Latest content: Secretary-General

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has arrived in Maseru, Lesotho, ahead of a week-long visit that will conclude in South Africa on 2 November 2022.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General has welcomed the recently-launched Resilience and Sustainable Facility (RSF) - the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) financing facility aimed at helping low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries build resilience to economic shocks – but said that more work must be done to improve eligibility, requirements, and conditions in accessing this facility for small and vulnerable states.

Today Commonwealth Finance Ministers met on the margins of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings in Washington DC for the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting 2022 (CFMM) to address emerging economic issues facing the global economy and Commonwealth countries.

A delegation led by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has arrived in Washington DC ahead of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting (CFMM) and the Commonwealth Central Bank Governors (CCBG) Meeting.

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to Zambia has today released its final report on the 2021 general elections, which saw Hakainde Hichilema become the country’s seventh president.

Solidarity and greater collaboration between countries and multilateral organisations when tackling major health challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, are key to addressing the widening health inequalities which continue to be observed across the world, the Commonwealth Secretary-General has said at a gathering of top experts and policymakers from the global health community.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, joined African leaders at Africa Climate Week 2022 to discuss Africa’s climate change challenges and regional collaboration towards implementing solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The two organisations will broaden their existing cooperation to promote the ocean economy, curb plastic pollution, support least-developed countries, bolster the digital economy and boost gender equality.

Op-Ed by The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth 

The Commonwealth has admitted Gabon and Togo as its 55th and 56th members respectively. Our continued growth reflects the advantages of Commonwealth membership and strength of our association.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, QC, has been bestowed with the Commander of the Gabonese National Order of Merit (Commandeur de l’Ordre National du Merite Gabonais) – one of the country’s highest honours awarded to both Gabonese and foreign nationals.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, has made the following statement about the 2022 Kenya Elections:

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, QC, is set to make her first official visit to the Commonwealth’s newest member, Gabon, next week.

The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Awards, which recognise exceptional young people from across the Commonwealth, has been extended until the 31st October.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC has received a Lifetime Achievement Award and Justice Medal from O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) in New Delhi, India.

Secretary-General Scotland met with Mauritian leaders to discuss climate action, the cost of living crisis, renewing tourism post-pandemic, opportunities for economic recovery and more.

Yesterday during the Fifth Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub Steering Committee meeting, held in Mauritius, the Commonwealth Secretariat launched the ‘Toolkit to Enhance Access to Climate Finance: A Practical Guide’.

The Commonwealth welcomes the United Nations General Assembly’s recognition of the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, has applauded the adoption of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent at the 51st Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting this week in Suva, Fiji.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, has called on political leaders in Sri Lanka to safeguard democratic governance, the rule of law and human rights, in adherence with the values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter.

The largest ever Commonwealth heritage project has been launched to help protect threatened historic buildings and create training opportunities for people across the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, made a powerful plea for ocean action today at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal.

In case you missed it: 

Today at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022 in Kigali Rwanda, leaders of the Commonwealth reappointed Secretary-General The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC for a further two years to complete the balance of her period in office.

The Commonwealth spokesperson said:

[To President Kagame] Mr President, thank you for welcoming us to your beautiful, inspiring country – it is so wonderful to be in Rwanda, and in this incredible, thriving, rising continent.