Latest content: Social development

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera has expressed hope that the Commonwealth will continue to fight for the values that have strengthened Sri Lanka in recent times, such as human rights, rule of law and democracy.

The Commonwealth’s Head of Climate Finance and Small States, Denny Lewis-Bynoe, explains why 2016 marked a turning point in the global battle against climate change, and why it is crucial that the world builds upon this momentum in 2017.
2016 was a pivotal year for climate change.

Enala Ngulu lives in Karonga, in rural Malawi. She lost both her parents when she was only eight years old. At the age of 13 she was married to a man of 47. He had two other wives. At a time when she should have been in school, learning about the world and how to make a contribution as a young woman, she was forced to grapple with adult responsibilities such as a marriage, a household and child-bearing.

Advancing youth entrepreneurship is a major priority for the Commonwealth, writes Melissa Bryant, Assistant Communications Officer at the Commonwealth Secretariat

The Commonwealth is holding an event at its headquarters in London today to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Called Empowering girls and women: The role of health and education in eliminating violence against women, it has a special focus on the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

A campaign to recognise those persecuted or killed in acts of religious hatred saw both sides of the frontage of the UK Houses of Parliament illuminated in red this week.

As the world marks the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, I stand with millions of men and women around the world to say NO to violence! We will not accept that violence is a part of culture. We reject any suggestions that women and girls are mere possessions to be used and abused.

The Commonwealth will chart a course to decrease violence against women - one of the biggest problems facing humanity - Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will tell experts tomorrow.

As we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25th November, it is right that we recognise this progress but we must also remember that millions of girls are still at risk of FGM.

Erica is the eldest of a family of six children who live on the island of Petite Martinique. She told us that when you live on the island, you simply live a 'seafaring life', and for a woman, there are two options: either get married and become a housewife, or work on the sea.

For Kimani, life is full of challenges and every day it’s about overcoming them without a focus on the fact that he has a disability.

It’s not the fault of the child that he or she is born out of wedlock. That much would seem obvious. But for Johnny Calliste, a proud, patriotic Grenadian and project coordinator with the Ministry of Youth, it has meant stigmatisation and discrimination, especially during his childhood.

More than 900 students have begun their studies in the UK, thanks to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC).

Michelle is a survivor of sexual abuse and rather than let it define her and determine the journey of the rest of her life, she has used it as a powerful tool to help in the healing of others.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is pleased to invite nominations and submissions for the Commonwealth Education Good Practice Awards 2018.

The latest round of the coveted Commonwealth Education Good Practice awards is now open to organisations that are delivering innovative education projects around the Commonwealth.

Exactly a quarter of a century ago, on 20 October 1991, Commonwealth heads of government signed the historic Harare Commonwealth Declaration which defined the association’s fundamental political values.

October 1991: Commonwealth vows to safeguard democracy and human rights

Both the president and the prime minister of Sri Lanka took part in the launch of the Colombo Declaration to ensure better health across the Commonwealth.

By focusing on prevention rather than cure, countries – and especially least development countries – can get more bang for their buck when investing in national healthcare, advises the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Sports leaders need to “get serious” about tackling corruption, or risk undermining social cohesion and health, education and gender equality targets. That was the warning from Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland today.

Finance ministers, central bank governors and the Secretary-General will be in the American capital this week to respond to the biggest financial challenges facing Commonwealth countries.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will address the 2016 Commonwealth Sport Summit next week in Edmonton, Canada.

The government of Mauritius is to create a new national ‘sport for all’ strategy and action plan with support from the Commonwealth.