VIEW FROM THE CPA SECRETARY-GENERAL
GLOBAL PANDEMIC HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR DIFFERENT WAYS OF WORKING TO ‘DELIVER OUR COMMON FUTURE’
Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Stephen Twigg
‘Delivering a Common Future’ is the theme for Commonwealth Day on March 14th and for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) due to be held in Rwanda in June this year. It is a powerful message as we seek to learn the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the citizens and institutions of the Commonwealth. The pandemic has reminded us that we live in an inter-connected world community in which we have a shared responsibility to address common challenges. 2022 marks the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. As we celebrate Her Majesty’s seventy years of service, there will be a particular focus this year on the important role of service in communities across the Commonwealth. During the pandemic, we have been reminded of the invaluable contribution made by all those working in the health and care
“Globally, the pandemic has highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of health systems. Unequal access to vaccines remains a key challenge and is one of the issues addressed in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in February 2022 between the Commonwealth Secretariat and the World Health Organisation. Parliaments and Parliamentarians have a vital role to play in promoting universal health coverage both within their own jurisdictions and internationally.” 14 | The Parliamentarian | 2022: Issue One | 100 years of publishing
sectors as well as other key workers and volunteers who have ensured that communities and families have been supported. For the CPA, 2022 will be a very busy year as we begin the implementation of our new Strategic Plan with a diverse range of activities which focus on our strategic priorities. We also look forward to our first ‘in person’ CPA Executive Committee and Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference meetings since 2019 in Assam, India and Nova Scotia, Canada respectively. We will take every opportunity to enable mutual learning including lessons from the past two years. Globally, the pandemic has highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of health systems. Unequal access to vaccines remains a key challenge and is one of the issues addressed in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in February 2022 between the Commonwealth Secretariat and the World Health Organisation. Parliaments and Parliamentarians have a vital role to play in promoting universal health coverage both within their own jurisdictions and internationally. A similar challenge applies to education where children and young people across the world have seen significant disruption over the past two years. There will be opportunities in 2022 and 2023 for Governments and Parliaments to build upon the commitments made at the Global Education Summit in London in June 2021. Once again, Parliamentarians have an important responsibility to hold governments to account on these commitments as well as ensuring that necessary legislation and budget measures are put in place. At CHOGM, the Commonwealth Heads of Government will address some of these key challenges and the CPA will be working with partner organisations to encourage CHOGM to reaffirm the importance of good governance, human rights and engagement with civil society throughout the Commonwealth. The launch of the new CPA Parliamentary Academy in 2021 was a key milestone in the CPA’s history as we explore new
