Parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth will gather in London, United Kingdom this week for the 62nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. The
Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference is the annual conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

This unique conference brings together Speakers, Members of Parliament and Parliamentary staff representing the nine regions of the CPA. The CPA
reaches all 52 countries of the Commonwealth as well as over 180 national, sub-national and territorial Parliaments and Legislatures bringing together
the CPA Branches of the Association.

The main conference theme for 2016 at the annual event is: A Collaborative Commonwealth: Unity, Diversity and Common Challenges. Workshops and debates
will be held during the conference on a wide range of topics including the role of the Commonwealth in fostering freedom of religion or belief; ending
violence against women and girls; the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Climate Change; and the radicalisation of young people.

The 62nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference will take place in London, United Kingdom, hosted the CPA Headquarters Secretariat. During the 62nd
Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, there will be a number of additional conferences and meetings including: CPA General Assembly; 35th Small
Branches Conference ­ including the Election of the Chairperson of the Small Branches; 4th Triennial Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference
­ including the Election of the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians; Society of Clerks-at-the-Table (SOCATT) Meetings.

The Executive Committee of the CPA met ahead of the 62nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in London, UK. The CPA Executive Committee
represents the nine regions of the CPA - Africa; Asia; Australia; British Islands and Mediterranean; Canada; Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic; India;
Pacific; South East Asia. The Executive Committee is chaired by Hon. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP, Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh.

The Chairperson of the CPA International Executive Committee, Hon. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP, Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh said: The
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) provides a unique platform for inter-parliamentary dialogue to take place. The Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association¹s membership not only comprises national parliaments of the Commonwealth, but also provincial and state legislatures as well as devolved
Assemblies. The diverse nature of the membership provides the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association with a unique position within the parliamentary
community to offer a comprehensive perspective on how to strengthen parliamentary democracy Commonwealth-wide and discuss new and innovative
approaches on how to do so.

The 62nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference is the most prominent event in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's calendar, as it offers a
unique opportunity for the representatives of the Association's 185 Member Parliaments and Legislatures to network with colleagues from other
jurisdictions and discuss common issues of concern which affect Commonwealth Parliaments. The workshops for this year's conference will discuss a wide
range of topics such as the role for the Commonwealth in fostering freedom of religion or belief; ending violence against women and girls: the impact
of social media and the internet in perpetrating violence; the role of Parliamentarians in implementing and monitoring policies relevant to the
Sustainable Development Goals; and the role of the Commonwealth in supporting the outcomes of the COP21 Paris Agreement on Climate Change