Latest content: Governance and law

The Secretary-General has expressed optimism that Africa is turning the tide against corruption, but warned the fight must continue with renewed vigour

Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has welcomed reports the government of Brunei Darussalam has placed a full moratorium on the death penalty, inclusive of the Syariah Penal Code Order (SPCO).

Africa's leading corruption-fighters will meet in Uganda next week to discuss and share intelligence on how they are tackling the issue across the continent.

The Commonwealth, in collaboration with the Integrity Commission of Grenada, organised a leadership and management training programme from 25 March - 1 April in the capital, St. George’s. In addition, a one-day session on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), published by Transparency International, took place with the National Roundtable Anticorruption Mechanism.  Participants discussed the implications of the CPI for Grenada.

Young people from Commonwealth countries in Asia have been learning how they can take action to prevent and counter violent extremism and build peace in their communities. Aspiring leaders and change-makers aged between 18 and 25 took part in a five-day workshop in Brickfield, Malaysia, to equip themselves with skills to help shape their communities in positive ways.

Top civil service officials from across the Commonwealth will convene next week to look at how the public service can better respond to changing global dynamics and trends.

A new study will examine the challenges faced by member countries in settling disputes under international commercial contracts

Representatives of Commonwealth small states have identified key issues such as climate change, high crime rates, gun violence and the illicit drug trade that should be tackled through a South-South initiative to support sustainable peace and development.

Roger Koranteng has been awarded the Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award for his work on tackling corruption in both Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth countries.

Commonwealth ministers for public service agreed to strengthen governance systems in their countries, as a critical step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The heads of anti-corruption agencies from French-speaking African nations have attended a training programme in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire to learn about the Commonwealth’s anti-corruption initiatives on the continent.

Mutual co-operation and respect for the rule of law received unanimous backing at the Meeting of Law Ministers and Attorneys General of Small Commonwealth Jurisdictions that has concluded in London.

Senior officials from law ministries across the Commonwealth welcomed innovative projects by the Secretariat to promote the rule of law and justice reform, following through on mandates given by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting earlier this year.

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, has recommended that small member countries put legal measures in place to prepare for the impacts of climate change.

The Commonwealth has announced the start of informal consultations on an important set of benchmarks designed to help governments tackle corruption.

Senior officials from law ministries across the Commonwealth are gathering from 1 to 3 October in London, to agree on priority areas for the forthcoming Commonwealth Law Ministers’ Meeting. The biennial gathering of ministers and attorneys-general, scheduled for autumn 2019, is a key platform for collaboration and exchange amongst Commonwealth countries, which share a common legal tradition.

Sri Lanka needs further help to strengthen its human rights promotion and protection. That's according to the country’s Human Rights Commission, which has called on the Commonwealth Secretariat for technical assistance.

A team of Commonwealth experts has been working with the government of Botswana to improve its legal system.

Policy experts from across the Caribbean will work towards strengthening human rights commitments in the region this week.

The Commonwealth has pledged to work with member countries to identify best practices and tools to counter violent extremism. These include making it more difficult to use the internet for terrorist purposes and challenging hate speech online with positive narratives.

The Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies issued a joint statement after a week-long meeting in Turks and Caicos.