The event was hosted by the Memorial Gates Council in partnership with The Royal British Legion. The Right Reverend Saju Muthulaly, Bishop of Loughborough, led the prayers…reports Asian Lite News
The commemoration for service men and women from the Commonwealth who served with the Allied Forces during the First and Second World Wars was held today at the Memorial Gates in central London.
This year the ceremony also remembered Baroness Shreela Flather who inspired the project and helped found the Gates which stand on Constitution Hill just by Buckingham Palace.
Baroness Scotland PC KC on behalf of the Commonwealth
The annual wreath laying ceremony was attended by significant individuals including High Commissioners, Foreign Ministers, Speaker of the House of Commons, and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth. The event was hosted by the Memorial Gates Council in partnership with The Royal British Legion. The Right Reverend Saju Muthulaly, Bishop of Loughborough, led the prayers.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons
This year, the 80th anniversary of the Battles of Kohima and Imphal, we specifically remembered those who served in the Fourteenth Army. At Kohima and Imphal, and across South Asia, this polyglot Fourteenth Army turned the tide of war. It was an Army that spoke 40 languages, contained Sikhs, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jews and many other religions. Of its thirteen divisions eight were Indian Army, three were African, and only two were wholly British.
The Lord Bilimoria CBE DL laying a wreath on behalf of His Majesty the King
The Fourteenth Army helped play a part in shaping today’s multi-cultural Britain, thanks to the collaboration of the men and women from so many religions, races, and nations. It created ties that span continents, nations, people and religions.
The Right Reverend Saju Muthulaly, Bishop of Loughborough
Chief guest, Mark William Rawdon Slim, 3rd Viscount Slim (and Grandson of Field Marshal Bill Slim – Commander 14th Army), said: “The Battle of Kohima was the turning point of the Burma Campaign. If the battle had been lost, 14th Army would have been stranded at Imphal with its supplies cut off and the Japanese would have taken control of India. Due to the great bravery and resilience of the Commonwealth soldiers from which 14th Army was formed, the ensuing Allied victories at Kohima and Imphal in 1944 eventually led to the biggest land defeat in Japan’s history in 1945.
Chief guest, Mark William Rawdon Slim, 3rd Viscount Slim (and Grandson of Field Marshal Bill Slim – Commander 14th Army)
Over twenty different nations made up 14th Army which at its peak numbered 1.3 million personnel, the largest British led campaign of World War 2. It was a truly multi-cultural force that operated in total unity to achieve a great victory. We should all be very proud of and grateful for its achievements.
The Burma Campaign is an excellent example of the huge contribution made by volunteers from Commonwealth countries during the two World Wars. 14th Army consisted of 700,000 troops from the Indian subcontinent (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lank) and over 100,000 from West and East Africa. In total, five million men and women from Africa, the Caribbean and the Indian subcontinent volunteered to serve with the British Armed Forces during the First and Second World Wars. The Memorial Gates stand as a monument to reflect not just the tremendous role these volunteers played, but also the gratitude Britain holds for their vital contribution in its hour of need.”
Lord Bilimoria CBE DL, Chairman of the Memorial Gates Council, said: “I am proud to be Chairman of the Council of the Memorial Gates. The Memorial Gates Ceremony on Commonwealth Day commemorates the service and sacrifice of the five million volunteers from South Asia, Africa and the Caribbean in the First and Second World Wars.
This year we are commemorating the 80th anniversary of the battles of Imphal and Kohima. These battles witnessed the most extraordinary bravery, and I am very proud that my late father Lieutenant General Bilimoria’s battalion, the second/5th Ghurka Rifles (Frontier Force) were awarded two out of the 5 Victoria crosses at the Battle of Imphal, Subedar Netrabahadur Thapa (post) and Naik Agansing Rai VC, who I was privileged to know since birth.
The sacrifice and bravery of those who fought in the battles of Imphal and Kohima, will be an inspiration to us all forever.
Marking the 75th anniversary alongside the Ceremony provides an opportunity to commemorate and remember, as we continually do on Commonwealth Day, and through the activities of the Memorial Gates Council, the significant contribution that those from around the Commonwealth and world have made to the success of our great nation.”
Secretary General of the Commonwealth Baroness Scotland said: “As we celebrate Commonwealth Day in an increasingly unstable world, we would do well to remember the many Commonwealth citizens whose lives were lost in the pursuit of peace.”
