CPA to discuss post-2015 dev't agenda at conference

Delegates coming to the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, CPA Conference in Yaounde from October 2-10, 2014, will not only talk about ways and means of boosting parliamentary democracy in member States, but also development. Thus, the theme of the event is “Repositioning the Commonwealth for the post-2015 development agenda.”

CPA female parliamentarians will hold a side event in addition to eight workshops whose themes include parliament and unity in diversity, female MPs and gender empowerment, the post-2015 development agenda and the Commonwealth Charter, and good governance in the 21st Century.

Others are young people and sustainable development, parliamentary financial oversight of the executive, parliament and the vulnerable, and MPs and public trust.

The CPA pursues its objectives by means of annual and regional conferences, symposiums, inter-parliamentary visits, parliamentary seminars and workshops, publications and the Parliamentary Information and Reference Centre.

CPA Members of Parliament, MPs, make use of different expertise, the experiences of countries of all sizes and stages of development, and the diverse practices of national, State, provincial and territorial parliaments and legislatures; no two of them being alike.

The lawmakers represent all genders, races and religions, many of the world’s cultures, and virtually every political, economic and social philosophy. The parliamentarians apply the different perspectives of government and opposition and the numerous priorities of national and sub-regional governments.

Thus, the CPA is an alliance of people who reinforce and extend the work of governments by bringing the Commonwealth connection to the grassroots of politics and every aspect of society.