Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Secretariat

31/10/2026

Read our October 2026 monthly round-up of the latest news, events and activities with the CPA and in Parliaments and Legislatures around the

This edition includes:
- Commonwealth Speakers and MPs attend Inter-Parliamentary Union 153rd Assembly in Tanzania 🇹🇿 as Naoero 🇳🇷 becomes newest member Parliament and 🇦🇺 Australian Speaker is elected IPU President
- CPA Special Observer Status granted to Parliaments of Ukraine 🇺🇦, Brunei 🇧🇳 and Morocco 🇲🇦
- States of Guernsey 🇬🇬 hosts CPA Parliamentary Academy Residency Programme
- The National Assembly of Seychelles 🇸🇨 MPs Participate in CPA Post-Election Seminar
- King Charles opens Welsh Parliament 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
- King of Jordan visits the Parliament of Australia 🇦🇺
- Yukon Legislative Assembly 🇨🇦 sees historic first with all-female Speaker’s Procession
- Parliament of the Kingdom of Lesotho - National Assembly 🇱🇸 welcomes parliamentary delegation from Eswatini 🇸🇿
- Queensland Parliament 🇦🇺 welcomes Parliament of Samoa 🇼🇸 delegation
- Solomon Islands 🇸🇧 and Bougainville Parliaments strengthen ties through Parliament of NSW Twining Programme
- UK Speaker 🇬🇧 visits Parliament of Kenya 🇰🇪
Speaker of Parliamentof Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 visits UK Parliament

Read more ⬇
https://www.cpahq.org/news/2026_10-cpa-bulletin/

30/10/2026

Listen to the first episode of Wilton Park's new podcast, recorded with CPA Secretary-General Stephen Twigg ahead of .

They discussed Artificial Intelligence, democratic resilience, climate, youth and gender representation in Parliaments.

The Commonwealth Antigua and Barbuda CHOGM 2026

Listen here ⬇️

Podcast Episode · The Diplomatic Brief · 29 October · 43min

28/10/2026

Last week saw a historic first at the Yukon Legislative Assembly with the first-ever all-female Speakers Parade taking place, marking a special moment in the history of the Legislative Assembly.

The Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, Hon. Yvonne Clarke, MLA led the Speakers Parade with the Clerk, Allison Lloyd and the Sergeant-at-Arms Karina Watson also taking part.

27/10/2026

"Democratic backsliding does not always begin with a sudden rupture. It can happen gradually as public trust declines, as people feel excluded from decisions or as public institutions become less accountable."

In our new blog, published with the Commonwealth Local Government Forum CLGF, Mayor Bernard Wagner of Belize City explains how local government safeguards democracy and what he’s asking Commonwealth leaders to do at CHOGM 2026 in Antigua.

The Commonwealth

Read it here:
https://www.cpahq.org/knowledge-centre/blogs/2026-chogm-blog-local-democracy/

26/10/2026

Women Parliamentarians are lighting candles of change.

Ahead of , the Chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians network Catherine Fifereflects on the fight against Gender-Based Violence, the barriers women face in running for office and why more inclusive democracies are resilient.

The Commonwealth

Read the full blog ⬇
https://www.cpahq.org/knowledge-centre/blogs/2026-chogm-blog-gender/

23/10/2026

This week, a CPA delegation was hosted by The National Assembly of Seychelles for a Post-Election Seminar. The Seminar for new and returning Parliamentarians follows a General Election, and the passing of a National Assembly Administration Act in 2026.

Read more about the CPA's parliamentary strengthening work here ⬇️
https://www.cpahq.org/what-we-do/institutional-parliamentary-strengthening/

21/10/2026

Last week, Parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth were hosted by States of Guernsey for a CPA Parliamentary Academy Residency.

Read more ⬇
https://www.cpahq.org/news/2026-10-guernsey-cpa-residency/

Legislators participated in sessions on media and social media, the legislative process and outreach, and met colleagues from Australia, National Assembly of Belize, Eswatini Government, Houses of Parliament, Jamaica, Kenya National Assembly, Parliament of the Republic of Namibia, Nova Scotia Legislature (Canada), Pakistan, Saint Lucia, Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, Parliament of Sri Lanka, The Scottish Parliament and Sark Chief Pleas.

13/10/2026

CPA News: Parliaments of Ukraine 🇺🇦, Brunei 🇧🇳 and Morocco 🇲🇦 granted Special Observer Status with Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Three Parliaments have been granted Special Observer Status with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association following the approval of the CPA’s Executive Committee.

The newly created CPA Special Observer Status can be applied for by national, sub-national and regional Parliaments who share the principles and values of the CPA and the Commonwealth.

The new CPA Special Observer Status aims to strengthen relationships with non-CPA Parliaments, both regionally and globally, and encourage engagement with the CPA’s mission and work.

The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg said: “We are delighted to welcome the Parliaments of Ukraine (Verkhovna Rada), Brunei and Morocco to the new Special Observer Status with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and look forward to working together to promote good governance and international cooperation between Parliaments and Legislatures.”

Find out more ⬇
https://www.cpahq.org/news/2026_10-cpa-special-observer-status/

Верховна Рада України

13/10/2026

This week, Parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth are being hosted by the States of Guernsey for a CPA Parliamentary Academy Residency.

They'll be participating in exercises on social media in Parliaments, scrutiny and oversight in committees and more. Sign up for the Parliamentary Academy below ⬇
https://www.cpahq.org/parliamentary-academy/

10/10/2026

On 2026 - the CPA highlights the work of MPs and parliamentary staff around the world.

It is important to give MPs and others who work in Parliament proper care and support for their mental health. MPs and parliamentary staff often work long hours, spend lengthy times away from family and friends, and face online abuse, harassment and threats of violence.

That’s why the CPA created a Mental Health Toolkit for Parliaments. It educates and advises Parliaments on how to survey and identify staff mental health needs, launch systemic initiatives to address common parliamentary workplace issues and establish organisational support systems for MPs and staff.

Find out more and download it here ⬇

The toolkit provides guidance, advice and education on how to protect and promote the mental health and well-being of Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff.