Societies thrive when their equal rights, opportunities for growth, fair representation and participation
in decision-making processes are ensured. The principle of political equality is enshrined in the UN
Charter, UN Declaration of Human Rights, Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Achieving
gender equality is also affirmed as a precondition in the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in
SDG 5 and 16. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and its Commonwealth Women
Parliamentarians (CWP) network also play an integral part towards this global endeavour.