The Deputy Speaker of Fiji Parliament and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua today chaired the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s (CPA) partner side event at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting held at the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Hotel, Nadi.
The event themed, “Working Together to Respect Human Rights and Humanitarian Law” enabled constructive dialogue among key stakeholders with a common goal on building an inclusive, sustainable and prosperous Commonwealth through legislative policies and principles.
The panelists were Dr Karen Brewer, Secretary General Secretary General of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association, Prof Kingsley Abbott, Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London, Megan Rock, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Regional Delegation in the Pacific, Scader Louis from the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum (CDPF), Stephen Thiru, President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association.
Hon. Qereqeretabua said she was honoured to chair the session in her capacity as the Pacific representative on the Steering Committee of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) network.
The Assistant Minister acknowledged the CPA for its longstanding support to Fiji Parliament, highlighting its recent self-assessments under the CPA’s Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures and Gender Sensitive Parliaments programme.
She noted that this year’s theme is both timely and relevant as the world faces the challenge of backsliding on democracy, human rights and humanitarian law.
Hon. Qereqeretabua thanked all presenters and participants, reaffirming Fiji’s commitment to working closely with the Commonwealth to deepen cooperation and strengthen shared priorities.