Small states | Commonwealth

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Promoting rule of law for development in small states

Senior officials and legal experts meet to consider rule of law and post-2015 development agenda from the perspective of small Commonwealth states.

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New forum to tackle Commonwealth trade challenges

A Commonwealth working group on trade will meet in Malta for the first time to consider challenges affecting member countries.

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Barbados conference to boost small states’ access to development finance

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Small states to have say on rule of law and justice in post-2015 negotiations

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Commonwealth and African Union strengthen partnership to assist member countries

The Commonwealth Secretariat and African Union have held discussions in Addis Ababa on ways to strengthen collaboration in trade advocacy, electoral support and women’s leadership, among other areas.

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Visit of the Secretary-General to UNESCO

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Conference on Financing for Development in Small States

25 March 2015 to 26 March 2015

Event

The Conference on Financing for Development in Small States will bring together senior officials from Ministries of Finance, representatives from national and regional organisations, international financial institutions and UN agencies.

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Malta Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting announcement

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The Blue Economy offers rich rewards to countries that seize the moment

OP-ED by Deputy Secretary-General Deodat Maharaj

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Enhancing Trade Capacity Development in Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific

Hub and Spokes II Programme: planning, coordination and governance meeting - welcome and opening remarks by Deodat Maharaj, Deputy Secretary General

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Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held on 27-29 November 2015

The next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be held in Malta, from 27 to 29 November 2015.

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The Commonwealth in 2014

Celebrating the year in pictures

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Reflections on the Commonwealth’s relief effort following the 2004 tsunami

Ten years ago, a devastating tsunami crashed into parts of south and south-east Asia killing hundreds of thousands of people and injuring many more.

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International conference on 'Mega Trading Blocs: Implications for Developing Countries'

15 December 2014 to 16 December 2014

Event

International Conference on Mega Trading Blocs: Implications for Developing Countries, New Delhi, India

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Secretary-General's statement on Human Rights Day 2014

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma's Human Rights Day statement, Marlborough House

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Commonwealth Secretary-General visits The Bahamas

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma arrives in The Bahamas on 29 September for a two-day visit.

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Fiji rejoins Commonwealth as a full member

Fiji is reinstated as a full member of the Commonwealth following a decision by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group

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Blog: SIDS 2014 conference in Samoa

Leaders gathered in Samoa from 1-4 September at the United Nations' International Conference on Small Island Developing States, to help build durable partnerships and secure sustainable development for vulnerable coastal nations.

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Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General's address to SIDS 2014

Address by Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Deodat Maharaj to the Plenary Session of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States

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Commentary: Revisiting the wealth of small island states

We need to move beyond simplistic measures of development and reconcile sustainable management of oceans with economic and social needs - Deputy Secretary-General Deodat Maharaj

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Tool for building resilience expanded by Commonwealth

A vulnerability resilience framework, newly revised and expanded by the Commonwealth, helps small states to develop policies to build resilience and bounce back from economic and environmental crises.

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Call to scale up climate partnership for small islands

The heads of three regional organisations, together with the Commonwealth, have called for the strengthening of a global partnership to support climate change planning and finance in small island developing states.

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Young people as development partners for small island nations

Youth leaders represented at a global summit on small island nations in Samoa have called on national governments to include young people as partners for sustainable development.

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The Commonwealth at SIDS 2014

28 August 2014 to 4 September 2014

Event

Supporting small island developing states to build resilience and prosper.

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Lesotho Deputy Prime Minister hails study tour to New Zealand

The Deputy Prime Minister of Lesotho, Mothetjoa Metsing has said the study tour of Members of Parliament and senior officials from his country which he led to New Zealand has enabled them to better understand government under a Mixed Member Proportion (MMP) system.

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