Malta Joins Commonwealth Parliamentary Conferences In Cape Town

A Maltese parliamentary delegation led by Speaker of the House of Representatives Carmelo Abela has taken part in the 42nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Small Branches Conference and the 10th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

The delegation also included Members of Parliament Fleur Abela and Ian Vassallo. The meetings form part of the wider 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, which has brought together Speakers, Members of Parliament and parliamentary officials from across the Commonwealth to discuss shared priorities and strengthen cooperation between legislatures.

The CPA Small Branches Conference focused on the theme, "Supporting Independent and Resilient Parliaments in the Commonwealth". It provided an opportunity for representatives from smaller jurisdictions to discuss the unique opportunities and challenges faced by their legislatures.

Topics included the separation of powers, parliamentary budget offices and ways to strengthen the capacity and resilience of smaller Parliaments.

During the conference, Speaker Carmelo Abela addressed delegates on the importance of democracy in small jurisdictions. He explained that maintaining a clear separation of powers can be more challenging in smaller countries and stressed that it is essential to ensure no single institution becomes too powerful. He also underlined the need for the specific realities of small jurisdictions to be reflected in broader Commonwealth parliamentary discussions.

The Maltese delegation also participated in the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference, held under the theme, "Making Gender Sensitivity an Institutional Mandate: Ethics, Accountability and Structural Change". Discussions focused on how Parliaments can promote gender equality by embedding gender-sensitive practices within their structures, policies and institutional culture.

Fleur Abela addressed delegates during one of the conference sessions, reflecting on both her previous roles abroad and her current role as a Member of Parliament. She emphasised the responsibility of women parliamentarians to ensure future generations inherit democratic institutions where their dignity, voices and fundamental rights are respected and protected.

Ian Vassallo took part in a side event dedicated to strengthening parliamentary action for the health of women, children and adolescents. He spoke about the value of sharing experiences between Commonwealth members and highlighted Malta's progress in sexual health policy. He also discussed the importance of mental health, quality of life and the need to continue investing in education and prevention at both national and community level.

During the event, Speaker Abela also highlighted Malta's free public healthcare system, noting that it guarantees access to healthcare services for everyone. He pointed to Parliament's Standing Committee on Health and stressed that all nations share a responsibility to work towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to health.

The Speaker also addressed a joint session on inclusivity measures in capacity-strained Parliaments, where he outlined Malta's progress in strengthening parliamentary autonomy. He explained that Parliament now manages its own budget independently of the Executive and highlighted childminding measures being introduced to support Members of Parliament with young children.

The Maltese delegation said its participation reflects Malta's ongoing commitment to parliamentary diplomacy, democratic resilience and cooperation across the Commonwealth, while providing an opportunity to share the country's experience with fellow member states.

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