The Chairperson of the Namibian National Council, Hon. Lukas Sinimbo Muha has been appointed to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) International Executive Committee
This significant appointment was made during the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) currently underway in Sydney, Australia.
As a member of the CPA Executive Committee, Muha will represent the CPA Africa region’s Southern Africa sub-region.
The CPA Executive Committee represents the nine regions of the CPA, namely: Africa; Asia; Australia; British Islands and the Mediterranean; Canada; Caribbean, Americas, and Atlantic; India; Pacific; South East Asia.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference is the annual Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). It is the largest annual gathering of Commonwealth Parliamentarians, who come together to discuss global parliamentary and political issues. Each year, the Conference is hosted by a different Commonwealth Parliament.
The 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference brought together over 700 Parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, and decision-makers from across the Commonwealth nations. A range of additional conferences and meetings including the CPA General Assembly and debate, meetings of the CPA Executive Committee and the CPA Interim Executive Board CPC Workshops and World Café Session, 40th CPA Small Branches Conference, 8th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference, meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities network, 58th Society of Clerks at the Table (SoCATT) meeting, presentation of the 2024 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year awards and the 2nd Emilia Monjowa Lifaka Lecture are lined up for participants.
During the conference, the CPA General Assembly will elect the CPA Executive Committee Chairperson.
Hon. Dr. Christopher Kalila, MP of the CPA Zambia Branch, Hon. Dr. Zainab Gimba, MP of the CPA Nigeria Federal Branch, and Hon. Arthur Holder, MP of the CPA Barbados Branch are vying for the position.
A wide range of learning and development workshops will take place. The CPC workshops are an opportunity for Parliamentarians and global experts to discuss major political and parliamentary issues.
The workshop topics include Building Bridges: Parliamentary Frameworks for Meaningfully Engaging with Indigenous Peoples; The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Parliamentary Processes and Practices – Opportunities and Challenges; Violence and Abuse of Parliamentarians – Case Studies from the Commonwealth; Human Trafficking, Refugees and Immigration across the Commonwealth: Open Doors or Building; Benchmarking, Standards and Guidelines: Strengthening the Institution of Parliaments through the Adoption of Best Practice; Combatting Discriminatory Legislation: 365 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and Creating Inclusive Elections for Persons with Disabilities, among others.
In addition, there shall be a World Café Session focusing on solving contemporary challenges in the Commonwealth with specific attention to Ukraine, Sudan, and the Middle East Challenges to Global Stability; Overcoming or addressing the Colonial Past; Time is Running Out on the SDGs; Corporate Lobbying Against Climate Change and Assisted Dying – The Ultimate Human Right?
The General Assembly debate will focus on Votes vs Likes – the Role of Parliament in Strengthening Democratic Resilience in an Age of Fake News and Synthetic Media.
The 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference hosted in Sydney was preceded by the 66th CPC hosted by the Parliament of Ghana and the CPA Ghana Branch in Accra, Ghana, from 30 September to 6 October 2023.