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- Ελληνικά
The 66th World Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) continues in Accra, Ghana, with the participation of Parliamentarians Mr. Aristos Damianou (leader), Mrs Savia Orphanidou and Mr Christos Orphanides.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr Damianou participated in a discussion on the role of the Commonwealth Charter in the protection of human rights. In his intervention, Mr Damianou noted that the ten-year milestone of the Charter, celebrated this year, lends itself to constructive evaluation to further enhance its reach and influence. Despite the progress that has been made, Damianou said, many challenges to democracy and human and political rights remain on a global scale, such as restrictions on freedom of expression, media control and obstruction of free elections.
The issue of gender equality also remains a challenge, the Cypriot MP noted. While women's participation in the workforce has increased, inequalities still exist in terms of access to education, leadership roles and protection from violence. Efforts should be intensified, Damianou stressed, to ensure that all Commonwealth member states adopt a comprehensive legislative framework to protect women and girls from domestic violence, harassment and sexual assault, as well as from practices that constitute forms of modern slavery, such as forced labour and forced marriage. Acknowledging that the Charter is not an exhaustive list of rights and that there is still a long way to go before the Organisation's member countries fully embrace its ideals, Damianou pointed out that the question remains whether it would be beneficial for the Charter to become a legally binding document. Damianou stressed that this principle runs through the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, has been tested over the years and is considered necessary because it maintains the so-called institutional checks and balances. However, as he pointed out, it needs to be updated to include the possibility of parliamentary control over institutions and officials, as there was no such need in 1960.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the head of the Cypriot delegation held contacts with the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, Mr. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin and with the Speaker of the Parliament of Malawi Ms Catherine Gotani Hara.
Mrs. Orphanidou had a meeting with the President of the UK Branch and Member of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Co-ordinating Committee, Dame Maria Miller, during which they discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation among the Association's member parliaments towards achieving the CWP's main objective of enhancing the participation and role of women in the political process.
The work of the Conference concludes today with a meeting of the General Assembly of the Association, which will address, among other issues, the question of changing the legal status of the CWP.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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