Democracy, government and law

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Commonwealth observers say Nigeria’s 2023 elections ‘largely peaceful’ with room for improvement

Nigeria’s 2023 general elections were “largely peaceful” despite administrative and logistical hurdles at many polling units, according to an independent group of Commonwealth observers.

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Commonwealth team observes voting on election day in Nigeria

Commonwealth observers are today watching as the voting takes place across Nigeria and millions of people head out to elect their presidential and national assembly representatives.

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Commonwealth Secretary-General Attends Peace Accord Ahead of Nigeria’s General Elections

In the leadup to Nigeria’s General Elections which are to take place on Saturday February 25th, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, arrived in Abuja for the signing of the National Peace Accord.

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Rule of Law Conversation Series

The Commonwealth Secretariat hosts the Rule of Law Conversations, a series of webinars and events addressing contemporary legal topics.

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We must decriminalise poverty to achieve equal access to justice

Last week the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London held a seminar at Marlborough House on the decriminalisation of Poverty and Status in the Commonwealth.

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Commonwealth Observer Group calls for peaceful elections in Nigeria

The Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group to Nigeria, H.E. Thabo Mbeki, has urged the country’s political parties, candidates and their supporters to play their part in ensuring peaceful, transparent and credible elections on Saturday, 25 February 2023.

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Elections 2023: Commonwealth Observer Group in Nigeria

25 February 2023 to 25 February 2023

Event

Commonwealth election observers were in Nigeria from 19 February to 2 March for the country’s 2023 general elections.

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Former President Mbeki of South Africa to lead Commonwealth observers for Nigerian elections

Former President of South Africa, H.E. Thabo Mbeki, will lead a team of Commonwealth election observers to Nigeria, which will be holding Africa’s largest democratic exercise later this month when it holds general elections on 25 February 2023.

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22nd Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting

15 March 2023 to 15 March 2023

Event

The 22nd Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) will take place at the Commonwealth’s Headquarters, Marlborough House, London, on 15 March 2023.

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Caribbean workshop on effective legal frameworks for building the digital economy

13 February 2023 to 15 February 2023

Conference

The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) will co-host a three-day workshop to train government officials from the Caribbean in developing sound legal frameworks that boost the digital economy.

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Commonwealth team to observe Antigua and Barbuda’s 2023 general election

Former President of Seychelles, H.E. Danny Faure, will lead a team of Commonwealth election observers to Antigua and Barbuda for the country’s general election, scheduled for 18 January 2023.

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Dominica elections reflect the collective will of voters - Commonwealth observers

The Commonwealth Observer Group has presented its preliminary findings on the 6 December general elections in the Commonwealth of Dominica.

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Dominica elections: preliminary results released, observers to report on findings

The Electoral Office of the Commonwealth of Dominica has released preliminary results following the country’s general elections on 6 December.

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Commonwealth group begins observation of elections in Dominica

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) has started its work in preparation for the general election in the Commonwealth of Dominica, scheduled for Tuesday 6 December.

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Commonwealth ministers adopt new model law to strengthen data protection rules

Commonwealth law ministers have adopted a new model law to strengthen rules for protecting and handling the personal data of the 2.5 billion people living in the association’s 56 member countries.

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Former Kenya Foreign Minister to lead Commonwealth Observer Mission to Dominica

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, a Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) will be deployed to observe the country’s general elections scheduled for 6 December 2022.

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Commonwealth Law Ministers mobilise to deliver justice for all not the few

Today after three days of deliberations, the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting 2022 concluded with a set of proposed actions to be taken at the national and Commonwealth level to realise equal access to justice and justice transformation for all by 2030.

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Commonwealth Secretary-General welcomes Law Ministers’ unanimous agreement on Media Principles

Today Commonwealth Law Ministers unanimously agreed to recommend the 'Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of Expression and the Role of the Media in Good Governance' to Commonwealth Leaders to consider at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

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We must transform justice systems to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, says Commonwealth Secretary-General

Law Ministers are meeting in Mauritius to set clear directions on a range of legal, rule of law and justice issues.

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Commonwealth Secretary-General arrives in Mauritius ahead of Law Ministers Meeting

A delegation led by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, arrived in Mauritius today ahead of the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting 2022 (CLMM).

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Blog: The Commonwealth's Plan of Action to Enhance Access to Justice

A blog by Dr Elizabeth Macharia, Legal Adviser, Law Development Section, Governance and Peace Directorate, Commonwealth Secretariat.

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Conclusion of the Commonwealth Mission to Zimbabwe

Following the Commonwealth Secretariat mission to Zimbabwe from 12 - 17 November 2022, Assistant Secretary-General, Prof Luis Franceschi, has said:

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Commonwealth trains over 500 police in Mauritius on protecting human rights

The Commonwealth Secretariat is in Mauritius this week working with the Government to train local law enforcement and help enhance their relationships with the diverse communities of the country through the teaching of applied human rights principles in policing.

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Commonwealth Secretariat mission to visit Zimbabwe

The Commonwealth Secretariat is today confirming that a delegation, led by the Assistant Secretary-General, Prof. Luis Franceschi, will be visiting Harare, Zimbabwe, from Saturday 12 November until Thursday, 17 November 2022.

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Absentee voting workshop for Commonwealth Pacific election officials kicks off in Wellington

A training workshop on absentee voting for Commonwealth Election Professionals (CEP) based in the Pacific region opened today in Wellington, New Zealand, bringing together 23 participants from 14 Election Management Bodies (EMBs).

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