In a meeting which serves as a precursor to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), senior government officials and representatives from the Commonwealth Secretariat held discussions with representatives from Commonwealth sister organisations and accredited organisations.
During the meeting, the organisations advanced proposals, initiatives and ideas for consideration by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the 2024 CHOGM Host Government, Samoa.
The Government of Samoa was represented by Peseta Noumea Simi, Chief Executive Officer of Samoa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and a strong delegation from the country. They will also attend other CHOGM-related meetings over the course of the week in preparation for the summit in October.
The Commonwealth has over 90 accredited organisations and some of these organisations addressed the delegates at the event. The Commonwealth Games Federation, Commonwealth Women’s Network, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network, Commonwealth Health Professions and Partner Alliance, and Soroptimist International, were among the organisations that were in attendance. Sister organisations, Commonwealth Foundation and Commonwealth of Learning also made presentations.
Many of the speakers shared powerful stories underscoring the needs for inclusion in the CHOGM communiqué and the work plan for the Commonwealth Secretariat. Issues raised during the consultations included human rights, gender equality, cultural inclusion, bridging the digital divide and greater inclusion of civil rights organisations in decision-making.
Chaired by the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Assistant Secretary-General, Prof Luis Franceschi, the meeting began with a moment of silence to mark the passing of the second Commonwealth Secretary-General, Sir Shridath Ramphal, who passed away on 30 September 2024.
The Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Dr Arjoon Suddhoo, participated in the sessions and read a speech on behalf of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, who was unavoidably absent. In her speech she noted:
“The Commonwealth Charter places the greatest importance on the vital role of civil society in our Family of Nations. And the scope, and quality, of your work is truly humbling. Together, you cover every generation we serve, every skillset we require, and every challenge we face. Day after day, from health and education to justice, peace and the protection of democracy, your work is making a huge difference.”
The voices of the underserved, ordinary citizens and changemakers were represented and shared initiatives they would like to see prioritised. Richard Reiser, the General Secretary of the Commonwealth Disabilities People’s Forum, strongly advocated for a Disability Inclusion Action Plan to be added to the CHOGM communiqué. To illustrate its importance, he played a video showing the support for the initiative from people with disabilities from across Commonwealth nations.
He advocated:
“If the Commonwealth at CHOGM 24 adopts the action plan, it will provide ways to collaborate across countries on taking forward the implementation of full rights for persons with disabilities, who have not been mentioned in the Commonwealth Charter and other declarations. The Kigali Declaration on Child Care and Protection Reform 2022 provided ways of focusing on a forgotten area and has created new consensus across Commonwealth ministerial meetings such as Education.”
The accredited bodies include civil society, professional bodies, academic institutions and other networks. They are critical to advancing the values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter, touching millions of lives across various sectors in the process. A study released in 2023, found that the organisations had spent £283 million to support their various causes, more than doubling the previous year's spending.
