Secretariat support for the United Kingdom
Human rights
In 2018, the Secretariat partnered with the United Kingdom to improve the engagement of member states with the United Nation’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. The Secretariat and the UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the Commonwealth Small States Office.
Youth
The Secretariat is helping heads of colleges and universities in the UK build youth workers’ skills. It has made youth work qualifications available, including a youth work degree, and is supporting short courses.
Sport
The Secretariat partnered with the UK to create indicators and tools to measure the contribution of sport and physical education to sustainable development.
Sport for development and peace work
Blue Charter
The UK co-champions the Action Group on tackling marine plastic pollution – the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance (CCOA), with Vanuatu. The UK and Vanuatu have so far rallied 27 member states to join the Action Group.
The UK is also a member of the Coral Reef Protection and Restoration, Mangrove Ecosystems and Livelihoods, Marine Protected Areas, Ocean Acidification and Ocean and Climate Change Action Groups.
Connectivity Agenda
The UK is a member of the Physical, Digital and Regulatory Connectivity clusters of the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda. The Connectivity Agenda is a platform for countries to exchange best practices and experiences to trade and investment and undertake domestic reform.
United Kingdom in the Commonwealth
His Majesty King Charles III is Head of the Commonwealth and Head of State of 15 Commonwealth countries.
In London, the UK hosts the HQ of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Foundation, Association of Commonwealth Universities, Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, Commonwealth Games Federation, Commonwealth Local Government Forum and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Scholarships and fellowships are awarded by the UK to citizens of other Commonwealth countries under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan.
Three Britons have won the overall Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and four have won the Best First Book award.
