Context

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in the 21st century

Established in 1911 and one of the oldest Commonwealth organisations, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has had to adapt and evolve over the years, arguably never more so than in recent times. This Strategic Plan 2022-2025 has been developed in a time of great external flux and this has presented us with new challenges but also opportunities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a tragic loss of life across the world, with a devastating impact on families and communities. The economic and fiscal effects of the restrictions brought in to address the pandemic have resulted in governments and Parliaments facing difficult choices in the subsequent period.

With democratic values, human rights, civil society space and multilateralism already questioned or threatened in many parts of the world, despite the powerful commitments set out by both the United Nations and the Commonwealth, it is vital that scrutiny and accountability are not further eroded and that the efforts of Parliamentarians to uphold these are supported.

The United Nations described 2020-30 as a ‘Decade of Action’ to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with their core commitment to 'leave no one behind'. Agenda 2030 was always going to be difficult to achieve and emergencies such as COVID-19, refugee crises and natural disasters make the job tougher still. In developing this plan, we have identified Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff as playing a crucial role in delivering the SDGs: developing legislation, allocating budgets and holding governments to account in order to implement the SDGs in the timeframe set.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a tragic loss of life across the world, with a devastating impact on families and communities. The economic and fiscal effects of the restrictions brought in to address the pandemic have resulted in governments and Parliaments facing difficult choices in the subsequent period.”

“Connected to this is the deep commitment of Commonwealth citizens and civil society to the values and principles set out in the Commonwealth Charter, including the crucial role of effective and democratic Parliaments in protecting human rights, promoting economic empowerment and challenging injustice.”

Connected to this is the deep commitment of Commonwealth citizens and civil society to the values and principles set out in the Commonwealth Charter, including the crucial role of effective and democratic Parliaments in protecting human rights, promoting economic empowerment and challenging injustice. We are eager that this plan provides us with a blueprint for assisting and enabling our membership to promote and protect the Charter, within and outside of the Commonwealth.

Recent events have demonstrated the huge role of technology in helping to propel these issues to the fore and enabling people to better connect with, and advocate alongside, each other. We are presented with huge potential to learn and develop further from this so that we can widen participation and a broader, more diverse range of voices can be heard within parliamentary strengthening and the Commonwealth. At the same time, technological innovations are vital to tackling the impact of climate change and enabling us all to operate in a more sustainable way through greater use of virtual platforms and remote learning.

Across the Commonwealth, more than 60% of the population is aged under thirty. Empowering young people will enable us all to benefit from the energy and ideas of a new generation of citizens. Listening to young people and learning from them has great potential to help renew our political institutions.

This Strategic Plan seeks to address these challenges and maximise opportunities. Through a robust and thorough consultation process we have sought the views of the CPA’s membership and key external partners in how to best approach these challenges whilst delivering our longstanding goals.

The objectives we have identified aim to build on and consolidate the substantial progress the CPA has made over recent years. By addressing the challenges of the 2020s, we seek to increase our effectiveness, efficiency and impact in supporting our members and strengthening parliamentary democracy as we progress towards 2025.

“Across the Commonwealth, more than 60% of the population is aged under thirty. Empowering young people will enable us all to benefit from the energy and ideas of a new generation of citizens. Listening to young people and learning from them has great potential to help renew our political institutions.”