New Delhi : An Indian Parliamentary Delegation will participate in the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from September 13 to 19. Discussions will focus on strengthening international law and parliamentary democracy amid a rapidly changing global order.
A high-level briefing meeting to review preparations for the conference was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. He urged members of the Indian delegation to participate actively in the proceedings and present India’s perspective effectively on the global stage.
Addressing the meeting, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stressed the importance of clearly articulating India’s national interests and viewpoints during deliberations. He urged members to make their participation substantive and effective, particularly in discussions on issues that directly affect the emerging international order.
Birla emphasised that active participation in global parliamentary forums strengthens the reach of India’s parliamentary traditions and democratic values. He also called upon delegation members to maintain punctuality, discipline and decorum throughout the conference, stating that the Indian delegation should set an exemplary standard in all meetings and negotiations.
The main theme of the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference will be “Strengthening International Law and Parliamentary Democracy in a Changing World Order: Commonwealth Leadership”. The conference is expected to provide parliamentarians from Commonwealth countries an opportunity to deliberate on the evolving role of legislatures in addressing global challenges and reinforcing democratic institutions.
The Indian delegation will participate in six key CPC workshops covering a wide range of contemporary issues. These include promoting inter-parliamentary dialogue for inclusive and fair trade in diverse economies; making parliaments more accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilities; parliamentary leadership in promoting climate adaptation and resilience; the use of artificial intelligence in parliaments, including its current applications, future prospects and implementation strategies; protecting human rights and promoting peace; and post-legislative scrutiny.
Artificial Intelligence is expected to be an important area of discussion as parliaments across the world increasingly examine how emerging technologies can improve legislative research, parliamentary administration and public engagement while addressing concerns relating to accountability, transparency and responsible use.
Climate resilience will also figure prominently in the deliberations, with parliamentarians expected to examine how legislative institutions can contribute to climate adaptation and strengthen the ability of communities and economies to respond to environmental challenges.
The discussions on inclusive and fair trade are expected to focus on the role of parliamentary dialogue in ensuring that international economic engagement takes into account the differing needs and circumstances of diverse economies. Human rights and peace will constitute another important area of deliberation, underlining the role of parliaments in protecting fundamental rights and contributing to peaceful and inclusive societies.
A Youth Roundtable on “Rebuilding Youth Trust and Participation in Democracy” will form another significant component of the conference. The session is expected to address growing concerns over the participation of young people in democratic institutions and explore ways to strengthen their confidence in parliamentary processes and public institutions.
The conference will also feature a CPA General Assembly debate and the 10th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference. Four special workshops under the CWP Conference will focus on the theme “Making Gender Sensitivity an Institutional Mandate: Ethics, accountability, and structural change”.
The gender-focused discussions are expected to examine how parliamentary institutions can move beyond policy commitments and embed gender sensitivity into their structures, procedures and institutional practices. Issues of ethics, accountability and structural reform will form key elements of the deliberations.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference is one of the major international parliamentary gatherings, bringing together parliamentarians and presiding officers from across the Commonwealth to discuss issues affecting democratic governance, legislative institutions and international cooperation. India’s participation provides an important platform for presenting its parliamentary experience and engaging with legislators from other Commonwealth countries on shared global challenges.
At Monday’s briefing meeting, Lok Sabha Secretary-General Utpal Kumar Singh and senior officials from the concerned ministries provided detailed briefings on the conference framework, administrative arrangements and strategic themes. The briefing was intended to ensure that members of the Indian delegation are adequately prepared for their respective sessions and engagements in Cape Town.
A large number of presiding officers from state legislatures also attended the meeting.
The Indian delegation’s participation in Cape Town will thus extend beyond conventional parliamentary exchanges, with the discussions providing an opportunity for India to articulate its position on artificial intelligence, climate resilience, inclusive trade, human rights, youth participation and gender-sensitive parliamentary institutions while engaging with the wider Commonwealth on the future of parliamentary democracy.
