Latest content: Promoting Democracy

The Secretary-General enquired from the Speaker about progress being made with the Commonwealth Secretariat’s offer of advice and assistance with legislative drafting.

"The forthcoming elections are a significant milestone for South Africa. They mark the twentieth anniversary of the country’s first democratic elections, and are the first elections after the passing of former President Nelson Mandela" - Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma

Law ministers and attorneys-general from the 53-member Commonwealth will meet in Gaborone, Botswana early next month to discuss law and justice issues affecting Commonwealth citizens

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has welcomed developments in Fiji, including the announcement of elections in September 2014.

Interim Statement by the Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group to Maldives Majlis (Parliamentary) Elections, March 2014

The Commonwealth Charter, adopted by all our member governments on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth, affirms that: ‘We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds’.

Statement by Hon Bruce Golding, Chair, Commonwealth Observer Group, delivered at Traders Hotel in Malé, Maldives, on 19 March 2014

The Commonwealth and the British Red Cross signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to help countries minimise suffering during armed conflict.

The flag of the Republic of Fiji went up at the Commonwealth Secretariat gardens in London, following a positive decision to change the status of the country's membership in the organisation.

CMAG decided that Fiji’s current full suspension from the Commonwealth should be changed to suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth, thus permitting Fiji once again to participate in a range of Commonwealth activities.

Bruce Golding, the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, will lead a Commonwealth Observer Group to Maldives for parliamentary elections there this month.

“We hope that a credible and inclusive parliamentary election can be held in accordance with the constitution, and that Maldivians will be able to cast their votes with confidence and with the will of the people being respected.”

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group will hold its 43rd meeting in London on Friday, 14 March 2014.

The Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (CFNHRI) will be meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday 11 March for its 2014 Annual Meeting.

Explore our interactive presentation to learn more about this year's Commonwealth Theme: #TeamCommonwealth

Senior officials from election management bodies in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean will be trained to explore ways of preventing, managing and resolving election-related disputes.

The newly established Commonwealth Youth Council launched in Nigeria an international campaign to reduce incidents of violence perpetrated by young people at elections.

The Commonwealth stands ready to provide whatever support may be considered helpful in the post-election period in Bangladesh.

The Chairperson of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is the responsibility of all stakeholders in the country to ensure that its elections are peaceful, fair and credible.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General has renewed his call for Commonwealth values to be upheld. This follows recent developments in member countries affecting the rights of Commonwealth citizens based on their sexual orientation.

One of the Observer Group’s findings was that despite repeated delays and uncertainty around the process, Maldivian voters remained engaged and repeatedly turned out in large numbers to cast their ballot and express their will.

The Commonwealth has been following closely the situation in Bangladesh relating to the parliamentary elections held on 5 January 2014

Celebrating the year in pictures

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, has sent a pre-election assessment mission to Bangladesh this week, following an invitation from the Chief Elections Commissioner.

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Colombo, Sri Lanka, 15-17 November 2013