Read the latest speeches and statements from the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.
September 2026
- Remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General: The Commonwealth Cricket Celebration – 9 September
- Secretary-General's Opening Remarks: Launch of the Commonwealth Foundation Strategic Plan 2026-2031 – 2 September
July 2026
- Secretary-General's opening remarks: Commonwealth Youth Ministers Task Force Meeting – 28 July
- Opening remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting – 22 July
- Secretary-General's opening remarks: Commonwealth Ministerial Welcome Reception – 21 July
- Opening remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the Dialogue with Accredited Organisations – 9 July
- Opening remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the Marlborough House Dialogue with the Rt Hon Helen Clark – 8 July
June 2026
- Opening remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards ceremony – 25 June
- Opening remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the London Climate Action Week: High-Level Ministerial Dialogue – 25 June
- Keynote address by Commonwealth Secretary-General at the Deutsche Bank ‘Deep Currents’ Conference – 23 June
- Keynote address by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the Invest Lagos 3.0 Conference – 8 June
April 2026
March 2026
- Opening Remarks by Commonwealth Secretary-General at the Commonwealth Forum of Sustainable Sovereign Debt – 23 March
- Keynote address by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the CPA 74th Westminster Seminar – 12 March
- Commonwealth Secretary-General's opening remarks at the Commonwealth Investment Network Summit – 10 March
- Remarks by Commonwealth Secretary-General, at the Memorial Gates wreath-laying ceremony – 9 March
- Commonwealth Day message from Hon Shirley Botchwey, Commonwealth Secretary-General – 8 March
- Secretary-General's remarks at the 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting – 8 March
- Remarks by Commonwealth Secretary-General at the reception of All Party Parliamentary Group for Ghana and Ghana’s 69th Independence Day and Launch of the UK Black Stars List – 6 March
February 2026
- Statement by Commonwealth Secretary-General at the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting – 25 February
- High level statement by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council – 25 February
- Commonwealth Secretary-General's statement to Commonwealth High Commissioners accredited to Australia – 16 February
- Statement by the Commonwealth Secretary-General on the 2026 General Election in Barbados – 13 February
- Remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting 2026 – 9 February
January 2026
- Keynote Address by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission UK – 20 January
November 2025
- Remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the King's Trust International: Legacy in Motion, Africa event – 26 November
- Commonwealth Secretary-General's statement on International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women – 25 November
- Address by Commonwealth Secretary-General at the Royal Over-Seas League Annual Lecture – 12 November
- Commonwealth Secretary-General's speech at the launch ceremony of CHOGM2026 – 4 November
October 2025
- Secretary-General's opening remarks: Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting – 13 October
- Secretary General's remarks at the official opening of the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference - 7 October
- Speech by the Secretary-General for the Commonwealth Society's plaque unveiling ceremony – 6 October
September 2025
July 2025
- Keynote Address by Commonwealth Secretary-General: GLITZ Africa, She Boss UK Summit 2025 – 31 July
- Opening remarks by the Secretary-General at the Annual Convention of the Commonwealth Medical Association – 18 July
- Secretary-General statement at first dialogue with Commonwealth Accredited Organisations – 15 July
June 2025
- Welcome Reception remarks by the Secretary-General: Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting and the Inaugural Commonwealth Business Summit – 19 June
- Secretary-General Opening Keynote: Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting – 19 June
- Keynote Address by the Secretary-General: Harnessing Commonwealth Trade for Shared Prosperity – 18 June
- Secretary-General's remarks on the joint declaration between the Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) – 12 June
- Keynote address by the Secretary-General: ICC United Kingdom 2025 Sustainability Conference - Sustainable Global Supply Chains: Turning Ambition into Action – 10 June
- Keynote address by the Secretary-General at her Welcome Reception – 5 June
May 2025
- Keynote address by the Secretary-General: Oxford Africa Conference.
Changing Narratives: Vision, Action and Transformation of Africa – 25 May - Secretary-General opening the 37th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting – 17 May
April 2025
- Keynote address by the Secretary-General at the Innovation Net Zero World Congress 2025 – 29 April
- Secretary-General’s statement on the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir – 23 April
- Secretary-General's remarks at the Pacific Celebration Reception – 10 April
- Keynote address by the Secretary-General at the Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit 2025 – 7 April
- Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey's inaugural address on assuming office as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth – 1 April
