Latest content: Governance and law

The Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana today met at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Today the Commonwealth Ministerial Committee on Belize convened at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Commonwealth countries have been told to reform laws restricting press freedom and to encourage media to work freely on all issues of public importance.

A Commonwealth handbook launched today will help East African judicial officers proactively handle cases of violence against women and girls (VAWG), which affects up to one in three women in their lifetime.

An expert working group discussing the future role of electronic evidence in prosecutions has held its first meeting.

Following a request made by the Government of Dominica jointly to the CARICOM Secretariat (CARICOM), the Commonwealth Secretariat and the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS), to assist in the country’s efforts with various aspects of electoral reform, the three organisations have agreed to partner in a Joint Special Mission to Dominica.

A project to enhance Commonwealth countries’ capacity in election cybersecurity is underway. A Commonwealth Guide on Election Cybersecurity is being developed to support Election Management Bodies (EMBs) to manage risks associated with the use of technologies in elections.

The Commonwealth Secretariat and World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid (WLA-CdM) have entered into an agreement that commits the two organisations to work in closer partnership to promote peace and good governance in the countries they serve.

Inequality, child marriage and social and cultural norms are just some of the barriers that girls face in their pursuit of education.

Members of a discussion panel co-hosted by the Commonwealth have said the safety and freedom of media workers is linked to the achievement of sustainable development goal 16.10, which ensures public access to information.

Plans are being floated for the creation of a Commonwealth “model law” aimed at helping countries manage profits gained from their natural resources. On 24-25 June, senior officials from 17 member countries joined a two-day workshop on natural resource sovereign wealth funds (SWFs).

The Commonwealth has continued efforts to strengthen conflict prevention mechanisms in Ghana by convening a three-day workshop. The event in Kumasi, from 24 to 26 June, is designed to address the root causes of violence by strengthening local capacities and promoting the use of effective dialogue and advocacy in containing impending threats.

At a Commonwealth seminar entitled ‘Peace in the home: ending domestic violence together', experts in health, gender, law and human rights have called for more action aimed at eliminating gender-based violence, particularly domestic violence.

Experts from 16 countries responsible for guiding the Commonwealth’s response against violent extremism have praised the ongoing efforts while making the case for further assistance. The Commonwealth Cadre of Experts on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) met this week in Wilton Park, United Kingdom, to sketch an action plan in the lead-up to the 2020 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Commonwealth member states from Africa and the Caribbean are meeting in Ghana to share experiences and good practices in building, strengthening and sustaining national dialogues to prevent violence and unrest.

The Commonwealth has held a training session for more than 30 Cameroonians designed to highlight the role women can play in building peace, understanding conflict and countering violent extremism. Participants from Cameroon’s civil society attended the four-day workshop in Douala.

Caribbean anti-corruption agencies have unanimously agreed on the need for robust legislation to investigate and prosecute corruption in the region.

The Commonwealth has hosted an event unveiling a report on how the Cameroon government and civil society can support women returning from situations of extremism

A two-day consultation has been held with lawyers to create a practical guide helping member countries negotiate investment contracts which serve their development needs.

Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has outlined a framework to help member countries investigate and prosecute corruption offences, which cost the global economy around $2 trillion a year. 

Members of the Uganda Sentencing Committee have met with Commonwealth rule of law experts to explore strategies to improve sentencing guidelines, so they cover higher and magistrates’ courts with the overall objective of improving consistency and promoting uniformity in sentencing practices and outcomes.

The Commonwealth has delivered a four-day workshop in Trinidad and Tobago designed to counter violent extremism in prisons

Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has congratulated the people of Belize on a successful referendum. They voted to refer to the International Court of Justice any legal claim of Guatemala against Belize relating to land, insular territories and any maritime areas.