Latest content: Promoting Democracy

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to the March 2020 General and Regional Elections in Guyana has concluded that, notwithstanding the many challenges surrounding the elections, the people of Guyana ultimately had the opportunity to exercise their franchise.

A landmark set of measures to support international efforts in tackling corruption has been launched by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

An initiative to support Commonwealth countries to hold credible and inclusive elections has received an additional £900,000 from the Australian government.

Commonwealth countries in Africa have been pooling knowledge gained from managing election processes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ahead of the 2021 General Elections in Uganda on 14 January, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, has called on all Ugandans, in particular political leaders, to uphold Uganda and the Commonwealth’s shared values of peace, tolerance and inclusivity.

Commonwealth human rights experts held an anti-torture workshop for senior government officials from the Caribbean.

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) which has been on location in Ghana observing the recent elections has today issued an interim statement calling for peace as they await full results.

Amid stringent health precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voters formed orderly queues at polling stations in Ghana, as the general election got under way.

Ghanaians will vote in the presidential and parliamentary election due to be held on 7 December.

The Commonwealth is deploying a team to observe the general election in Ghana scheduled for 7 December.

Members of parliament have a crucial role in countries’ response to the “human rights emergency” caused by Covid-19, the Commonwealth Secretary-General has said.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, has strongly urged authorities to investigate allegations regarding the recent general election in the United Republic of Tanzania of serious electoral irregularities, violence and of deaths, particularly in Zanzibar.

Ahead of the 2020 General Elections in the United Republic of Tanzania on 28 October, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC has issued a statement.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) held its fifty-seventh meeting by video conference on 19 October 2020.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is supporting women from Africa and the Caribbean in overcoming political hurdles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Commonwealth Secretariat has published guidance for member states preparing to hold elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Commonwealth’s Secretary-General has urged member countries to focus on building a more equal, inclusive and sustainable world, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anti-corruption and asset recovery efforts by agencies in Africa have been praised by the Commonwealth Secretary-General.

Applications are open for eight young people to lead the charge in protecting and promoting human rights across the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is supporting a Jamaican initiative to get young people in the Caribbean more involved in politics.

If one moment brought us together in our role as an election observer group it was the warm and witty welcome of the Rt. Hon Owen Seymour Arthur in our conference room at the Cara Lodge Hotel.

I extend congratulations to His Excellency Dr Irfan Ali upon his swearing-in as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana following the declaration of the 2 March General Election and Regional election results on 2 August 2020 by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). 

The participation of an independent candidate and the candidacy of a woman for president were “unprecedented developments” in Namibia’s electoral history, according to a Commonwealth Observer Group.