What does the Commonwealth do for my parliament?

1
What does the Commonwealth do for my parliament?
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The History of the Commonwealth

• Britain with colonies all over the world
• Beginning in 1867 Britain allows colonies
  self-government
• Colonies rise to dominion status.
• Internal self-government
• Independence in foreign affairs
• Term Commonwealth referring to British Empire
  first used in 1884
• Declarations commitments form modern
  Commonwealth of Nations

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The Commonwealth of Nations

• Balfour Declaration-1926 Dominions are
  autonomous, equal communities within British
  empire united by allegiance to British Crown.
• Statute of Westminster-1931 Legal backing to
  dominion arrangements is provided.
• London Declaration-1949 British Monarch becomes
  symbol for free association including an
  Commonwealth countries.
• Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth
  Principles-1971 Defined modern Commonwealth.

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Declarations Modernize the Commonwealth

• Harare Declaration-1991 Reaffirmed Commonwealth
  principles and
• Stood against terrorism
• Pursued equality participation by women
• Promoted sustainable development
• Promoted democracy
• Millbrook Declaration-1995 Firm action against
  members who do not uphold Harare principles
• Suspension of participation at Commonwealth
  meetings
• Complete suspension from the Commonwealth
• Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group Rapid
  Action Force is created

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Declarations Modernize the Commonwealth (cont.)

• Limassol Declaration-1993, Edinburgh
  Declaration-1997, Fancourt Declaration-1999
  Economic matters, globalization and
  people-centered development.
• Coolum Declaration-2002 Gave new vision and
  structure for the Commonwealth in 21st Century.
• Aso Rock Declaration-2003 Stressed pro-poor
  stance.

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Whos in the Commonwealth now?

• 53 countries!
• 1.7 billion people!
• 2/3 without British Monarch as head of state

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Commonwealth Members

• Dates of Membership
• Nation Year Nation Year Nation Year
• Antigua and Barbuda 1981 Australia 1931 The
  Bahamas 1973
• Bangladesh 1972 Barbados 1966 Belize 1981
• Botswana 1966 Brunei 1984 Cameroon 1995
• Canada 1931 Cyprus 1961 Dominica 1978
• Fiji Islands 1997  The Gambia 1965
  Ghana 1957
• Grenada 1974 Guyana 1966 India 1947
• Jamaica 1962 Kenya 1963 Kiribati 1979
• Lesotho 1966 Malawi 1964 Malaysia 1957
• The Maldives 1982 Malta 1964 Mauritius 1968
• Mozambique 1995 Namibia 1990 Nauru 1968
• New Zealand 1931 Nigeria 1960 Pakistan 1947
• Papua New Guinea 1975 St. Christopher and
  Nevis 1983 St. Lucia 1979
• St. Vincent Grenadines   1979 Samoa 1970
  Seychelles 1976
• Sierra Leone 1961 Singapore 1965 Solomon
  Islands 1978
• South Africa 1931 Sri Lanka 1948
  Swaziland 1968

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What are the Commonwealths Core Values?

• Support
• Democracy
• Rule of law
• Good governance
• Freedom of expression
• Human rights
• Respect
• Diversity
• Human dignity
• Pluralism
• Tolerance
• Eliminate
• discrimination
• poverty

• Promote
• People-centered development Sustainable
  development
• Overcome
• Disparities in living standards
• Challenges of small states less developed
  countries
• Strive for
• International peace security
• Rule of international law
• End of people smuggling
• End to terrorism.

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Characteristics of Commonwealth Members

• Countries
• Comply with the Commonwealth core values
• Have a constitutional link with a Commonwealth
  member state
• Accept Commonwealth procedures and conventions
• Independent sovereign states

• Organizations
• Voluntary membership
• Equal membership by all countries
• Countries responsible for their own policies
• A culture of consultation co-operation.
• Direct work to common interests of Commonwealth
• Promote understanding world peace.

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Regions of the Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association

• Nine Regions of CPA
• Africa
• Asia
• Australia
• British Islands and Mediterranean
• Canada
• Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic
• India
• Pacific
• South East Asia

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Languages of Commonwealth Countries
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Commonwealth Secretariat

• Details
• Established in 1965
• Chief executive is secretary-general
• Works with executives of members
• Is Largest entity in Commonwealth
• Cooperates with
• Civil society
• NGOs
• Private sector
• Has 250 staff

• Responsibilities
• Implement decisions
• Election Observer Groups
• Development assistance
• Foster member relationships
• Encourage democracy cooperation
• Run events training activities
• Politics
• Diplomacy
• Economics
• Education
• Health
• Gender

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What are the Commonwealth Small States?

• 32 Countries
• Population lt 1.5 million

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Organizations in the Commonwealth

• Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
  Consultation between and among Commonwealth
  parliaments
• Includes sub-national legislatures
• Divided into regions
• Organizes annual conference
• Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP)
  Provides professional development opportunities
  for women MPs
• Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) plays
  a parallel role to that of the CPA for local
  governments.

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Organizations in the Commonwealth (cont.)

• Commonwealth Foundation
• Strengthen civil society, democracy etc.
• Increase exchanges between organizations
• Improves standards of knowledge
• Commonwealth Games Multinational, multi-sport
  event, every four years
• Commonwealth Business Council Devoted to
  business interests in the Commonwealth

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Organizations in the Commonwealth (cont.)

• Commonwealth of Learning A non-degree-granting
  University for development and educational access
  for commonwealth countries.
• Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Encourages
  human rights but does not possess any executive
  powers
• Institute of Commonwealth Studies/Commonwealth
  Policy Studies Unit Think tank for the
  contemporary Commonwealth.
• The Royal Commonwealth Society Provides
  information and education about the Commonwealth
  to all interested persons.

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CHOGM Meetings

• Established in 1971, replacing Commonwealth Prime
  Ministers Meetings
• Held every two years
• Reiterate the core values and principles of the
  association
• Review performance and global relevance

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The Modern Commonwealth Machine What keeps it
together?

• A common heritage of
• English language
• Law
• Parliamentary democracy
• but
• Language and legal systems have changed
• Many have dropped the bicameral parliamentary
  system
• yet, in spite of its variety, it is
• A potent force for harmonizing differences

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CHOGM Governing the Commonwealth

• Policy-making
• Performance evaluation
• Publishes decisions
• Outlines work
• Appoints secretary-general

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Think about this

• How can the Commonwealth help you
• Learning?
• Networking?
• Support?