VIEW FROM THE CPA CHAIRPERSON
ADDRESSING GLOBAL INEQUALITIES View from the Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee Speech by the Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP, Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh at the 136th General Assembly of the InterParliamentary Union (IPU) held in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
enhance knowledge and understanding of democratic governance and to build an informed parliamentary community that is able to deepen the cooperation among legislatures. There are several overlapping thematic areas of common focus between the InterParliamentary Union (IPU) and the CPA including their membership. The CPA wants to promote greater cooperation and collaboration to multiply our efforts Distinguished delegates. It is a very special and avoid duplication. The CPA works to empower pleasure for me as the elected Chairperson of the youth Parliamentarians and the CPA Bangladesh Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Branch launched the CPA Youth Roadshows on to represent the Commonwealth Parliamentary Hon. Dr Shirin Sharmin Parliamentary Democracy to attract youth into Association (CPA) in this august gathering of Chaudhury, MP, Chairperson politics and leadership and it has reached over eight Members of Parliaments from all around the globe. of the CPA Executive thousand youths so far in different regions across the The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Committee and Speaker of Commonwealth. (CPA) is a unique platform of national as well the Bangladesh Parliament. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is as state legislatures consisting of 181 member committed to promoting gender equality. The CPA is Parliaments across nine regions of the Commonwealth. The CPA administering a series of programmes like the CPA Lecture Series, plays an instrumental role in bringing the voices of the people of the courses on parliamentary democracy offered to Parliamentarians Commonwealth, 2.4 billion, to the centre of discourse, of democracy in universities in South Africa and Canada and many more such and development. The Commonwealth, a family of nations of 52 programmes. countries, stands the test of time in upholding the cherished values of Distinguished delegates. We meet at a time of political uncertainty democracy, rule of law, human rights and sustainable development. globally and a growing populism that is questioning the very foundation The CPA works not only with national parliaments but also reaches of our democratic institutions and our values of inclusion and diversity. out to hear and include the voices of the people at the grassroots level The need for Parliamentarians to come together is ever greater and and to bring in the convergence of diverse perspectives. The CPA urgent today to reaffirm in solidarity our shared values of tolerance, celebrates diversity – the strength and beauty of the Commonwealth. inclusivity, peace and democracy. Let us embrace this opportune It allows all members an equal voice in a participatory and democratic moment and turn it to our advantage that the voices of the people from manner ensuring greater inclusiveness. around the globe resonate and dominate the discourse of democracy. Founded in 1911, the CPA is committed to the principles of It is only through our collective efforts that we can eliminate all forms parliamentary democracy and good governance. The CPA aims to of inequality and violence and give voice to the vulnerable who are suffering discrimination and oppression. Let it be our resolve to ensure every individual has a life with dignity and that we reach the goals that we set up for ourselves, which may seem ambitious. There may be mountains to climb and rivers to forge but they are achievable. I will conclude by citing Robert A. Needham, author of ‘Collaborative Commonwealth’, where he uses a concept of water. The Commonwealth believes that any great ocean, river or stream begins with one drop. Drops come in all sizes, shapes and forms just like people. Each unique drop was created for a purpose and so were you. This purpose will change throughout the life of a drop, which is called emergence. Like you, water can be used over and over again to cause its environment to flourish, change evolve and renew. The metaphor of water is used to show how each individual aligns with others to form streams. Streams then merge to become rivers which have power and movements. These rivers merge to create oceans of great potential to accomplish anything they set their thoughts to and this is what the Commonwealth upholds. Thank you distinguished delegates. 106 | The Parliamentarian | 2017: Issue Two