Latest content: Secretary-General

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.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, has made the following statement about the 2022 Kenya Elections:

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, QC, is set to make her first official visit to the Commonwealth’s newest member, Gabon, next week.

The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Awards, which recognise exceptional young people from across the Commonwealth, has been extended until the 31st October.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC has received a Lifetime Achievement Award and Justice Medal from O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) in New Delhi, India.

Secretary-General Scotland met with Mauritian leaders to discuss climate action, the cost of living crisis, renewing tourism post-pandemic, opportunities for economic recovery and more.

Yesterday during the Fifth Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub Steering Committee meeting, held in Mauritius, the Commonwealth Secretariat launched the ‘Toolkit to Enhance Access to Climate Finance: A Practical Guide’.

The Commonwealth welcomes the United Nations General Assembly’s recognition of the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, has applauded the adoption of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent at the 51st Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting this week in Suva, Fiji.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, has called on political leaders in Sri Lanka to safeguard democratic governance, the rule of law and human rights, in adherence with the values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter.

The largest ever Commonwealth heritage project has been launched to help protect threatened historic buildings and create training opportunities for people across the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, made a powerful plea for ocean action today at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal.

In case you missed it: 

Today at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022 in Kigali Rwanda, leaders of the Commonwealth reappointed Secretary-General The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC for a further two years to complete the balance of her period in office.

The Commonwealth spokesperson said:

[To President Kagame] Mr President, thank you for welcoming us to your beautiful, inspiring country – it is so wonderful to be in Rwanda, and in this incredible, thriving, rising continent.

This week the Commonwealth Secretariat held a four-day workshop in the Maldives for grassroots female entrepreneurs to help them leverage digital infrastructure opportunities for E-Commerce and Digital Marketing.

The Commonwealth Secretariat and World Trade Organization (WTO) signed yesterday (11 June) a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations and to enhance the participation of Commonwealth countries in the multilateral trading system.

Governments and the business community across the Commonwealth are set to meet for the first and largest in-person gathering at the Commonwealth Business Forum, held alongside CHOGM in Kigali later this month. Ahead of the Forum, the Commonwealth Secretary-General addressed members of the Eastern Africa Association reaffirming the Secretariat’s commitment to supporting member governments, businesses, and the people in East Africa as they unleash their full potential

Op-ed by: Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC

Top officials from the Government of Saint Lucia say they are staying vigilant as the Atlantic Hurricane season officially begins this week, while urging the Commonwealth’s continued support towards building climate resilience in the country.

The Prime Minister of Dominica, the Hon Roosevelt Skerrit has praised the role of the Commonwealth Secretariat in enabling more public-private partnerships as well as building the digital economy in his country.