A delegation from the Gibraltar Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association have attended the 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC). 

A statement from the Gibraltar Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association follows below:

The Gibraltar Branch was represented by the Hon Samantha Sacramento MP, Minister for  Justice, Equality and Public Standards and Regulations as the Head of the delegation and the  Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Keith Azopardi MP.  

The theme of the 65th CPC was “Accessible, Accountable and Strong Parliaments: the  Cornerstone of Democracy and Essential for Development”. 

The workshops aimed to look at how steps could be taken to tackle important day to day  economic or environmental challenges, sustainability, development, mental health, disabilities,  making parliaments accessible to innovation and increasing accountability as well at looking at  the particular challenges faced by small jurisdictions. The conference further offered a workshop  on assistive technologies to make parliaments more inclusive for people with disabilities. 

In addition, the Gibraltar Branch also participated in the Small Branches Conference, held prior  to the Plenary Conference and is attended by parliamentarians from CPA Branches with  populations of up to 500,000. 

Minister Sacramento also attended the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarian Conference,  where the conference considered the following topics, discussion on some themes will continue  at the CWP regional conference that Minister Sacramento will host in Gibraltar in October. 

• Empowering Women Parliamentarians and Promoting Diversity and Intersectionality • Combatting abuse and harassment in Parliament 
• Financial Empowerment of Women and Gender Sensitive Budgeting 
• Promoting Gender Sensitive Parliaments post pandemic. 

The Conference also had a regional element to it. In common with other regional groupings, the  British Islands and Mediterranean Region, which includes Gibraltar, held a separate meeting. 

The General Assembly passed some important resolutions affecting Commonwealth  Parliaments and recommendations in various of the areas which had been debated in the  workshops.  

As always our delegates explained the Gibraltar case whenever we had the opportunity and  lobbied for support on which we can rely in future.

Head of Delegation, Samantha Sacramento MP, said: “The CPA is an invaluable network for  Gibraltar in terms of learning opportunities and importantly making connections with other  Parliamentarians. This conference which this year took place in Halifax, Canada was originally  envisaged to have taken place in 2019 but has been postponed various times because of the  COVID-19 pandemic. This was therefore the first time Commonwealth Parliamentarians have  been able to meet since the COVID-19 pandemic. This was therefore even more meaningful and  networking opportunities were well received”.