The Royal British Legion’s Director of Remembrance, Philippa Rawlinson said: “The RBL is proud to continue supporting this ceremony at the Memorial Gates to pay tribute to the five million men and women from the Indian sub-continent, Nepal, Africa and the Caribbean who served during the First and Second World Wars, helping to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.
Sir Ben Okri
This year we mark the 80th anniversaries of momentous battles and turning points of the Second World War. Today’s service remembers in particular those who served in the Fourteenth Army at the battles of Imphal and Kohima in 1944. A truly multinational force, their victory was a turning point in the war in the east and key in the Allied liberation of Burma.
Lord Bilimoria CBE DL, Chairman of the Memorial Gates Council
The Gates also recognise the major contribution of these men and women, and their descendants, to the rich diversity of British society and today’s event highlights the vital contribution of people from across all the Commonwealth who stood together in the face of global conflict.”
Son of Baroness Flather and Memorial Gates Council Member, Dr Paul Flather
This year we also honour and pay our respects to Baroness Flather, the Life President and founder of the Council. She sadly passed away on 6th of February 2024. She was the single person who inspired the concept of a lasting memorial to all those from the former Empire, Commonwealth and Nepal who sacrificed their lives in the’ two World Wars.
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland KC, emphasised the value, power, and potential of the Commonwealth family in her Commonwealth Day address…reports Asian Lite News
Today, 56 of the world’s largest countries and smallest islands, across six oceans, continue to stand united and celebrate the shared values for Commonwealth Day.
Commonwealth Day is traditionally celebrated on the second Monday in March. The theme for this year’s Commonwealth Day and the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth’.
More than 56 nations will celebrate the occasion throughout this week, with representatives attending an event at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London.
This year’s staging is especially significant as the modern Commonwealth will celebrate its 75th anniversary in April.
At a Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ meeting in London on April 26, 1949, the London Declaration said that republics and other independent countries could be equal members of the Commonwealth. Thus, the modern Commonwealth of Nations was born.
King Charles III said in his Commonwealth Day video message: “The Commonwealth family is strongest when we are connected through friendship. As I have said before, the Commonwealth is like the wiring of a house, and its people, our energy and our ideas are the current that runs through those wires.
“Together and individually, we are strengthened by sharing perspectives and experiences, and by offering and borrowing the myriad ways we have each tackled the challenges of our time.”
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland KC, emphasised the value, power, and potential of the Commonwealth family in her Commonwealth Day address.
“Together, we have built a Commonwealth which is fit for the times we live in — stronger, more connected and more influential than ever; capable of rising to the world’s challenges, innovating to seize new opportunities, and working together to shape a more peaceful, resilient and prosperous common future.”
Throughout the world, civic events, educational activities, and cultural gatherings will take place to celebrate Commonwealth Day.
The Commonwealth nations will come together later this year in October for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, which will be the first small island developing state from the Pacific to host the CHOGM.
Secretary General hails India’s vital role
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland on Monday termed digitalisation innovation in India as “extraordinary”, and highlighted how the commonwealth countries are benefiting from the technology and expertise by India.
Sharing her thoughts on globalization and digitalization, Secretary General Scotland spoke ahead of the 2024 Commonwealth Law Ministers meeting that is scheduled to take place in Zanzibar, Tanzania from Monday.
Underlining India’s vital role in digiltalisation, Scotland stressed that India has brought extraordinary innovations for digitalization and is making an “incredible contribution to the Commonwealth family”.
“India represents almost a half of the Commonwealth because India is now almost 1.4 billion and the innovations that India has brought in for digitalization, has been extraordinary. And many of our countries have really taken advantage of this opportunity. The innovation coming out of India has been really not just advantageous to India itself, but because of India’s willingness to share her technology to share her expertise,” she said.
Scotland added, “This has really benefited all of our Commonwealth. So, India is making an incredible contribution to our Commonwealth family, and we are really grateful that she is sharing everything she has.”
The 2024 Commonwealth Law Ministers meeting, hosted by the Republic of Tanzania, will focus on the theme ‘Technology and Innovation: How digitalisation paves the way for the development of people-centred access to justice’.
During the meeting, law ministers and attorneys-general from across the Commonwealth will discuss recent legal developments in their jurisdictions and explore responses to emerging justice issues affecting Commonwealth citizens.
