COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS


“The


Commonwealth has also taken a leading role in promoting gender equality and


getting women an equal voice across the world.”


The Queen signing the new Commonwealth Charter


Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka. I am aware that 2013’s CHOGM is not without its controversies. Ahead of the meeting in Colombo we will look to Sri Lanka to demonstrate its commitment to upholding Commonwealth values of good governance and respect for human rights. We must all pull together with a common agenda, especially as we work towards implementing a new Strategic Plan for 2013-2016 and push forward with post-2015 educational development goals.


As we have said before, we believe that change comes from within. We want to be a leading voice in the Commonwealth and to encourage Sri Lanka to make the changes being called for in order to promote peace.


out the clear goals and principles of the Commonwealth will ensure that the Commonwealth remains relevant and accessible to all, and provides a useful means to protect and promote core democratic values in the years to come.


The values within the Charter are those which member nations consider important enough to enshrine in one single document to which all Commonwealth member nations subscribe. These commitments should be upheld, adhered to and kept under review, not just by Commonwealth member states and Parliamentarians, but by individuals and civil society organizations. This in turn will make the Commonwealth stronger and


make sure individuals can hold Commonwealth member states to account.


It would be misleading to say that all Commonwealth countries already adhere, without exception, to every value identified in the Charter. However, by setting them out and agreeing to them we are on the road to ensuring that they become common currency across the Commonwealth. This is the start but it is not the end, and we will keep refining our work and defining our values as the years go on.


Looking to Sri Lanka These values will of course be a central focus of this year’s Commonwealth Heads of


This is an area in which the Commonwealth has a wealth of experience. It has observed over 70 elections since 1990, and on each occasion provided a trusted, objective judgement on the credibility of the electoral process and submitted recommendations on how to improve elections in the future.


The Commonwealth has also taken a leading role in promoting gender equality and getting women an equal voice across the world. The Commonwealth Secretariat developed a Plan of Action as early as 1995 and has kept this updated. We know that by sharing best practice we can encourage greater representation in politics, as well as reap the benefits of men and women


working together on health and peace initiative – another area where the Commonwealth can and does make a difference.


A strong relationship for trade, Games and co-operation Yes, there are changes to be made. With the collective weight of the Commonwealth, we shouldn’t be surprised that some, including the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons, think it is an organization that should do better. They are right. We all want a strong Commonwealth that makes the most of its considerable assets. But the important thing to take away from the Charter is that the Commonwealth is changing and that it has a future. Trade, for example, is booming. Research conducted by the Royal Commonwealth Society found that when two trading partners were Commonwealth members, their trade was likely to be a third to a half more than when one or both trade partners was non-Commonwealth. There is clearly the potential to build on this in 2013 and beyond.


We also have Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games to look forward to in 2014. This will be the third time that Scotland has hosted the Games, and we are working closely with the Scottish government to make sure they are a success. Sport offers a chance to promote the key values of the Commonwealth, with a strong emphasis on engaging our youth.


We are confident that the Glasgow Games will make a significant and positive contribution to the future success and prosperity of the Commonwealth.


Above all though, in the year of the Charter, we can be confident that there is a will to develop and improve the Commonwealth. Members share principles of democracy, rule of law, good governance and similar legal systems.


These provide solid foundations for strong relationships. Together we share a long and rich history, and together we can make sure that the future is richer still.


The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue Two | 111


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