Since 2017, the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network has advocated for the importance of persons with disabilities being represented in the Commonwealth’s Parliaments.

The network encourages all Parliamentarians to include a disabilities perspective in all aspects of their role - legislation, oversight and representation - and helps Parliaments to become institutions that are sensitive to issues that persons with disabilities are confronted with, as an often marginalised group. The network helps Parliaments to sensitise themselves to disability issues in a variety of ways, including supporting changes to facilities for accessibility, the development of research publications and the coordination of workshops and events to further promote the disability agenda

The CPwD network represents Parliamentarians with disabilities in Commonwealth jurisdictions and operates within the framework of the CPA to promote the representation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in CPA member Parliaments. It is governed by a Chairperson, who acts as the Network’s focal point, providing leadership and direction to CPwD activities. The Chairperson is elected every 3 years and was first elected in November 2020. 

The network is also governed by a committee of Regional Champions, representing each of the CPA’s 9
Regions. These Regional Champions promote the rights and opportunities for Parliamentarians with disabilities within their respective jurisdiction and wider CPA Region. Staff from the CPA Headquarters Secretariat support the network by coordinating activities alongside its Members and providing resources for its Members.

Hon. Laura Kanushu is a Ugandan lawyer, politician and legislator. She represents people with disabilities in the Parliament of Uganda, where she is a member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Her career as a human rights advocate has focused especially for people with disabilities and she is the Executive Director of Legal Action for People with Disabilities (LAPD). She is an Executive Member of the Uganda Women's Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) as the people with disabilities representative.

In the Parliament of Uganda, she is a Member of the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline and she is also a Member of the Gender Labour and Social Development Committee.

In 2020, the network established its governing committee of nine regional champions. The CPwD Regional Champions have been chosen to represent each of the CPA’s nine Regions and will promote the rights of Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities in their Region and represent disability interests within the CPA.

The current list of Regional Champions are as follows:

• Hon. Timothy Wanyonyi, MP (Kenya National Assembly - CPA Africa Region)

• Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva, MP (Parliament of Sri Lanka - CPA Asia Region)

• Hon. Liesl Tesch, MP (New South Wales Legislative Assembly - CPA Australia Region) - also CPwD Vice-Chair.

• Hon. Jeremy Balfour, MSP (Scottish Parliament - CPA British Islands and Mediterranean Region)

• Hon. Shane Thompson, MLA (Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories - CPA Canada Region)

• Hon. Jeremiah Norbert, MP (Parliament of Saint Lucia - CPA Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Region)

• Smt. Supriya Sule, MP (Lok Sabha, Parliament of India - CPA India Region)

• Hon. Priyanca Radhakrishnan, MP (New Zealand Parliament - CPA Pacific Region)

• Senator Hon. Isaiah Jacob (Dewan Negara, Parliament of Malaysia - CPA South-East Asia Region)

• 2021 - 2022: Hon. Dennitah Ghati, HSC (Kenya)
• 2019 - 2021: Hon. Kevin S. Murphy (Nova Scotia)