CHOGM summit Colombo, Sri Lanka November 2013

The Commonwealth

The CHOGM (Commenwealth Heads of Government) summit meeting was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 10th to 17th November 2013.  Out of 53 member countries only ____ Heads of Governments were present for the summit.  The Queen was also absent.  Indian Prime Minister didn't attend.

From the CHOGM2013 site

What is CHOGM?

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is held every two years to enable leaders of Commonwealth countries to come together to discuss global and Commonwealth issues, and to decide on collective policies and initiatives.

This year, CHOGM is taking place in Sri Lanka, the first time an Asian country is hosting the summit in 24 years.

Every CHOGM is jointly organized by the host country and the Commonwealth Secretariat. These biennial meetings serve as the principal policy and decision-making forum to guide the strategic direction of the association.

Commonwealth leaders have been coming together for discussions since 1949, but the title Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting was adopted during a session in Singapore in 1971. This specific classification was used to depict the gathering of both presidents and prime ministers in the event.

One unique aspect of the meeting is that the formal opening ceremony and the formal Executive Session are followed by a where leaders meet privately for discussions. With an informal atmosphere, this session allows heads of state to freely and frankly exchange their views on important issues and come to a consensus.

Previous CHOGMs have focused on a range of global issues, including international peace and security, democracy, climate change, multilateral trade issues, good governance, sustainable development, small states, debt management, education, environment, gender equality, health, human rights, information and communication technology, and youth affairs.

The theme of the 2011 CHOGM in Perth, Australia, was Building National Resilience, Building Global Resilience.

The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 countries that support each other and work together towards shared goals in democracy and development.

The Commonwealth is home to two billion citizens of all faiths and ethnicities and includes some of the world's largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries. Over half of its citizens are 25 or under. Member countries come from six regions: Africa (18); Asia (8); the Americas (3); the Caribbean (10); Europe (3); and the South Pacific (11).

Most recent members include the following: Rwanda admitted at the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting; Cameroon; and Mozambique the first country with no historical or administrative association to the Commonwealth to join.

History

The association has roots as far back as the 1870s. It was reconstituted in 1949 when Commonwealth Prime Ministers met and adopted the London Declaration where it was agreed all member countries would be freely and equally associated.

Beliefs and Values

The Commonwealth believes the best democracies are achieved through partnerships of governments, business and civil society.

Beyond the ties of history, language and institutions, members are united through the associations values of democracy, freedom, peace, the rule of law and opportunity for all.

These values were agreed and set down by all Commonwealth Heads of Government at two of their biennial meetings (known as CHOGMs) in Singapore in 1971 and reaffirmed in Harare in 1991.

The values are protected at government level by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), a rotating group of nine foreign ministers, which assesses the nature of any infringement and recommends measures for collective action from member countries. It can suspend or recommend to Heads of Government that a member country be expelled. When countries are suspended, the Commonwealth makes every effort to bring them back into the fold.

While CMAG represents one aspect of the Commonwealths commitment to democratic principles, many more discreet interventions are made through good offices work, where specially appointed representatives conduct quiet diplomacy to help prevent or resolve conflicts, and build dialogue and democratic structures.

Meetings

Heads of Government and ministers responsible for education, environment, civil society, finance, foreign affairs, gender affairs, health, law, tourism and youth all meet regularly. This ensures that Commonwealth policies and programmes represent views of members and gives governments a better understanding of each others goals.

Structure

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the Commonwealth. Kamalesh Sharma, current Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, is the principal global advocate for the Commonwealth and Chief Executive of the Secretariat.

There are three intergovernmental organisations:

• Commonwealth Secretariat - executes plans agreed by Commonwealth Heads of Government through technical assistance, advice and policy development

• Commonwealth Foundation - helps civil society organisations promote democracy, development and cultural understanding

• Commonwealth of Learning - encourages the development and sharing of open learning and distance education

The current Commonwealth Secretary-General is Mr. Kamalesh Sharma. For more information on the Commonwealth, please visit the website of the Commonwealth Secretariat at www.thecommonwealth.org.

*Note: Following a decision taken by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) on 31 July 2009, Fiji was suspended from membership of the Commonwealth on 1 September 2009.

Commonwealth Countries

There are 53 independent states working together in the common interests of their citizens for development, democracy and peace. With just eight members in 1949, the Commonwealth has developed into a diverse group of nations from all across the world, working towards improving the lives of millions of people.

The interactive map above is available on the CHOGM 2011 website. All information included in this map was obtained from the Commonwealth Secretariat website, which  is the authoritative source for the latest information on the Commonwealth.

More information on the Commonwealth member nations can be obtained through the links below, which will be directed to the website of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Member States

53 independent states working together in the common interests of their citizens for development, democracy and peace.

* Following the decisions taken by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on July 31, 2009, Fiji was suspended from membership of the Commonwealth on Sept. 1, 2009.

Last flag - Fiji - Actual alphabetical number 13 - as its membership was suspended it has been put to the last number and numbered as 54