Delhi Speaker Vijender Gupta addresses inclusion at 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cape Town
Synopsis
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has taken the floor at one of the most-attended Commonwealth Parliamentary Conferences in history, with a focused address on disability inclusion, gender sensitivity, and Parliamentary accessibility — a niche but growing priority for legislatures across the 56-member Commonwealth bloc.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta is attending the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in Cape Town, South Africa , running from 13 to 19 September 2026 .
Gupta is set to address a joint network workshop on 'Delivering Inclusivity Measures in Capacity Strained Parliaments' , covering gender sensitivity, disability inclusion, and Parliamentary accessibility.
More than 900 Parliamentary delegates attended the opening ceremony — described by CPA Secretary-General Stephen Twigg as one of the most attended CPCs in the conference's history.
The conference is hosted by the Parliament of South Africa and the CPA South Africa Branch , with parallel events including the 10th CWP Conference and the 2026 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year awards .
The CPA is undergoing a transition from UK charitable status to a new international legal status as an inter-parliamentary organisation.
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta is participating in the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in Cape Town, South Africa, where he is set to address delegates on inclusion and Parliamentary accessibility, according to an official statement issued by his Secretariat in New Delhi on 15 September 2026. The conference, running from 13 to 19 September, has drawn more than 900 Parliamentary delegates from Commonwealth member Parliaments — making it one of the most attended CPCs in the conference's history.
Gupta's Address at the Inclusivity Workshop
As part of the conference proceedings, Speaker Gupta is scheduled to speak at a joint network workshop focused on 'Delivering Inclusivity Measures in Capacity Strained Parliaments'. During his address, he is likely to touch upon advancing gender sensitivity, disability inclusion, and broader Parliamentary accessibility within resource-constrained legislative environments. The workshop forms part of a wider effort by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) to translate democratic principles into actionable Parliamentary reform.
Gupta's Statement on the Conference
The Delhi Assembly Speaker shared his experience of attending the opening ceremony on social media platform X. 'Attended the opening ceremony of the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. The conference provides an important platform for exchanging views and experiences on Parliamentary practices and strengthening democratic institutions,' Gupta wrote in his post. His participation marks a visible engagement by the Delhi Assembly on the global Parliamentary stage.
Scale and Significance of the 69th CPC
The 69th CPC is being hosted by the Parliament of South Africa and the CPA South Africa Branch. CPA Secretary-General Stephen Twigg noted that this year's conference is among the most attended in CPC history, and that it is taking place amid pronounced geopolitical uncertainty and what he described as an 'onslaught on rules-based international norms.' This year's theme, according to Twigg, calls on Parliaments not merely to debate, but to actively defend democracy, uphold the rule of law, and rebuild cross-border trust.
Key Events Running Alongside the Conference
A number of parallel conferences and meetings are being organised alongside the main CPC. These include the 10th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference, the 2026 CPA General Assembly and general debate, the 42nd CPA Small Branches Conference, meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network, the 60th Society of Clerks at the Table (SoCATT) meeting, the presentation of the 2026 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year awards, and the 4th CPA Lifaka Lecture. The CPA also used the occasion to highlight its institutional transition from its former UK charitable status to a new international legal status as an inter-parliamentary organisation — a shift that, according to a statement on the South African Parliament's website, reinforces Parliamentarians' responsibility to uphold democracy, good governance, and human rights.
Speaker Gupta's engagement at Cape Town signals Delhi's intent to contribute to global conversations on inclusive Parliamentary governance, with the outcomes of the workshop expected to inform future legislative accessibility frameworks across Commonwealth members.
Point of View
But the workshop topic — inclusivity in capacity-strained Parliaments — is one that hits close to home for Delhi's own legislature, which has faced scrutiny over accessibility and procedural inclusivity. That a state-level Speaker is speaking at a forum of this size reflects the CPA's deliberate effort to amplify sub-national legislatures, not just national ones. The more substantive question is whether the frameworks discussed in Cape Town translate into concrete legislative changes back home — or remain conference talking points. India's state assemblies have historically lagged on disability and gender inclusion benchmarks, making Gupta's address an opportunity to set a visible standard, not just represent Delhi.
NationPress
15 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference?
The 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) is the annual gathering of Parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth, hosted this year by the Parliament of South Africa and the CPA South Africa Branch in Cape Town from 13 to 19 September 2026. It is one of the most attended CPCs in the conference's history, with more than 900 delegates participating.
What is Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta addressing at the conference?
Speaker Gupta is set to address a joint network workshop focused on 'Delivering Inclusivity Measures in Capacity Strained Parliaments,' covering gender sensitivity, disability inclusion, and Parliamentary accessibility in resource-constrained legislative settings.
Who is CPA Secretary-General Stephen Twigg and what did he say?
Stephen Twigg is the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. At the 69th CPC, he noted that this year's conference is among the most attended in its history and called on Parliaments to actively defend democracy, uphold the rule of law, and rebuild trust across borders amid geopolitical uncertainty.
What other events are taking place alongside the 69th CPC?
Parallel events include the 10th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference, the 2026 CPA General Assembly, the 42nd CPA Small Branches Conference, meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities network, the 60th SoCATT meeting, and the 2026 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year awards.
What is the CPA's institutional transition mentioned at the conference?
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is transitioning from its former UK charitable status to a new international legal status as an inter-parliamentary organisation. The CPA has highlighted this shift as reinforcing Parliamentarians' responsibility to uphold democracy, good governance, and human rights.
