New Delhi, September 1: A high-level review meeting was held under the chairmanship of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday, focusing on the preparations for the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference scheduled from September 13 to 19 in Cape Town, South Africa.
During the meeting, Speaker Birla emphasized the crucial role of the Indian delegation. He urged all members and female representatives to actively participate in the scheduled sessions and workshops. He stated that they should effectively express their views during discussions to robustly present and protect India’s national interests and perspectives on the global stage.
He specifically highlighted that India’s active participation in such global forums further strengthens our parliamentary traditions and democratic values. Additionally, he instructed all representatives to maintain punctuality and discipline during all meetings and discussions at the conference, ensuring that the country’s delegation sets an exemplary standard.
The main theme of the conference is “Strengthening International Law and Parliamentary Democracy in a Changing World Order: Commonwealth Leadership,” under which the role of parliaments in the global landscape will be discussed.
During the meeting, six key workshop agendas for the Indian delegation were outlined. These workshops will cover critical topics such as inclusive and fair trade in diverse economies, accessible parliaments and inclusion of persons with disabilities, climate adaptation and resilience, current applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in parliaments, protection of human rights, and post-legislative scrutiny.
In addition to the main sessions, the conference will host a youth roundtable focused on “Rebuilding Youth Trust and Participation in Democracy” and a debate of the CPA General Assembly. Furthermore, four special workshops based on the theme “Making Gender Sensitivity an Institutional Mandate” will be a highlight of the 10th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference.
At the end of the meeting, the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha and senior officials from relevant ministries presented detailed outlines related to the conference’s framework, administrative, and strategic matters to all present members, clarifying the scope of their participation.
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