The meeting agenda will cover a wide range of issues, including digital assets, electronic resources for efficient legal systems, the protection of women and girls, strengthened access to justice for people with disabilities and developments in climate policy and legislation.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General also lauded India’s move of including the African Union as a member of G20.
“Some of our least developed countries have been extraordinarily innovative. If you think about the contribution that has been made by so many in our region, in the Commonwealth, in the Commonwealth Caribbean, I think we have one of the highest per capita Nobel laureates. So, … every one of us is giving, what we have to, and India’s contribution has been extraordinary. Ofcourse, India’s G20. Which meant that India joined Africa to the G20 and made it G21. A very important contribution from your beautiful country,” Scotland stated.
King Charles lauds work
King Charles hailed the work of the Commonwealth in its 75th anniversary year on Monday, although the British monarch was absent from annual celebrations for the organisation he leads as he recuperates from cancer treatment.
The Commonwealth Day events are the most significant annual royal occasion that Charles, 75, has missed since he was forced to postpone public appearances while he undergoes treatment for an unspecified form of cancer.
His wife Queen Camilla instead led senior royals at a service at London’s Westminster Abbey, which was to be followed by a reception at the Commonwealth’s international headquarters.
Usually a highlight of the royal calendar, Monday’s event was also overshadowed by a furore over a picture released on Sunday by Kate, 42, wife of heir to the throne Prince William.
She apologised on Monday for issuing an edited photograph of herself with the couple’s three children after several leading news organisations including Reuters withdrew it, saying it did not meet their editorial standards.
Commonwealth Day is traditionally celebrated on the second Monday in March…reports Asian Lite News
Today, 56 of the world’s largest countries and smallest islands, across six oceans, continue to stand united and celebrate the shared values for Commonwealth Day.
Commonwealth Day is traditionally celebrated on the second Monday in March. The theme for this year’s Commonwealth Day and the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth’.
More than 56 nations will celebrate the occasion throughout this week, with representatives attending an event at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London.
This year’s staging is especially significant as the modern Commonwealth will celebrate its 75th anniversary in April.
At a Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ meeting in London on April 26, 1949, the London Declaration said that republics and other independent countries could be equal members of the Commonwealth. Thus, the modern Commonwealth of Nations was born.
King Charles III said in his Commonwealth Day video message: “The Commonwealth family is strongest when we are connected through friendship. As I have said before, the Commonwealth is like the wiring of a house, and its people, our energy and our ideas are the current that runs through those wires.
“Together and individually, we are strengthened by sharing perspectives and experiences, and by offering and borrowing the myriad ways we have each tackled the challenges of our time.”
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland KC, emphasised the value, power, and potential of the Commonwealth family in her Commonwealth Day address.
“Together, we have built a Commonwealth which is fit for the times we live in — stronger, more connected and more influential than ever; capable of rising to the world’s challenges, innovating to seize new opportunities, and working together to shape a more peaceful, resilient and prosperous common future.”
Throughout the world, civic events, educational activities, and cultural gatherings will take place to celebrate Commonwealth Day.
The Commonwealth nations will come together later this year in October for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, which will be the first small island developing state from the Pacific to host the CHOGM.
Underlining India’s vital role in digiltalisation, Scotland stressed that India has brought extraordinary innovations for digitalization…reports Asian Lite News
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland on Monday termed digitalisation innovation in India as “extraordinary”, and highlighted how the commonwealth countries are benefiting from the technology and expertise by India.
Sharing her thoughts on globalization and digitalization, Secretary General Scotland spoke to ANI ahead of the 2024 Commonwealth Law Ministers meeting that is scheduled to take place in Zanzibar, Tanzania from Monday.
Underlining India’s vital role in digiltalisation, Scotland stressed that India has brought extraordinary innovations for digitalization and is making an “incredible contribution to the Commonwealth family”.
“India represents almost a half of the Commonwealth because India is now almost 1.4 billion and the innovations that India has brought in for digitalization, has been extraordinary. And many of our countries have really taken advantage of this opportunity. The innovation coming out of India has been really not just advantageous to India itself, but because of India’s willingness to share her technology to share her expertise,” she said.
Speaking to ANI, Scotland added, “This has really benefited all of our Commonwealth. So, India is making an incredible contribution to our Commonwealth family, and we are really grateful that she is sharing everything she has.”
