‘Fresh thinking key to Commonwealth’s future’
The Commonwealth’s new Eminent Persons Group has met for the first time to develop options for renewing the organisation.
“The goal is to sharpen the impact, strengthen the networks, and raise the profile of the Commonwealth,” said the Group’s chair, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia.
“A very positive start has been made. The group discussed the Commonwealth’s purpose and some of the options for renewal and reform. We want to ensure that the Commonwealth of the future serves new generations in ways that are relevant and have strong beneficial impact.”
The Eminent Persons Group (EPG) – which met in London, UK, on 19 and 20 July – started to discuss the ways in which the Commonwealth should remain fully engaged in global debates and challenges that affect its members, especially small states and developing states, such as climate change, food security, and international financial liquidity.
Some of the other issues discussed by the Group at its first meeting included:
- ways and means by which the commitment to Commonwealth values can be honoured more fully in practice;
- options for the Commonwealth to make an enhanced global contribution as a source of constructive ‘soft power’ in the pursuit of collective global goals;
- the possible development of new youth programmes as well as the challenges of youth unemployment and access to education, and the empowerment of youth as nation builders;
- the format and content of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings and Ministerial meetings; options for civil society interaction with government leadership;
- the scope to promote stronger research, collaboration and technology transfer in support of employment generation and other facets of development;
- ways in which the profile of the Commonwealth can be strengthened; the consolidation and strengthening of election institutions;
- the pursuit of strategic partnerships, including with diverse partners outside the Commonwealth and with consideration to the possibilities offered by the business community;
- the Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan – a longstanding initiative which promotes exchanges between all Commonwealth countries and provides added value in education; and,
- progress to develop the Commonwealth Partnership Platform Portal as a pan-Commonwealth source of information, best practice, networks, innovative interactions, and a marketplace for transactions.
“The Commonwealth has set high international standards as a values-based organisation. But ways need to be found to ensure that the Commonwealth’s activities uphold and support more effectively our shared values and the moral authority deriving from them,” Tun Abdullah said
“The Commonwealth recognises that development and democracy go hand-in-hand and reinforce each other. The organisation needs to continue to embrace all its values and to convert them into practical action on the ground that delivers prosperity and economic opportunity as well as the rule of law, human rights, and democracy.”
“The Group’s work has just begun but will be highly consultative. Each Group member will seek views from their own contacts in their own home countries and regions; we will aim to use the four Commonwealth regional centres – in Guyana, India, Solomon Islands and Zambia – to engage with a wider audience; and we will be seeking views from all Commonwealth civil society and professional associations and organisations. We will also be launching a questionnaire on the Commonwealth Secretariat website. Our aim is to be open and transparent,” Tun Abdullah continued.
“Many of the views already being expressed to the Group are encouraging a sharper focus in the Commonwealth’s work, a greater openness to civil society’s voice, and the critical importance of building young people’s concerns and needs into as much Commonwealth activity as possible. These first contributions of views are warmly welcome,” Tun Abdullah concluded.
Background
In the course of its first meeting, the Eminent Persons Group met The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, and was briefed by representatives of the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth of Learning, and the Royal Commonwealth Society.
The Eminent Persons Group was established by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their summit in November 2009. The Group met at Marlborough House, London, from 19 to 20 July 2010. It is scheduled to meet again in October 2010 and March 2011 before reporting to leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to take place in Perth in October 2011.
The Group comprises:
· Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Malaysia, Chairperson)
· Patricia Francis (Jamaica)
· Dr Asma Jahangir (Pakistan)
· Mr Samuel Kavuma (Uganda, Commonwealth Youth Caucus)
· Hon Michael Kirby (Australia)
· Dr Graca Machel (Mozambique)
· Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind (UK)
· Sir Ronald Sanders (Guyana)
· Senator Hugh Segal (Canada)
· Sir Ieremia Tabai (Kiribati)
Dr Graca Machel was unable to attend the first meeting.
Cathy Price
Administrative Assistant
Communications & Public Affairs Division
Commonwealth Secretariat
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