New Delhi, Sept 25: President Pratibha Patil will inaugurate the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference here today.

Parliamentary Affairs, and Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi will lead the Indian Parliamentary delegation.

Indian delegation will take part in various workshops in the next few days on the matters related to women empowerment, global warming, environment, women's role in Parliament, sustainable water development, Opposition's role in Parliamentary system among others.

Indian delegates will take part in all such workshops along with other Commonwealth delegates at the deliberations, which will conclude on September 28.

This is for the fourth time that India is hosting the CPA Conference.

The CPA's mission is to promote the advancement of parliamentary democracy by enhancing knowledge and understanding of democratic governance. It seeks to build an informed parliamentary community and to further co-operation among its Parliaments and Legislatures.

This mission is achieved through a strategic plan covering Commonwealth fundamental principles; the functional independence of Parliament; professional development seminars and workshops; networking through conferences; technical assistance to individual Parliaments, and specialist information for a specialist community.

Active CPA Branches are in 169 national, state, provincial and territorial Parliaments, with a total membership of approximately 16,000 Parliamentarians. (With inputs from ANI)