Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), previously known as the Empire Parliamentary Association, is an organisation which works to support good governance, democracy and human rights.
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As of 1989, the CPA acknowledges as Patron – the Head of the Commonwealth, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – and as Vice-Patron, by rotation Heads of State or Heads of Government of the Commonwealth national government hosting its upcoming annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. The Association's supreme authority is the General Assembly, constituted by delegates to the annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.[1] The business and activities of the CPA are managed by an Executive Committee, which reports to the General Assembly. The CPA's funds are derived from membership fees paid by its branches, as well as from two trust funds and benefactors.
The official publication of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is The Parliamentarian, the Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments which was first published in January 1920. The organisation administers the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP), a network across the Commonwealth which promotes greater representation for women in Parliament, the CPA Small Branches network, representing parliaments and legislatures with populations below 500,000 people, and the Commonwealth Youth Parliament, an annual gathering of young people hosted by a Commonwealth Parliament.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) currently has approximately 180 branches and is divided into nine regions – Africa; Asia; Australia; British Islands and Mediterranean; Canada; Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic; India; Pacific, and South-East Asia. The CPA Headquarters Secretariat is based in London.
History
The CPA was founded as the Empire Parliamentary Association in 1911, with its first branches being Australia, Canada, Newfoundland, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom, the latter branch administering the Association as a whole. In 1948 the Association changed its name to the current Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and invited all branches to participate in the organisation's administration.
Officers
The current Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee is Hon. Emilia Lifaka MP, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon. Previous Chairpersons have included Hon. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban of Bangladesh (2014–2017),[2] who succeeded Rt Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst MP (2011–2014), formerly Chairman of Ways and Means of the UK Parliament.
The current Vice-Chairperson is Hon. John Ajaka MLC, President of the New South Wales Legislative Council at the Parliament of New South Wales.
The current Treasurer is Hon. Shamsul Iskandar Md. Akin, MP of the Parliament of Malaysia.
The current Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians is Hon. Shandana Gulzar Khan, MNA from the National Assembly of Pakistan.
The current Chairperson for CPA Small Branches is Hon. Niki Rattle, Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament.
Secretaries-General
The CPA's 8th Secretary-General is Stephen Twigg.[3] He was appointed in August 2020 for a four year term. Twigg was elected to the Parliament of the United Kingdom as a Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2005 (Enfield Southgate) and from 2010 to 2019 (Liverpool West Derby). During his parliamentary career, he held several senior positions including chairing the International Development Select Committee, Minister for Schools and a range of Shadow Front Bench roles.
Previous Secretaries-General have been: Mr Karimulla Akbar Khan, UK/Guyanese Lawyer (2016-2019); Dr. William F. Shija, former Minister Tanzania Parliament (2007–2014); Hon. Denis Marshall, former Minister New Zealand Parliament (2002–2006); Hon. Arthur Donahoe, former Speaker Nova Scotia House of Assembly (1993–2001); Hon. Dr. David Tonkin, former Premier South Australia (1986–1992); Sir Robin Vandervelt from South Africa (1961–1985); Sir Howard d’Egville (1949–1960).[4]
Members
Members of the CPA are listed below. Both national and subnational parliaments are included.
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Additional links
- The CPA Secretariat Headquarters CPA HQ – you will also find links to The Parliamentarian, the Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments, published by the CPA. Link to The Parliamentarian
- The Africa Region of the CPA CPA Africa
- The British Islands and Mediterranean Region and UK Branch of the CPA is based in Westminster CPA UK
- The Canadian Region of the CPA CPA Canada
- The Australia Region of the CPA CPA Australia
- The Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region of the CPA CPA CAA
- American Institute of Parliamentarians – similar association for United States.
References
- www.wikinewsindia.com Archived 2015-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
- "CPA Chair at www.cpahq.org". Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-10-05.
- http://www.cpahq.org/cpahq/Main/Secretary-General/Biography/Main/About/Organisation/Secretary_General/Secretary-General_Biography.aspx
- www.npg.org.uk
Notes
Official Gazettes / Hansards
External links
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