Cape Town to host 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference
The 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, this week. The event, organised by the Parliament of South Africa and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, will bring together hundreds of legislators and parliamentary officials from different countries.
As TimesLIVE writes, the conference theme will be “Strengthening International Law and Parliamentary Democracy in a Changing World Order: Commonwealth Leadership.” Participants will discuss conflicts, peacebuilding, economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, disinformation, cyber threats and the consequences of artificial intelligence development.
Committee on Human Rights and Peace
This year, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association established a committee on human rights and peace. Representatives of the association’s nine regions will be able to discuss these issues within it and take joint action.
The association’s Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg, noted that parliamentarians must oversee government actions, monitor the responsible spending of public funds, protect democratic principles and ensure that citizens have an opportunity to be heard.
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Inclusion and Youth
The association’s areas of work include the rights of people with disabilities, accessibility of parliamentary buildings and the full participation of women in public life. Its networks are also working to ensure that political institutions better reflect the communities they serve.
The conference plans to involve young people in discussions. The Commonwealth is home to 2.7 billion people, around 60% of whom are under the age of 30. Issues of interest to young people include employment, education, housing, technological change and resilience to climate challenges.
The 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference was held in South Africa in Johannesburg in 2013.
