Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations (usually called simply "The Commonwealth") is a voluntary association of 54 independent countries, nearly all of which were formerly under British rule. While remaining entirely responsible for their own policies, member countries choose to consult and co-operate on matters such as strengthening democracy, promoting human rights and working for the social and economic development of poorer countries.

Its future is under review.

History

The transition from British Empire to Commonwealth of Nations began in 1867 with the transformation of Canada from a colony to a self-governing "Dominion" within the British Empire. That was followed by the transformation to Dominion status of Australia in 1901, New Zealand in 1907, South Africa in 1910, and the Irish Free Stste in 1922. After the First World War, the Dominions sought a a new constitutional definition, and at the Imperial Conference in 1926, the Dominion Prime Ministers adopted the Balfour Report which defined the Dominions as autonomous communities within the British Empire, equal in status with Britain, though united by common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations. That definition was incorporated into British law in 1931 as the Statute of Westminster. It was adopted immediately in Canada, the Irish Free State, Newfoundland (which joined Canada in 1949); and South Africa, Australia and New Zealand followed. India became a Dominion at independence in 1947. The next stage in the transition was the London Declaration of 1949, which recorded the Prime Ministers' agreement that India could remain a member of the Commonwealth after it became a republic in the following year. That agreement completed the transition, and the title "Commonwealth of Nations" finally replaced all previous terminology (which had, from time to time, included "the British colonies", "the British Empire", "the Dominions" and "the British Commonwealth"). Ireland left the Commonwealth in 1947, but since then almost all of Britain's former colonies chose to join the Commonwealth when they became independent - most of them, like India, as republics that do not owe allegiance to Queen Elizabeth, but do recognise her formal status as Head of the Commonwealth.

Constitution

Queen Elizabeth II is the titular Head of the Commonwealth, but all decisions are taken at the biennial Heads of Government meetings . A Commonwealth Charter is under preparation that is intended to provide a formal constitutional mandate for those decisions. Prior to its adoption they were formally mandated by the 1971 Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth Principles and subsequently by the 1991 Harare Commonwealth Declaration (see Policies below)

Membership

(see list of members)
Since 1977, membership has been restricted to countries that meet membership criteria based upon the 1971 Declaration of Commonwealth Principles. It has normally been restricted also to countries that have historic constitutional associations with an existing Commonwealth member, but exceptions have been allowed (Mozambique was the first country to join which lacked such an association). A consensus among Heads of Government that those criteria have been breached by the government of a member country can determine the suspension or termination of that country's membership. Five countries suffered suspensions, four of which were temporary (South Africa 1961, Fiji 1987, Pakistan 1996 and Nigeria 1996) and one that was of indefinite duration (Zimbabwe 2003) - in addition to which the suspension of Fijl was renewed in 2006 .

The Commonwealth has been described as essentially an organisation of small states . It includes 32 states that are defined as small states because they have populations of fewer than 1.5 million. people, including 13 states that are classed as mini-states because they have populations of fewer than 200,000.

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Queen Elizabeth II has been Head of the Commonwealth since 1952.

Policies

During the two decades that followed the London Declaration of 1949, the Commonwealth's policy amounted to little more than opposition to racism and colonialism, but the Singapore Declaration of 1971 referred also to the merits of democracy and individual liberty', and the Commonwealth's commitment to those ideals was developed and strengthened in the Harare Declaration of 1991. That commitment, among others, is expected to be embodied in a (non-binding) "Commonwealth Charter" that is intended to be drawn up by a Ministerial Task Force, and considered by a full meeting of Foreign Ministers in the course of 2012. Other commitments that were in the Harare Declaration, and may be expected to be included in the Charter, include economic and social development, assistance to small states, universal access to education, sustainable development, and the reduction of poverty.

Organisations

There are two executive organisations within the Commonwealth: the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Foundation. The Commonwealth Secretariat has a multinational staff of about 300, headed by a Secretary-General. Its principle activities are technical assistance, advisory services and policy development. It operates within a budget of less than £50 million, of which the staff budget is about £15 million. The Commonwealth Foundation is a smaller organisation with a budget of less than £5 million including a staff budget of less than £1 million. It is mandated to promote the involvement of civil society in the Commonwealth and it manages a small programme of prjects in the areas of culture, governance and democracy, human development and communities and livelihoods with the help of volunteers. The Foundation acts as an umbrella organisation for some 30 Commonwealth associations of professionals. There are over 250 Commonwealth-wide organisations maintaining links across a range of professional fields, including sport, youth and education including some 40 independent Accredited Commonwealth Organisations.

The deliberative bodies that have been set up to advise the Heads of Government include the Commonwealth Ministers' Action Group on the Harare Declaration, made up of nine Foreign Ministers of member states. There is also a committee of senior officials called "The Committee of the Whole" that meets to plan the next meeting of the Heads of Government Meeting a few weeks before it is due. A biennial Global Small States Conference, the first meeting of which was held in 2010, has replaced the former Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Small States.

Political activities

The Secretariat manages six small programmes of assistance to member countries , of which the largest is the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation with a budget of about £30 million. It also responds to requests from member countries to provide election monitors, resolve disputes and provide human rights tuition for police officers. Its political activities are essentially passive in line with a policy decision to intervene only when invited. A more proactive policy has been adopted by the nine-man Ministerial Action Group, which was set up to investigate human rights abuses following the Nigerian Government's execution of the activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, and to respond in accordance with the Millbrook Action Programme.
Millbrook programme actions have included:-

• Nigeria: Suspension between 11 November 1995 and 29 May 1999, followed the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa. A Secretariat mission to meet General Abacha and his government was followed by a full Ministerial Mission, and by discussions in London with representatives of a cross-section of Nigerian civil society. Following successful elections in the early spring of 1999, the Ministerial Action Group recommended to Heads of Government on 29 April that Nigeria should return to full membership.
• The Gambia
• Sierra Leone
• Zanzibar
• The Soloman Islands
• Guyana and Belize
• Pakistan
• Fiji
• Kenya
• Zimbabwe

Social activities

Commonwealth Games

The Games are held every four years, the next being due to take place in 2014 in Glasgow. Their programmes consist of between ten and seventeen sports, including athletics, swimming, badminton, boxing, hockey, lawn bowls, rugby 7s (men), netball, squash and weightlifting.

Commonwealth Day

Commonwealth Day is celebrated on the second Monday in March every year. It is part of a week of festivities and events which highlight a theme that is chosen to publicise an aspect of the work of the Commonwealth’s organisation.