African MPs push for Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's international status

African countries are now pushing for the recognition of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association as an International Inter-Parliamentary Organisation.

During the ongoing 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Sydney, Australia, MPs drawn from various countries said the push for the international recognition has been ongoing for the last ten years, and it is now time to bring that goal to fruition.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, who is leading the Kenyan delegation, stated that it is time to change the status of the association, which was established in 1911 and now brings together over 180 legislatures from Commonwealth nations. Currently registered as a charity organization in Britain, Wetangula emphasized that the CPA’s legal status needs to be updated.

“The legal status of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, since its inception, has been that of a charity registered in England. A reform agenda was started 20 years ago to change it from a charity to an international organization, comparable to UN agencies or the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which enjoy diplomatic privileges under the Vienna Convention,” Wetangula said.

The Speaker expressed optimism that by the end of the year, the transformation would be largely complete, in line with the recommendations made during the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Accra, Ghana, in 2023.

CPA Secretary-General Stephen Twigg told attendees that the body’s autonomy was on the horizon, calling this year a "momentous" one for the organization. After decades of debate, the CPA is now on a firm path toward achieving a new international legal status in the United Kingdom.

Twigg noted that the legislation to make the organization autonomous was announced by King Charles in July. He reassured those present that when they meet in Barbados next year, the CPA will have a new international legal status, aligning it with the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie.

“We are greatly indebted to those who have worked tirelessly over many years to make the case for this transformative change in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, bringing it to the same status as other international parliamentary organizations,” Twigg said.

He also mentioned that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill, sponsored by Dame Maria Mille (Conservative), has already passed through the House of Lords and House of Commons and is now at the Committee Stage.

Twigg emphasized that once the bill is passed, it will be a significant boost for democracy. Commonwealth member states will have a stronger voice following the end of the CPA’s charitable status and its transition to international status. This change will provide CPA members with more freedom and flexibility to set their own priorities and advocate for democracy, good governance, and human rights.

On the sidelines of the conference, Wetangula participated in a workshop discussing violence and abuse faced by parliamentarians and possible remedies. He remarked that being a Member of Parliament is not for the faint-hearted. MPs must be ready to face risks, speak out against them, confront bullies, challenge the State, and work to improve the lives of those they represent.

Kenyan delegates also held various sectoral meetings on critical topics such as the retention of women in politics, the inclusion of persons with disabilities, immigration, and human trafficking within the Commonwealth.

The Kenyan delegation at the conference includes Gonzi Rai (Kinango MP), Beatrice Adagala (Vihiga County MP), Tim Wanyonyi (Westlands MP), Zaheer Jhanda (Nyaribari Chache MP), John Paul Mwirigi (Igembe South MP), and Njoroge Kururia (Gatundu North MP).

The Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge, and Senators Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) and Beth Syengo (Nominated) are also attending the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference.