Latest content: Governance and law

A vibrant Commonwealth bonded by shared values is key to its strength: PM Gillard

Australian Foreign Minister says Perth summit will revitalise Commonwealth

Secretary-General tells civil society that democracy, development and diversity are underpinned by tolerance and respect

Speaker: Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma

River Red Gum was grown from a seed produced by a tree planted by Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Perth, Australia, in 1954

Events in Perth and Fremantle kick start a week culminating in CHOGM summit

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre set-up excellent says Kamalesh Sharma

Members of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum Board, led by the Mayor of Belize City, Zenaida Moya, Chairperson of the CLGF Board, called on Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Ransford Smith to discuss areas of mutual collaboration.

In line with the commitment of the Commonwealth to support democratic processes in member states, I visited The Gambia from 18 to 20 October 2011.

CHOGM 2011 in Perth will advance democracy and development agendas for the 54-member association

Innovative financing at the centre of discussions with French President ahead of G20 meeting in Cannes

Statement by Kamalesh Sharma

Gathering of Commonwealth leaders to be held in Perth, Australia, 28-30 October 2011

Officials note that the reports of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group and the Eminent Persons Group will be central to discussions in Perth

Sharma wraps up visit to India following high-level meetings

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma will visit India from 26 August to

Royal Commonwealth Society calls for public contributions

Deputy Secretary-General Ransford Smith briefs Tuvalu Prime Minister on recommendations of the Eminent Persons Group and preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

Speaker: Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba

International Criminal Court (ICC) President Judge Sang-Hyun Song and Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday 13 July 2011 to strengthen and develop co-operation between their organisations to jointly support states implementing international criminal law.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma will make his first official visits to Samoa and the Kingdom of Tonga, following his attendance at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in Sydney in mid-July.

Meeting provides a periodic opportunity, every three years, for ministers and senior officials to come together to stock take and look ahead

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma will visit Mozambique and Lesotho from 17-21 April 2011, marking his first official visit to both Southern African countries. The Secretary-General will discuss with leaders of both countries on ways to deepen and diversify existing areas of co-operation and partnership, as well as to update them on Commonwealth initiatives.

A group of Commonwealth experts has started the work of revising the Commonwealth model law on implementing the Rome Statute to help Commonwealth countries implement the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court domestically so that they can investigate and prosecute effectively at the national level some of the most serious crimes of international concern, thus helping to close the impunity gap.

He will call on Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Canberra