CPA NEWS Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Secretary-General addresses the Senate of Kenya Liaison Committee on the importance of Parliamentary Committees during COVID-19 The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Stephen Twigg has addressed the Senate of Kenya’s Liaison Committee via video link on the work of the CPA and the role and operations of Parliaments and their Committees in the COVID-19 and post COVID-19 period. The Senate of Kenya Liaison Committee’s annual workshop brings together the Chairs of the 17 Committees of the Senate with Members and external stakeholders to review their activities and to identify opportunities for further development and improvement. The two-day workshop was opened by Rt Hon. Senator Kenneth Lusaka, the Speaker of the Senate of Kenya. The workshop session chaired by Senator Mohamed Faki Mwinyihaji, Chairperson of the Sessional Committee on Delegated Legislation and Senator for Mombasa County welcomed the CPA Secretary-General to address delegates. The CPA Secretary-General spoke to Senators of the benefits of modern technology and the key role that it had played this year in Parliaments across the Commonwealth, through still being able to function and fulfil their civic duties. He also stressed the importance of acknowledging the digital divide in the Commonwealth, and the fact that so many citizens with no or limited connectivity had not benefitted from increased use of technology. The essential role of Commonwealth Parliamentarians in scrutinising legislation was emphasised by the CPA Secretary-General, particularly in the context of emergency legislation and COVID-19. Engaging with citizens and civil society was key and it is crucial for Commonwealth Parliamentarians and governments to champion transparency and ensure emergency legislation is both proportionate and time limited. The CPA Secretary-General concluded by focusing on the vital role of Parliamentary Committees in holding the Executive to account, building expertise in particular thematic areas, proposing and reviewing legislation and applying scrutiny to the use of public funds.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association SecretaryGeneral, Stephen Twigg has spoken at a webinar to discuss the legislative responses of Commonwealth Parliaments during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The CPA SecretaryGeneral spoke about the responses from some of the CPA’s membership of 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures to the need for urgent and effective legislation during the current pandemic while recognising the challenges of maintaining legislative oversight and scrutiny. The CPA Secretary-General also emphasised the vital role of Parliamentarians during the current global pandemic and the balance that legislators have to strike between enabling governments to tackle the crisis whilst still providing effective oversight. In particular, the CPA Secretary-General highlighted the role of Post-Legislative Scrutiny and the importance of emergency measures being both proportionate and time limited. Organised by the Rule of Law Section of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the webinar focused on the different legislative approaches adopted by Commonwealth countries in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect which enforcement measures, including emergency legislation, have had on constitutional rights and on the separation of powers. The panel discussion was moderated by Marie-Pierre Olivier from the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Rule of Law Division and panelists included: Justice Jody Kollapen, Judge of the High Court of South Africa and Chairperson of the South African Law Reform Commission; Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India; Mr Frank Ally, Attorney-General of the Seychelles; Geoff Lawn, President of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel, Western Australia. The panel also discussed good practice in enforcing public health legislation while respecting the rule of law and explored how Commonwealth countries could respond to similar public health challenges once the pandemic is over. The Parliamentarian | 2020: Issue Four | 100 years of publishing 1920-2020 | 303
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CPA Secretary-General highlights Commonwealth Parliaments’ legislative responses to COVID-19 during Rule of Law webinar