The 2024 Commonwealth Law Ministers meeting, hosted by the Republic of Tanzania, will focus on the theme ‘Technology and Innovation: How digitalisation paves the way for the development of people-centred access to justice’.
During the meeting, law ministers and attorneys-general from across the Commonwealth will discuss recent legal developments in their jurisdictions and explore responses to emerging justice issues affecting Commonwealth citizens.
The meeting agenda will cover a wide range of issues, including digital assets, electronic resources for efficient legal systems, the protection of women and girls, strengthened access to justice for people with disabilities and developments in climate policy and legislation.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General also lauded India’s move of including the African Union as a member of G20.
“Some of our least developed countries have been extraordinarily innovative. If you think about the contribution that has been made by so many in our region, in the Commonwealth, in the Commonwealth Caribbean, I think we have one of the highest per capita Nobel laureates. So, … every one of us is giving, what we have to, and India’s contribution has been extraordinary. Ofcourse, India’s G20. Which meant that India joined Africa to the G20 and made it G21. A very important contribution from your beautiful country,” Scotland stated.
Providing details about her upcoming visit to India later this month, She said she will be visiting the heartfulness center in Hyderabad, where President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will be focusing how we can bring people of all races or religions together to enhance peace
“I’m going to go to Hyderabad and in Hyderabad, I’m going to the heartfulness center. I understand that the President and Vice President of India will also be going there and they will be keynote speakers as will I. We are looking at peace in the Commonwealth. We’re looking at how we can bring people of all races or religions together to enhance peace, and we have faith in our Commonwealth,” the Secretary General said.
Earlier in January, Patricia Scotland was honoured by the Heartfulness Institute in India for her service to the education, growth, and success of young people across 56 Commonwealth countries.
She emphasised on looking into prospects on using digital, AI and technological revolution to help investment and opportunity for the entire Commonwealth.
“I’m really looking forward to that and of course Hyderabad as I mentioned earlier, the center of digital and AI and technological revolution. And so I will be looking at how we can take advantage of all of that to help investment, to help opportunity for the whole of our Commonwealth but particularly the 1.5 billion young people under the age of 30 who are today’s leaders and will be the leaders of tomorrow,” she added. (ANI)
UnniKrishnan Divakaran Nair, Head of Climate Change at the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Commonwealth has raised more than US$320 million in climate finance for small countries, in addition to another US$500 million that is in the pipeline.
UnniKrishnan Divakaran Nair, Head of Climate Change at the Commonwealth Secretariat, said that climate finance is essential to boost investments in low-carbon development and the ability of at-risk countries to mitigate the repercussions of climate change.
He pointed out that the Commonwealth has raised more than US$320 million in climate finance for small countries, in addition to another US$500 million that is in the pipeline.
The Commonwealth official told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the 28th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai that this current edition of COP was able to provide an opportunity for multilateral work and a platform for communication between stakeholders to advance global climate action.
He mentioned the establishment of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH), which is a mandate for the Commonwealth Secretariat to unlock financial support to developing countries, and a confirmation of the commitment of the 56 Commonwealth member states to move forward in addressing climate change.
The Commonwealth official pointed to the initiative to provide the necessary training to build the capacities of nearly 2,500 officials from the organisation’s member states, and to provide the necessary research and statistics to gain a deeper understanding of the issue of climate change, in addition to implementing the Commonwealth Charter, which is in line with the United Nations’ commitments to address climate change, desertification, and biodiversity,
He called for the exchange of solutions between Commonwealth member states and to promote new and renewable energy projects.
The roadmap was the result of three-day deliberations among ministers at their triennial Commonwealth meeting in The Bahamas this week….reports Asian Lite News
Women’s affairs ministers from Commonwealth countries, including representatives from India, have committed to a roadmap, designed to scale up efforts to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls, especially in climate action.
The roadmap was the result of three-day deliberations among ministers at their triennial Commonwealth meeting in The Bahamas this week.
It was also shaped by input from a range of stakeholders, including domestic violence survivors, civil society representatives and women with disabilities.
As part of this roadmap, the women’s affairs ministers pledged to enhance efforts to address inequality in several Commonwealth priority areas over the coming years.
Specific provisions include an enhanced role of women in climate finance, increased support for women with disabilities, more economic opportunities for women, better representation in decision-making and greater protections from gender-based violence.
The roadmap encapsulates the outcome statement issued by ministers, representing 2.5 billion Commonwealth people, at the conclusion of their meeting.
Next year, this roadmap will be considered by leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.
Speaking after the meeting, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, said the roadmap was “incredibly important” because millions of women and girls “are disproportionately impacted by injustice, climate change, violence and discrimination”.
“The outcomes of the meeting send a clear message that the Commonwealth is determined to lead by example towards ensuring women and girls are not left behind in our efforts to achieve sustainable development and climate justice.
“What we achieved here will enable us all to deliver today and it will help to shape a better tomorrow for the benefit of the 2.5 billion people living in our Commonwealth,” she added.
To support the roadmap’s implementation, ministers endorsed a framework for reporting on Commonwealth priorities for gender equality.
The Commonwealth Secretariat will use this framework to regularly assess progress based on set indicators and coordinate necessary measures through a ministerial action group, aimed at tackling challenges disrupting the positive momentum.
Acknowledging that climate change disproportionately affects women and girls, ministers shared good practices that supported women and girls in overcoming the impacts in their respective countries.
Ministers and senior officials also called on the Commonwealth to advocate for an inclusive ‘Loss and Damage Fund’ that supports the needs of women and girls equitably.
India’s Preetam B. Yashvant, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, endorsed the roadmap on achieving gender equality.
The meeting was chaired by Obediah Wilchcombe, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development of The Bahamas. Reflecting on the meeting in a press conference, minster Wilchcombe expressed his appreciation for the substantive outcomes.
“We have a roadmap coming out of this meeting which we (The Bahamas) and other countries will follow. Because it would not make too much sense three years from now to return saying the same old thing. What we want to do is to make a real difference. We are pleased that this meeting sets us up on a higher plane and at a faster pace to follow this roadmap,” he said.
Recognising the significance of engaging men and boys in preventing and combating gender-based violence, ministers welcomed the launch of Secretary-General Scotland’s ‘For the Women in my Life’ campaign.
To be rolled out across the Commonwealth, the campaign will take a culturally sensitive approach towards involving men and boys in addressing violence against women and girls as active allies.
In their statement, ministers also highlighted the need for collecting and analysing sex-disaggregated data in order to develop evidence-based solutions and target them more accurately.
Commonwealth, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland hails India’s G20 leadership, says agenda identified by India aligned with Commonwealth’s agenda…reports Asian Lite News
Calling India’s leadership an ‘incredibly important moment’ for Commonwealth, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said that the association needs New Delhi’s strength, vision and support to deliver on issues like climate justice, reforms and to believe that change is possible and justice is deliverable.
Hailing India’s G20 leadership, Scotland believes that the agenda which has been identified by India for the G20 is very much the Commonwealth’s agenda. Patricia Scotland was the first woman to be appointed by the Heads of Government of 56 Commonwealth countries to the position, leading the Commonwealth of Nations to deliver on the mandates agreed upon by the Commonwealth Heads of Government, including on climate action, democracy and youth development.
“I think this is an incredibly important moment for us in the Commonwealth having India’s leadership. You know that the Commonwealth has been pushing hard for example, for a reform of the International financial institutions and India now leads the Finance Ministers Action Group on this issue. We believe that we should have a universal vulnerability index which takes into account not just GDP, but the vulnerability of our countries”, said Patricia Scotland.
“The agenda which has been identified by India for the G20 is very much the Commonwealth’s agenda. So, we really are hoping that the leadership that India has shown will enable us to deliver on a number of issues. For example, we know that we need climate finance if we are to have climate justice. The G20 countries are probably responsible for 80 per cent of the emissions. The Global South, particularly the small and the developing states, the island states have contributed less than five per cent of these emissions”, she added.
Talking further of India taking the mantle of Chairing the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Action Group, the Secretary-General said that it really does need India’s strength, vision and support, if it is to deliver and improve the opportunities for the disadvantaged and those who have contributed the least to the climate crisis.
“We are hoping that India will continue as she has done to strive for climate justice, and she will be receiving more than support. I must thank India for taking up the mantle of chairing this Commonwealth finance ministers Action Group, which is supported by Nigeria as the deputy of the vice chair on behalf of the Commonwealth finance ministers. So we really do need India’s strength, vision and support, if we are to deliver this”, said Secretary Scotland.
