women Members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) with almost 180 Parliaments in its membership. The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) was founded in 1989 to increase the number of women elected representatives in Parliaments and Legislatures across the Commonwealth and to ensure that women’s issues are brought to the fore in parliamentary debate and legislation. The network campaigns for gender equality in all spheres.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures at national, state, provincial and territorial level working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

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