Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK

Two months ago, CPA UK welcomed delegates from across the Commonwealth, Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies for our flagship event, Westminster Seminar!

We've now published the final report.

Read it here: https://www.uk-cpa.org/news-and-views/cpa-uk-publishes-report-on-the-74th-westminster-seminar

This week we've hosted a delegation from Parliament of Kenya. Discussions ranged from procedures and petitions to maternity and paternity provisions for parliamentarians. These discussions will help them to review parliamentary standing orders.

It was an honour to have Secretary General Shirley Botchwey speaking at Westminster Seminar last week where she addressed delegates from across the Commonwealth.

A CPA UK delegation has just returned from The Gambia. The all-women group were there to learn more about how the problem of gender-based violence is being addressed. UK parliamentarians met the The Gambia National Assembly, civil society organisations, survivor advocates and experts to understand approaches to the elimination of violence against women and girls.

CPA UK was pleased to host the Speaker of Balochistan on 20 Jan. Discussions with Deputy Speaker Nus Ghani and other UK parliamentarians focused on legislative scrutiny, strengthening UK–Balochistan ties, and understanding ongoing conflicts in the province.

Today is election day in the Falkland Islands 🇫🇰

Our Election Observation Mission is busy observing polling stations as votes are cast for the General Election.

Polling Day in the Falkland Islands is this Thursday, and our Election Observation Mission is on the ground. Last week, we outlined the Mission’s purpose and how we work at a press conference, and we’ve been to local hustings as well.

We'll be sure to post more over the week.

Pakistan Women’s Parliamentary Caucus visit Westminster

A delegation from the Pakistan Women’s Caucus at the Parliament of Pakistan visited the UK Parliament during November 2025 for a programme of learning organised by the CPA UK Branch.

The delegation met with UK MPs and experts during their visit to Westminster to discuss gender-based violence, addressing online abuse and violence against women in politics.

The Pakistan Women’s Caucus also met with Avni Kondhia and Benite Dibateza from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Headquarters to discuss the work of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) network and gender sensitising Parliaments.

Dr Syeda Shahida Rehmani, Secretary of the Pakistan Women’s Caucus also signed a joint communique with the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Rt Hon. Baroness Harriet Harman.

The visit came during the 16 days of activism to campaign against violence against women and girls.

📸 Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF PAKISTAN