Latest content: Secretary-General

Collaborative action is vital to prevent the runaway effects of climate change and loss of biodiversity, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has told a conference of global leaders and experts on Thursday.

The Commonwealth-Secretary General, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has pledged the Commonwealth Secretariat’s full support to Sri Lanka as the country navigates difficult challenges.

The Commonwealth Secretariat, PATH and the Reaching the Last Mile initiative have begun the drumbeat towards this year’s global climate summit COP28, calling for action to address the harmful impacts of climate change on health.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General yesterday called for an unprecedented level of international co-operation to reach timely and orderly resolutions to the interlocking crises of environmental breakdown, economic insecurity and rising inequality.

The Commonwealth’s network of 87 accredited organisations (AOs) have been recognised for their work to support member countries during some of the worst catastrophes seen in recent times, from the COVID-19 pandemic to devastating natural disasters.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General made an urgent appeal to everyone to take personal responsibility in putting an end to violence against women and girls.

Today after three days of deliberations, the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting 2022 concluded with a set of proposed actions to be taken at the national and Commonwealth level to realise equal access to justice and justice transformation for all by 2030.

Law Ministers are meeting in Mauritius to set clear directions on a range of legal, rule of law and justice issues.

A delegation led by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, arrived in Mauritius today ahead of the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting 2022 (CLMM).

Following two weeks of extensive negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference COP27, nearly 200 countries have agreed on a set of key outcomes, including the establishment of a fund to address loss and damage due to climate change.

At COP27, Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, launched a new Commonwealth policy guide to help governments build a more productive and sustainable agricultural sector.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has called on member countries to uphold global climate change commitments and take decisive action to tackle the gaps in implementation, ahead of next week’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).

The Commonwealth Secretary-General has said she is more determined than ever to bring change and end violence against women and girls across the Commonwealth.

The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC has made history by becoming the first Commonwealth Secretary-General to address the Pan-African Parliament.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has congratulated H.E. Samuel Matekane and the Basotho as she attended the inauguration ceremony of the newly-elected Prime Minister in Maseru, Lesotho.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has arrived in Maseru, Lesotho, ahead of a week-long visit that will conclude in South Africa on 2 November 2022.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General has welcomed the recently-launched Resilience and Sustainable Facility (RSF) - the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) financing facility aimed at helping low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries build resilience to economic shocks – but said that more work must be done to improve eligibility, requirements, and conditions in accessing this facility for small and vulnerable states.

Today Commonwealth Finance Ministers met on the margins of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings in Washington DC for the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting 2022 (CFMM) to address emerging economic issues facing the global economy and Commonwealth countries.

A delegation led by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has arrived in Washington DC ahead of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting (CFMM) and the Commonwealth Central Bank Governors (CCBG) Meeting.

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to Zambia has today released its final report on the 2021 general elections, which saw Hakainde Hichilema become the country’s seventh president.

Solidarity and greater collaboration between countries and multilateral organisations when tackling major health challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, are key to addressing the widening health inequalities which continue to be observed across the world, the Commonwealth Secretary-General has said at a gathering of top experts and policymakers from the global health community.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, joined African leaders at Africa Climate Week 2022 to discuss Africa’s climate change challenges and regional collaboration towards implementing solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The two organisations will broaden their existing cooperation to promote the ocean economy, curb plastic pollution, support least-developed countries, bolster the digital economy and boost gender equality.

Op-Ed by The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth 

The Commonwealth has admitted Gabon and Togo as its 55th and 56th members respectively. Our continued growth reflects the advantages of Commonwealth membership and strength of our association.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, QC, has been bestowed with the Commander of the Gabonese National Order of Merit (Commandeur de l’Ordre National du Merite Gabonais) – one of the country’s highest honours awarded to both Gabonese and foreign nationals.