CPA NEWS NEW SPEAKERS COURSE PROVIDES EXPERTISE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE PRESIDING OFFICERS The CPA has launched a new Advanced Course for Speakers and Presiding Officers as part of its online CPA Parliamentary Academy. This new course provides a unique opportunity to provide Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments with the knowledge and skills on how to perform their functions as the leaders within their parliamentary institutions. The course is equally beneficial for those who aspire to this role either in the short or long-term and to Deputy Speakers who wish to gain more understanding in their support role. The course will also be of value to parliamentary staff within Speaker’s offices, external parliamentary development specialists or political students. The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg said: “We have brought together senior, experienced, current and former Speakers and Presiding Officers, Parliamentarians, Clerks and officials from across the Commonwealth to provide our Members with practical advice, best-practice case-studies and current learning in one single online course. The CPA can utilise over a hundred years of specialist experience of professional development training and institutional strengthening programmes for Parliamentarians and Clerks and instils that expertise into our online courses.” The new course examines in-depth the procedural, administrative, ceremonial and outreach roles of Speakers and Presiding Officers from within a Commonwealth context. This new course can be taken as a standalone course or as part of the CPA Parliamentary Professional Development Certificate delivered through the CPA Parliamentary Academy. Visit www.cpahq.org/parliamentary-academy to find out more and to register your interest.
Commonwealth Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff from across the CPA Africa Region participated in the 12th East African Community (EAC) Inter-Parliamentary Games in Juba, South Sudan from 25 November to 1 December 2022. The Games saw men and women from East African Parliaments including Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda competing in various sports at the EAC Bunge Games. Sports included football, athletics, basketball, netball, darts, volleyball and tug-of-war. In the CPA Pacific Region, it was rugby union that provided the competitive spirit between the Parliaments of New Zealand and the Cook Islands who played in a closely fought parliamentary rugby clash that ended in a 15-15 draw. The Cook Islands Minister of Sports, Vaine Mokoroa captained his team while the captain of the New Zealand First XV was Mike Woodhouse, MP. The Sir Terepai Maoate Trophy was due to be presented at the end of the match – but was held back as there was no outright winner. The Members of the New Zealand Parliament also visited a number of cultural and community projects including a school visit to Apii Takitumu during their visit.
Image: Parliament of Uganda/East African Community.
Image: Cook Islands News/22103001.
COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTS COMPETE IN A RANGE OF DIFFERENT SPORTS
COMMONWEALTH LAUNCHES 2023 YEAR OF YOUTH 2023 has been declared the Year of Youth by the Commonwealth to mark the start of a year-long programme of action on youth issues. The Commonwealth’s 56 member countries have a combined population of 2.5 billion people, of which more than 60% are under 30 years of age. Youth engagement is central to the work of the CPA in promoting democratic governance and connecting Parliamentarians with young people in schools, colleges and universities to inspire the next generation of young leaders. The CPA’s youth work includes the annual Commonwealth Youth Parliament (CYP) which took place recently hosted by the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. Many Commonwealth Legislatures also host Youth Parliaments in their own jurisdictions. The CPA has also developed educational resources for Parliaments to educate young citizens about democracy – such as the CPA Engagement, Education & Outreach Handbook that supports public education initiatives for Commonwealth Parliaments. The CPA also published the Commonwealth Day Youth Engagement Handbook which serves as a toolkit for how Commonwealth Parliaments can use Commonwealth Day as a means of public outreach and engagement for young people. The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland, KC who launched the Year of Youth said: “I am excited that the next 12 months will bring Commonwealth leaders, stakeholders and citizens together to celebrate and empower our 1.5 billion young people. Despite the many challenges they face, young people give so much towards every aspect of the social, economic, political and cultural life of our 56 member countries. The Commonwealth’s future success rests with them.” The Parliamentarian | 2023: Issue One | 100 years of publishing | 19