A Commonwealth human rights team is helping the government of Dominica to meet international obligations, clear the backlog of outstanding human rights treaty bodies reports and prepare for the upcoming Universal Periodic Review.
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Commonwealth workshop puts Dominica on track to fulfil human rights commitments
Main page for this area of work
The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) that was convened to observe Nigeria’s 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections has released its final report.
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Commonwealth Observer Group publishes the full report on Nigeria’s 2023 elections
Millions of Commonwealth citizens will benefit from improved people-centred access to justice as law ministers concluded their meeting in Zanzibar today with a package of new measures and pledges.
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Millions to benefit from access to justice measures agreed by Commonwealth law ministers
Ground-breaking government initiatives from Kenya and Rwanda have won the inaugural Commonwealth Access to Justice Innovation Awards for improving access to legal services for vulnerable people.
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Kenya and Rwanda win Commonwealth Access to Justice Innovation Awards
In line with the provisions of the 2018 Revised Commonwealth Guidelines for the Conduct of Election Observation in Member Countries, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, constituted an Observer Group for the 25 February 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections in Nigeria, following an invitation from the Chair of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Commonwealth Observer Group was led by His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, former President of the Republic of South Africa, and comprised 16 other eminent Commonwealth citizens. A staff team of 11 from the Commonwealth Secretariat provided technical support to the Group.
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Nigeria Presidential and National Assembly Elections
The Commonwealth Observer Group was led by His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, former President of the Republic of South Africa, and comprised 16 other eminent Commonwealth citizens. A staff team of 11 from the Commonwealth Secretariat provided technical support to the Group.
The United Republic of Tanzania is all set to welcome ministers and attorneys-general to the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, which will open in Zanzibar on 4 March 2024.
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Tanzania set to host Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting on equal justice for all
Judges in Papua New Guinea have commended a new Commonwealth training course aimed at upskilling them to handle cybercrime cases and make the internet safer for their citizens.
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Commonwealth training on internet safety praised by Papua New Guinea judges
The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) released a statement on its preliminary findings at a press conference in Islamabad, while awaiting the release of complete results from the Electoral Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The observers called for patience and restraint as the results process is finalised.
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Commonwealth observers urge Pakistan citizens to exercise patience as they await the release of final election results
The polls have opened in Pakistan’s general elections, with the Commonwealth observing every step of the electoral process.
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Commonwealth observers deploy to polling stations across Pakistan, as voting begins
The Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has condemned the recent fatal attacks in Pakistan, in the run-up to the general elections.
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Statement - Commonwealth Observer Group condemns Pakistan terror attacks on eve of elections
The group of eminent experts from across the Commonwealth have arrived in Pakistan and will be present in the country throughout the electoral process. As the country goes to the polls on 8 February 2024, 128 million people have the right to vote in Pakistan.
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Commonwealth observers prepare for Pakistan elections
A Commonwealth team, led by former Nigerian President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, will be deployed to Pakistan to observe the general elections scheduled for 8 February 2024. At the request of the Election Commission of Pakistan, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a 13-member Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) is due to arrive in Islamabad on 1 February and will remain in the country until the electoral process is completed.
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Commonwealth group to observe Pakistan elections
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, called on all political and civic leaders in Bangladesh to contribute to a conducive environment for citizens to peacefully exercise their right to vote.
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Commonwealth Secretary-General calls for peaceful elections in Bangladesh
Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon Bruce Golding, will lead a ten-person Commonwealth Expert Team (CET) assigned to observe the Bangladesh general elections, to be held on 7 January 2024. Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, following an invitation from the Bangladesh Election Commission, appointed the cross-functional team of experts.
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Former Prime Minister of Jamaica to head Commonwealth Expert Team observing Bangladesh elections
Election management professionals in African nations have been equipped with the skills to strengthen the credibility, transparency and inclusiveness of electoral processes.
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African election officials to benefit from Commonwealth skills upgrade
The Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana (CMGG) met on Monday, 11 December 2023, to discuss recent developments in the border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela.
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Commonwealth ministerial group urges peaceful resolution between Guyana and Venezuela
7 December 2023 to 7 December 2023
Event
The Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with the Latimer House Working Group, will be hosting a seminar, titled The Latimer House Principles: 20 Years On, to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Latimer House Principles.
At a recent workshop in South Africa, an initial draft of the Commonwealth Military Justice Principles was prepared by judges, legal experts, academics, and military professionals.
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Transformative military justice principles envisioned by experts from across the Commonwealth
4 December 2023 to 8 December 2023
Event
The Commonwealth Secretariat is hosting its fourth Africa regional training event for Commonwealth Election Professionals (CEP) in South Africa from 4-8 December 2023.
The Commonwealth Group observing the presidential run-off election in Maldives has praised the country’s Elections Commission for implementing some of the recommendations it made from the first round of voting.
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Commonwealth Observer Group lauds Elections Commission of Maldives in its interim report
The Commonwealth Observer Group is present as Maldivians, both at home and in the diaspora, vote for a second time to elect their President after none of the candidates won the required percent of the vote in the first round held on 9 September.
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Commonwealth group observes presidential election run-off in Maldives, as votes are cast at home and abroad
Commonwealth election observers will be deployed to the Maldives for the second round of voting in the 2023 Presidential Election. Voters will be returning to the polls after none of the candidates secured more than 50 percent of the votes in the first round held on 9 September.
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Commonwealth team to observe Maldives election run-off
Today in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the 23rd Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) brought together foreign affairs ministers and distinguished representatives from member states to discuss critical global challenges and chart a course for a more interconnected and resilient future.
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Commonwealth foreign affairs ministers meet in New York to address critical global challenges
The 63rd Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) met in New York this week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss developments in member states.
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Gabon partially suspended from the Commonwealth pending restoration of democracy
Maldivians eagerly stood in line to vote at 574 polling stations across 566 islands in the country’s fourth presidential elections since the country's turn to a democratic path in 2008.
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Maldivians vote as the Commonwealth observes presidential elections