CPA NEWS Commonwealth Parliamentarians from the CPA Pacific Region come together in New Zealand for the Pacific Parliamentary Forum
Political leaders from 15 Pacific countries and territories from the CPA Pacific Region met at the Parliament of New Zealand to exchange ideas and the major challenges and opportunities in the Pacific. The Pacific Parliamentary Forum takes place every three years and enables knowledge sharing on key issues and parliamentary practices. It also aims to build meaningful, long term relationships among Pacific MPs and enhance parliamentary democracy in the region. During the first two days of the forum in November 2019, delegates engaged with Pacific communities and businesses in
Auckland. Organisations involved include The Fono, the Manukau Institute of Technology and the TROW Group. The Pacific MPs also visited the electorate offices of several Auckland-based New Zealand MPs. The final two days of the forum focused on exploring issues of importance to the CPA Pacific Region through a series of debates and workshops at the New Zealand Parliament in Wellington. A key focus for the forum in 2019, and the topic of one of the debates, was on exploring the value of ‘diversity’ in the various functions that Parliaments play within a democratic system. The Speaker of the Parliament of New Zealand, Rt Hon. Trevor Mallard, MP said: “It is a real pleasure to host the third Pacific Parliamentary Forum and to welcome fellow Pacific MPs to our shores. The New Zealand Parliament is committed to supporting Pacific Parliamentarians and the forum is a valuable opportunity to build on existing relationships and promote increased cooperation and political cohesion.” The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Pacific Region Steering Committee Member, Ms Anahila Kanongata'aSuisuiki, MP (New Zealand) also met with a number of Parliamentarians from the Region to discuss gender equality and initiatives to promote increased female participation.
Commonwealth Parliamentarians from across the AsiaPacific were in Perth, Australia to participate in a workshop organised by the CPA UK Branch, in partnership with the Parliament of Western Australia, from 16 to 18 December 2019 as part of the CPA UK Modern Slavery Project. Delegates from Australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka and the UK explored their role in leading the fight against human trafficking and forced labour. The Global Slavery Index, produced by the Minderoo Foundation, estimates that there are around 40.3 million victims of modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking worldwide, with over half that number existing within the AsiaPacific region. The CPA UK Workshop was an opportunity for Parliamentarians to exchange ideas around their role in gathering evidence and research; scrutinising anti-trafficking policy and legislation; and oversight of the implementation of anti-trafficking laws. Participants are at the forefront of strengthening legislation and raising awareness of these issues at local, national and international level. The three-day event also looked in detail at the issue of ‘orphanage trafficking’, where children who have parents or guardians are taken and put into orphanages in order that traffickers profit from this false orphanage system. As part of the workshop, delegates held a joint committee inquiry into the topic, taking evidence from experts in academia and civil society.
Australia’s Minister for Defence, Senator Hon. Linda Reynolds, CSC, who was the Minister responsible for the passage of Australia’s Modern Slavery Bill 2018 - and has been raising awareness of ‘orphanage trafficking’ - addressed the delegates about her experiences. At the conclusion of the workshop, delegates nominated themselves to join the Network of Parliamentary Champions. Members made pledges as part of their induction, which they read out on the floor of the chamber in the Parliament of Western Australia. The aim of the Network is to create regional collaboration and to share information, challenges and progress in combatting human trafficking and forced labour.
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For more images of CPA activities and events please visit www.cpahq.org/cpahq/flickr.
Commonwealth Parliamentarians from the Asia-Pacific meet in Western Australia to address human trafficking and forced labour
