Secretary-General | Commonwealth

For more information

E-mail our Media team

Main page for this area of work

World Mental Health Day: Commonwealth Secretary-General urges countries to modernise mental health legislation

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has impressed upon member countries the importance of examining mental health legislation to see whether it is in line with the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Read news

Commonwealth Secretary-General welcomes launch of prestigious Earthshot Prize

The Commonwealth Secretary-General has welcomed the launch today by His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge of the Earthshot Prize.

Read news

Commonwealth toolkit designed to help member countries achieve gender equality targets

Commonwealth officials and women’s rights experts are developing a toolkit designed to help member countries realise UN-agreed gender equality targets by 2030.

Read news

Debt data quality tool to support better decision-making on public debt

The Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have joined forces to create a pioneering resource to support countries facing tough decisions on public debt.

Read news

Commonwealth countries back actions to combat climate change through land use

Action around land use to slow climate change and biodiversity loss, gets vital boost from Commonwealth and United Nations partners during a breakthrough meeting.

Read news

Commonwealth Secretariat and NO MORE Foundation launch campaign against domestic and sexual violence across 54 countries

The Commonwealth Secretariat and NO MORE Foundation have today launched a new campaign designed to help tackle the immediate crisis of the rapid increase in domestic and sexual violence due to the impacts of COVID-19

Read news

Launch of ‘Commonwealth Says NO MORE’ portal for tackling domestic and sexual violence

Event

The Commonwealth Secretariat and the NO MORE Foundation will launch a new digital portal on 9 September to help the 54 member countries tackle domestic and sexual violence.

View event

Pandemic causing shrinking civil society space in the Commonwealth

Civil society organisations and human rights defenders are struggling to carry out their vital work amid strict measures imposed to curb Covid-19.

Read news

Secretary-General appeals to Commonwealth to combat racism

The Commonwealth Secretary-General has made an impassioned plea for member countries to focus their energies on rooting out the “stain of racism” in their societies.

Read news

Commonwealth Secretary-General statement on resolution of Guyana electoral impasse

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).

Read news

Commonwealth tackles COVID-19 impacts on rule of law

Commonwealth countries have shared how innovation has been the difference between keeping the wheels of justice turning, and legal systems coming to a grinding halt.

Read news

OPINION: COVID-19 debt relief must consider the vulnerabilities of small states

A lethal combination of disease, extreme climate events and economic crises is threatening the smallest and most vulnerable nations of the world. To tackle it, we must overhaul how we understand and address economic vulnerability.

Read news

Ministers welcome Commonwealth interventions to rebuild hard-hit sport sector

Commonwealth collaboration is vital to the recovery of the sport sector which has suffered a crushing blow from essential measures to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Read news

Summary: World Oceans Day: Mapping the Commonwealth one coral reef at a time

Celebrating World Oceans Day 2020, on 8 June, the Commonwealth Secretariat kicked off with the first Commonwealth Blue Charter webinar in its new series.

Read news

Rule of Law webinar 1: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Rule of Law in the Commonwealth

Event

The Commonwealth Secretariat is hosting a series of online webinars focusing on COVID-19 and the Rule of Law.

View event

New dashboard launched to help Commonwealth Governments tackle Coronavirus

A Covid-19 dashboard has been launched by the Commonwealth Secretariat to help member countries make vital decisions during the ongoing crisis.

Read news

Commonwealth issues joint statement on the COVID-19 pandemic

Commonwealth leaders from all 54 member states have today issued a joint statement on the COVID-19 pandemic and steps that member states are taking to fight the pandemic and to work together in support of each other and broader global efforts.

Read news

Friends of the Commonwealth Secretariat mark Commonwealth Secretariat’s 55th Anniversary at event in India

The 55th anniversary of the founding of the Commonwealth Secretariat has been marked by supporters in India during a special virtual event.

Read news

Secretary-General of the Commonwealth speaks on the postponement of CHOGM due to COVID-19

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland spoke to mark the fact that, if not for the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Commonwealth would be holding CHOGM this week in Kigali, Rwanda.

Read news

World must continue to fight the invisible infection of corruption - Secretary-General

Countries’ response to Covid-19, their long-term development and the meeting of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are all threatened by the “invisible infection” of corruption, the Commonwealth Secretary-General has warned.

Read news

Commonwealth Secretariat welcomes new domestic violence law for Seychelles

The Commonwealth Secretary-General has welcomed new legislation in Seychelles that will help curb violence against women and girls.

Read news

Post-COVID recovery should lock in ocean sustainability, says Commonwealth Secretary-General

The Commonwealth Secretary-General is urging governments to ensure their countries’ post-COVID economic recoveries are environmentally sustainable and safe for the ocean.

Read news

The hidden pandemic alongside COVID-19

As economies, institutions and social welfare sectors continue to buckle under the strain of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic crisis, there is a dangerous escalation in the risk to the millions of people caught in the clutches of domestic and gender-based violence.

Read news

Commonwealth Secretary-General calls for urgent global response to coronavirus at World Health Assembly

The Commonwealth’s Secretary-General has encouraged the international community to take urgent multilateral action to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Read news

Secretary-General urges breaking the silence on International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia

International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia takes place on 17 May. This year’s theme is 'Breaking the Silence', which seeks to highlight the voices of the most vulnerable and marginalised in society while embracing our individual identities.

Read news

Latest content: Secretary-General

For more information