RSS Feed |The largest, global dialogue ever undertaken between the peoples of the Commonwealth about their association…This is the Commonwealth Conversation.
Although the Commonwealth Conversation came to an official end in March 2010, the work of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) set up to explore options for Commonwealth reform is just beginning in earnest…
Categories: The Official Commonwealth, homepage items
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Derek Ingram, veteran Commonwealth journalist, muses on the association’s finances:
One of the best outcomes of the recent Commonwealth summit in Trinidad was that at long last the leaders agreed to rationalise the organisation’s finances. Many people are under the impression that the Commonwealth costs a lot of money. Nothing could be further from the truth… Continue reading…
Tags: Commonwealth, Money, Trinidad
Categories: The Official Commonwealth, homepage items
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This conversation starter is provided by James Mayall, Professor of International Relations and Director of the Centre of International Studies at the University of Cambridge. He recently edited a collection of essays entitled The Contemporary Commonwealth: An Assessment 1965-2009, marking the centenary of The Round Table Journal of International Affairs.
I think of the modern Commonwealth as a happy accident. If it did not exist it would neither be necessary nor perhaps possible to invent it. Not all member-states value Commonwealth membership for the same reasons or to the same extent. But neither of these truisms are a problem.
Categories: Historical Legacy, The Commonwealth's Relevance, The Official Commonwealth
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Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth Sir Sonny Ramphal reflects on his time in office (1975-1990)
Tags: Ramphal
Categories: Historical Legacy, The Official Commonwealth
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In a closing statement from the Port of Spain Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) yesterday, Commonwealth leaders recognised the work carried out by the Royal Commonwealth Society in the Commonwealth Conversation and called for the creation of an Eminent Persons’ Group to look at options for reform.
The Commonwealth Conversation is a global public consultation on the future of the Commonwealth which, so far, has engaged tens of thousands of people worldwide. Emerging findings were published last week ahead of the CHOGM in a report entitled ‘Common What?’. The report called for the Commonwealth to be bold in rebuilding its worryingly low profile, by focusing on three Ps: Principles, Priorities and People.
Tags: CHOGM
Categories: The Commonwealth's Relevance, The Official Commonwealth, homepage items
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The post is written by Sir Peter Marshall, a former Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
I would be hard put to say precisely most attracts me about the Commonwealth. But if forced to make a choice, I think I would opt for its chemistry – the way in which people treat one another, a sublime blend of maturity, tolerance, respect, responsibility, commitment and warmth – a recognition of our mutual affinities as well as our common values and interests.
Tags: Consensus, Voting
Categories: My Commonwealth, The Official Commonwealth
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After an intense few weeks, we are delighted to publish the emerging findings of the Commonwealth Conversation. In this report we say that the Commonwealth must be bold to halt its declining profile, and to do this must focus on three Ps: Principles, Priorities and People. You can download Common What? here, and see the full press release below.
Tags: Common What, Commonwealth Conversation, people, principles, priorities
Categories: The Commonwealth's Relevance, The Official Commonwealth
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Last week we featured the opportunity to ask Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, any question you wanted. He is now responding.
Answering a question on profile, posted on the Commonwealth Conversation website, he said:
“It is by making ourselves relevant and responsive to the concerns of the ordinary people whom we serve that we can best hope to be acknowledged by them.”
Tags: Sharma
Categories: Connecting with Young People, The Commonwealth's Relevance, The Official Commonwealth
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This post is written for the Commonwealth Conversation by journalist Derek Ingram
At the last Commonwealth summit in Kampala in 2007 heads of government endorsed a report that updated the rules for countries wanting to join the Commonwealth.
So far the only country admitted that has no historic connection whatever with the UK or any other Commonwealth member is Mozambique, which was a Portuguese colony, joined in 1995, and has been a successful model.
Tags: CHOGM, Rwanda
Categories: The Official Commonwealth
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Are women equal citizens of the Commonwealth, and, if not, can the Commonwealth do anything about it? 
The Commonwealth currently has an Action Plan for Gender Equality. It views gender equality as a goal in its own right, but also says it can be a key factor in enhancing democracy and peace and eradicating poverty. Important issues such as ensuring education for all and reducing maternal mortality also come under its umbrella.
Tags: Gender Equality
Categories: The Commonwealth's Relevance, The Official Commonwealth
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