Commonwealth Day

The Modern Commonwealth

The Commonwealth is a unique global family of 53 member countries. From Africa to Asia, from the Pacific to the Caribbean, from Europe and the Mediterranean to North America, the Commonwealth's 1.7 billion people make up a quarter of the world's population. Over half of the Commonwealth's peoples are aged 25 or under.

The modern Commonwealth evolved out of Britain's imperial past and, today, it helps to advance democracy, human rights, and sustainable economic and social development. With English as a common working language and similar systems of law, public administration and education, the Commonwealth has become a vibrant and growing association of states in tune with the modern world.

The birth of the modern Commonwealth was set in train with India and Pakistan's independence in 1947, and sealed by the London Declaration of 1949. The word 'British' was dropped from the association's title to reflect the Commonwealth's new reality.

Committed to racial equality and national sovereignty, the Commonwealth became a natural association of choice for many new nations emerging out of decolonisation in the 1950s and 1960s. Issues of racial justice became key, as the Commonwealth threw its weight behind the cause of freedom and equality.

In 1991, the Harare Commonwealth Declaration set the association firmly on course for the new century: promoting democracy and good governance, human rights and the rule of law, and sustainable economic and social development.

Today, the Commonwealth continues to be an active force in global affairs, helping to build consensus around the world. From a club of former colonies, it has grown into a modern international association in tune with the times and ready to meet the challenges of the future.

What does the modern Commonwealth do?
Commonwealth countries and peoples work together to build a better world. Members help each other to make their economies stronger, to improve their systems of government and to improve the skills of their people. Heads of Government -- Presidents and Prime Ministers -- of member countries meet regularly to discuss how best to work together. Meetings at ministerial and official level also take place throughout the year in different member states. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is held every two years. In 2001, the CHOGM due to be held in Brisbane, Australia in October was postponed due to the terrorist strikes on America. The rescheduled CHOGM took place early March, 2002 at Coolum, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, and the next CHOGM was hosted by Nigeria in December 2003, at the capital, Abuja. Previous CHOGMs took place in Durban, South Africa in November 1999, Edinburgh, United Kingdom in 1997 and Auckland, New Zealand in 1995. The policies and programmes agreed by Heads are carried out through the Commonwealth Secretariat at Marlborough House in London.

Ordinary people are just as important in the Commonwealth family. Through many professional and non-governmental organisations , they work to improve the lives of Commonwealth people. They do so in such areas as education, housing, clean water and health. There are over 60 Commonwealth NGOs, including The Royal Commonwealth Society, the Commonwealth Nurses Federation, the Commonwealth Trade Union Council , the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association, and the Commonwealth Society for the Deaf ("Soundseekers").

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