Latest content: Social development

At a conference in Antigua this week, disability rights’ advocates said that they don’t want special favours. Instead, they are calling for their basic human rights to be respected, protected and fulfilled. The second ‘I Am Able’ conference brought together more than 120 delegates from governments, charities, donor agencies and disabled people’s organisations from the eastern Caribbean.

The Commonwealth’s Countering Violent Extremism Unit has launched a project to explore what it means to be a young Bangladeshi, as the country approaches 50 years of independence. 

Leading health officials are calling for urgent action to reduce the number of cancer cases in the Commonwealth, which are above global averages.

Global experts have commended an international framework which helps countries and sports bodies measure the contribution sport makes to the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The Commonwealth is assisting in strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights in eSwatini through the sharing of expertise between institutions.

Malta has hosted a consultation on a new toolkit designed to strengthen education systems and deliver 12 years of free and quality education to all girls and boys in the Commonwealth.

Health ministers from Southern African countries are being urged to secure the political will to prioritise funds which will fast-track the delivery of universal health coverage in the region.

Well-designed sport and physical activity strategies can make valuable contributions to national development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. That was the message from experts and policy makers who gathered for the three-day annual meeting of the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport (CABOS).

Commonwealth sport policy experts will meet in Mauritius today to draw inspiration from the pioneering sport reforms the country has undertaken with the Secretariat’s support.

Commonwealth countries have been told to reform laws restricting press freedom and to encourage media to work freely on all issues of public importance.

A Commonwealth handbook launched today will help East African judicial officers proactively handle cases of violence against women and girls (VAWG), which affects up to one in three women in their lifetime.

Senior judges and officials have urged leaders to work with judiciary and the civil society to remove discriminatory gender laws and introduce equal rights in the legal system. 

The Secretary-General has outlined how sport can be harnessed to boost international development by “changing perceptions and altering attitudes”.

An enhanced focus on policy reform and scaling access to sport for development programmes will maximise the sport’s contribution to the sustainable development goals.

Ministers have welcomed the Commonwealth’s “timely” intervention to assist St Kitts and Nevis in developing community dialogues as part of the Government’s “holistic approach to crime reduction”.

An innovation workshop in the Seychelles is spurring the transformation of the Commonwealth into a more connected network of countries ready to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

Born out of the Commonwealth’s recognition of an SDG implementation deficit, the Commonwealth in collaboration with the Government of Malta and the Small States Centre of Excellence, will host the Commonwealth’s inaugural “Award for Excellence in SDG Implementation” on 26-27 June in Malta.

Officials from Commonwealth countries in southern Africa are now better equipped to review their national education policies and deliver better quality inclusive education.

The Commonwealth and the International Solar Alliance have agreed to work in partnership to promote the development and scaling-up of solar power within member countries common to both organisations

A Commonwealth workshop has been held for 45 practitioners in Namibia responsible for delivering certified youth work courses in Southern Africa.

The Secretary-General has outlined four pillars designed to nurture Commonwealth students into future leaders.

The Sri Lankan cricket team has congratulated the Commonwealth on its Peace at the Crease initiative