Stephen Twigg
Stephen Twigg, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), has said Members of Parliament (MPs) have a critical role in holding governments accountable for their global commitments.
“Parliaments have a duty to represent the people they serve. One way that they fulfil this responsibility is by being inclusive, accountable, open and transparent public institutions,” he said.
Mr. Twigg stated in a message to the CPA’s 66th annual conference, which is underway in Accra, that combating climate change is the top priority.
He noted, “Small island developing states have been powerful voices within the Commonwealth as they find themselves in the frontline of the battle to avert a climate disaster.”
According to him, MPs equally have a responsibility to ensure that necessary legislation and budget measures are put in place, adding that legislators have a shared responsibility to address common challenges of the world.
“I know that MPs across the Commonwealth look forward to the opportunity to come together, and we are reminded that we live in an interconnected world community in which we have a shared responsibility to address common challenges,” he stressed.
He indicated that with the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development at its midpoint, the CPA was committed to fostering the values of the Commonwealth and the UN SDGs across its membership and beyond.
“Whilst our work relates particularly to SDG16, focusing on peace, justice and strong institutions, we are also committed to supporting Parliaments and Parliamentarians to play an active role in the delivery of all SDGs in their own jurisdictions, regionally and on an international level,” he noted.
The CPA Secretary-General said he was pleased to be in New York last month to launch the new CPA Parliamentary Academy course on the SDGs to coincide with the UN SDGs summit.
“With approximately 60% of the Commonwealth’s 2.6 billion citizens across its 56 countries currently under the age of 30 years, in particular in the CPA Africa Region, the Commonwealth has a responsibility to engage proactively with young people,” he intimated.
For him, the CPA’s Commonwealth Youth Parliament is an example of such youth engagement.
“The Commonwealth can position itself strongly and unequivocally beside its citizens and help to tackle the inequalities that cause so much poverty and injustice in our societies.
He stated that the Commonwealth could help to amplify the voices of those who need the most urgent action to protect the environment and to promote sustainable development.
By Ernest Kofi Adu