Latest content: Secretary-General

Remarks from the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, at the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Glasgow on 22 July 2026.

Opening remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, at the Dialogue with Accredited Organisations at Marlborough House on 9 July 2026.

Keynote Address by Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Botchwey, at the Deutsche Bank ‘Deep Currents’ Conference in partnership with Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) Blue Horizons; Investing in the Ocean, the Next Frontier during London Climate Action Week on 23 June 2026 at Deutsche Bank London Headquarters.

Remarks by Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Botchwey at the 32nd Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi: 32nd Kwibuka (Remember - Unite - Renew) on 7th March 2026 at St Marylebone Parish Church, London.

One Year of Action. One Commonwealth.

Opening Remarks by Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Botchwey, at the Commonwealth Forum of Sustainable Sovereign Debt on 23 March at 10am, Marlborough House, London.

Keynote address by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, at the United Kingdom Commonwealth Parliamentary Association 74th Westminster Seminar at Cholmondeley Room, House of Lords, London on 12 March 2026.

Remarks from the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, at the 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting at Lancaster House in London on 8 March 2026.

Remarks by Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Botchwey at the reception of APPG for Ghana and Ghana’s 69th Independence Day and Launch of the UK Black Stars List at House of Commons, London on Friday 6th March 2026 at 11am.

As we mark International Women’s Day 2026, the global call – 'Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls' – reminds us of the continuing challenge of gender equality.

Because equality remains unfinished business.

Remarks by Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, at the Memorial Gates wreath-laying ceremony on Commonwealth Day, Monday 9 March 2026, at Memorial Gates, Constitution Hill, London.

Statement by Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Botchwey at the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government Meeting on 25 February 2026 at Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

High level statement by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Botchwey at the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, High Level Segment on 25 February 2026 in Gevena, Switzerland.

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Botchwey's statement to Commonwealth High Commissioners accredited to Australia

The following statement was issued today by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Hon. Shirley Botchwey, on the general election in Barbados.

The following statement was issued today by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Hon. Shirley Botchwey, on the devasting floods in Mozambique and across Southern Africa.

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Botchwey's Keynote Address at the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission (CSC) UK - Connect and Collaborate Event for new Commonwealth Scholars on 20th January 2026 at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Westminster.

As we begin a new year, I extend my warmest wishes to the 2.7 billion citizens of our Commonwealth family. A new year invites reflection, but also resolve. And as we step forward together, the road ahead carries particular meaning for our Commonwealth. 

Statement on the Situation in Bangladesh by Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey on 20 December 2025.

Remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the King's Trust International: Legacy in Motion event on Wednesday 26 November 2025 at the Royal Over-Seas League.

The following statement was issued on 25 November 2025 by Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon Shirley Botchwey on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, will begin her first official visit to Bangladesh this week to engage with a range of stakeholders at a pivotal moment in the country’s national journey. 

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, has appointed HE Dr Lazarus Chakwera, the immediate past President of Malawi, as her Special Envoy to the United Republic of Tanzania.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General's address delivered at the Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) Annual Lecture, on Wednesday 12 November 20205, at the Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL), London.

Opening remarks delivered by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the Finance Ministers Meeting, held in Washington, in the margins of the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings.