The Commonwealth: Bringing nations together

24 May 2011

The Commonwealth has been in existence since 1949.  It binds together in voluntary association, the governments and peoples of 54 member countries; from India, the world’s largest democracy; to Tanzania, with its remarkable achievements, history and opportunities; to small, diverse Pacific island nations like Kiribati.

Member countries and their citizens inherit from the Commonwealth's roots a special mix of common values, including democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Where these values are not always perfectly respected, as is the case in many countries, including my own, Canada, we all commit to strengthening them because they matter.

But many would ask, “Is there is any real point to the Commonwealth - and how does it relate to me?”

Having spent nearly a year as a member of the Commonwealth Eminent Person’s Group, hearing from a broad range of stakeholders about their vision and ideas for the Commonwealth, my response is - unequivocally – YES there is a point, and YES, it does have something to do with each and every Commonwealth citizen, from Africa to Asia, from the Caribbean, to North America, from down under to the UK.

The organisation has a strong foundation, built on important values and principles. But, principles and values mean little to most of us without meaningful action to make them a reality. Based on EPG discussions with people and organisations across the Commonwealth, it seems there is a strong view that if the Commonwealth is to remain relevant and truly serve its citizens, it needs to be more active, coherent and more focused by harnessing its potential to deal with the pressing issues facing our world.

This is particularly true when it comes to issues that touch the daily lives of people throughout the Commonwealth and their prospects for the future. It’s about the Commonwealth providing support and opportunities for young people to become future leaders; it’s about education, training, and exchange programs that will not only provide better economic opportunities for Commonwealth citizens, but facilitate cross-cultural understanding and sharing of experience in the process; it’s about utilising Commonwealth networks and expertise to help societies develop and address pressing challenges, like climate change; and it is about speaking out and taking a stand in the face of atrocities so that people can live in peace and dignity, free from fear.

The Eminent Persons Group (EPG) was created at the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Trinidad and Tobago as an initiative to help define the Commonwealth’s role for the 21st century.  With this objective in mind, I was invited to join a small group of highly accomplished colleagues representing the
geographic diversity of the Commonwealth, under the able chairmanship of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, former Prime Minister of Malaysia. We all participate in the EPG as individuals – not as representatives of our governments.

Our role as the EPG has been to explore and recommend ways in which the Commonwealth can sharpen its impact, strengthen its networks, and raise its profile to ensure it remains relevant and serves its citizens now and into the future.

In considering the hundreds of submissions we have received, we tried to identify areas in which the Commonwealth has a comparative advantage – a unique opportunity to play a positive, dynamic role, without duplicating the work done by other international institutions – and can have a tangible impact on the lives of Commonwealth citizens.

We’re looking at ways to promote youth development and enterprise, social and political advocacy, election monitoring and support (the Commonwealth had an observer mission for the Tanzanian election in October): to advance initiatives on health, HIV/Aids, climate change; and to ensure that Commonwealth citizens are increasingly active participants in decision-making processes that affect their own lives.

All of these ideas and our provisional recommendations are open for debate and discussion – and the EPG invites comments from the public, from civil society, and from governments of member states until June 15 via the Commonwealth Secretariat website (http://www.thecommonwealth.org/).

Not so long ago, the Commonwealth played a pivotal leadership role on this continent in advocating for the end of apartheid in South Africa and confronting white minority rule in the-then Rhodesia and supporting the front line states that made democracy and fairness their goal.

When President Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, one of his very first visits was to Marlborough House in London (the home of the Commonwealth Secretariat), to express his appreciation for the Commonwealth’s active role in combating apartheid.  He thanked the Commonwealth for "making the world safe for diversity" I believe strongly that the Commonwealth has an unprecedented opportunity to increase its impact as a values-based, voluntary association of free nations bound by history, parliamentary democracy and multicultural diversity. Two and a half billion human beings, from every faith, culture, race, language spanning the entire globe is a unique platform on which to advance education, broaden development, enhance rights, promote understanding and combat the narrow and small-minded.

Canadian Senator Hugh Segal is one of the Commonwealth's Eminent Persons.   He will be speaking, along with 2 other members of the Eminent Persons Group -- Samuel Kavuma  of Uganda and Emmanuel Akwetey of Ghana -- at a free, public event at the British Council today at 5.30pm.   All are welcome to attend

Source: http://thecitizen.co.tz/editorial-analysis/-/11260-the-commonwealth-bringing-nations-together