CPA BIMR
About
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is divided into nine geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Australia, British Islands and Mediterranean (BIM), Canada, the Caribbean, the Americas and Atlantic (CAA), India, the Pacific, South-East Asia. Each region engages in its own programme of activities.
CPA UK is part of the British Islands and Mediterranean Region (BIMR). It also serves as its Secretariat.
Along with CPA UK, the other branches that make up CPA BIMR are: Alderney, Cyprus, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta, Northern Ireland, St Helena, Sark, Scotland and Wales.
Three Regional Representatives from each CPA Region sit on the international CPA Executive Committee. The current BIMR representatives are:
Rt Hon. David Mundell MP (UK Parliament)
Natasha Ashgar MS (Wales)
Deputy Mary Le Hegarat (Jersey)
55th British Islands and Mediterranean Regional (BIMR) Conference
CPA BIMR 2026 Conference in Gibraltar
CPA Gibraltar hosted the 3-day BIMR conference in June.
The conference was called ‘Modern Legislatures for Modern Challenges’. It included the BIMR AGM.
Delegates heard from panellists on a range of topics. These include utilising digital technology and Artificial Intelligence in Parliaments, economic resilience in small jurisdictions, advancing inclusion in Parliaments for LGBT+ individuals, lessons from Youth Parliaments and effective political participation of persons with disabilities through accessible Legislatures.
Three delegates represented CPA UK in Gibraltar.
54th Annual BIMR Conference - Cardiff 2025
Cardiff welcomed delegates across 11 legislatures for the 54th BIMR Conference. A core theme of the conference was diversity and inclusion. The BIMR LGBT+ network was launched during the conference and there was also a workshop on the importance of LGBT voices in parliament.
Read: The 54th BIMR Conference Report
Election Observation
As part of its commitment to strengthening democracy and good governance, CPA UK regularly carries out and supports election missions across the Commonwealth in its role as secretariat for CPA's British Islands and Mediterranean Region.
Through election observation, CPA BIMR expresses the Commonwealth's interest and concern in promoting democratic elections within its wider policy of support for democracy, the rule of law and human rights. CPA UK is committed to ensuring a professional approach based on observation of all aspects of the electoral process.
Resources & Reports
10th BIMR Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians' Conference Report
The Maltese Parliament hosted the 10th CWP BIMR Conference on 7 and 8 March 2024, welcoming over 30 parliamentarians from 10 jurisdictions in the British Islands and Mediterranean Region. The theme chosen for the two-day programme was “Resilient Women: Moulding Girls into Strong Women”, looking at the challenges women face and the resilience and good practices these challenges require.
CPA BIMR Branches set out their vision, objectives and priority themes for the period 2019-2024.
Effective and Inclusive Parliaments Report
CPA BIMR documents how Gender Sensitive Parliament practices are being implemented across the region, particularly in light of institutional responses to the pandemic, and recommends 'best practice' reforms.
Images from left to right: A member of polling station staff at the Cayman Islands General Election June 2021; Election Observation Team in Jersey during May 2018 General Election; Participants at the CWP BIMR Conference in 2018