She added, “Just think how we could improve the opportunities that those who are most disadvantaged and who have contributed least to the climate crisis that we now face. Just think about what we could help them to do. If they got the money for adaptation and mitigation. So, I have to tell you, there is a lot of hope. There’s a lot of aspiration and trust that’s being invested in India, as now the fifth largest economy in the world, to help those who are vulnerable and small, to believe that change is possible and justice is deliverable. And India is a real partner of choice for so many in our Commonwealth who need India’s help and her support”.
Speaking further about India’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2070 and how climate change impacts developing countries including India, Scotland said that “Climate change has had a devastating impact on all of our countries and if we look at the number of incidents of climate disasters then there has been an increase of more than 75 per cent in the last 20 years and the cost of these disasters has gone up more than 80 per cent which poses an existential threat, particularly for the small states and also for all of us.”
Talking about the World Tourism Organization’s Summit that is currently ongoing in Mauritius and the key areas of discussion, she said that it is an opportunity for the tourism industry, along with the governments and the multilateral agencies, to come together to create an implementation plan to respond after the huge disruptions caused to tourism pattern after the Covid pandemic.
She also said that one of the things that Africa is doing at this conference is to make sure that we’re more resilient to the exogenous shocks in the future and that there will be a creative plan for how we make tourism sustainable.
“You will know that 90 per cent of the tourists who come to our countries are international in nature. And over the past decade, the small island developing states have achieved remarkable success in building the tourism sector. So, for example, before COVID in 2019, 44 million visited their rich biodiversity and ecosystems and tourism contributed almost 30 per cent to these small islands, developing states. GPD accounts for about 27 per cent of the jobs in the Caribbean and that’s 24 per cent in the Atlantic of the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. And so if you look at the impact of the Pacific, it’s similar 20 per cent in the Pacific, small island developing states, so it’s a vital source of revenue for small island developing states for their livelihood, and the whole impact of COVID And the climate disasters has had a terrible impact”, the Secretary-General said. (ANI)
Commonwealth nations to review energy transition progress.(Photo: twitter.com/commonwealthsec)
Globally, nations are working to pivot towards low-carbon energy systems, in response to climate change, energy security needs and the falling cost of renewable energy technologies…reports Asian Lite News
Next week, the third Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Forum will bring together senior government officials, private sector actors, industry experts and youth delegates to review energy transition progress and discuss ways to achieve ambitious goals with action on the ground.
Energy access is essential for sustainable development, with nearly 774 million people across the world still without access to electricity. More than half of them live in Commonwealth countries.
Globally, nations are working to pivot towards low-carbon energy systems, in response to climate change, energy security needs and the falling cost of renewable energy technologies.
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland KC, highlighted the importance of the upcoming discussions, stating: “Commonwealth countries are working together to fast-track an inclusive, just, and equitable transition to low-carbon energy systems through the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition (CSET) Agenda.
“While the transition pathways may differ, the move to clean energy systems is a common goal, and all member countries recognise of the nexus between climate change, energy access and sustainable development.”
A number of milestones and new initiatives will be announced at the event. These will be implemented under the CSET Agenda — a platform for all member countries to work together to accelerate the global transition to clean energy through collective action, knowledge sharing and technical support.
The Sustainable Energy Forum is also seen as an opportunity to discuss the road to the UN Climate Change Conference COP28, to be held in Dubai in November.
In particular, the event will have a strong intergenerational approach, recognising that young people are essential stakeholders in creating the solutions for the energy transition.
The Forum will meet over three days: The day one focuses on global developments in the transition to cleaner energy; the day two will be a closed-door plenary for member country delegates, including dedicated sessions focusing on youth action; and the day three will consider both public and private financing solutions.
The world has become a very unstable and quite worrisome place. People are looking for friends. They’re looking at friends with whom they can deal and work not only in sympathy, but also in safety…reports Asian Lite News
It does not have the megaphone that enables other world bodies broadcast their small and big achievements, such as the UN and its star body the Security Council, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Union. But the Commonwealth of Nations has not only built up an impressive list of outcomes, it has, away from the limelight, led on key global issues, such as climate change.
Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland says this organisation of 56 member nations remains effective, relevant and engaged. But what sets it apart from the others is that it is like a family, tied by shared “love” and concern for each other.
Scotland spoke on the sidelines of the annual Spring Meetings of the World Bank group. Excerpt from the interview:
The Commonwealth of Nations has 56 members and it’s home to a quarter of the world’s humanity but it is barely heard on issues of significance; Ukraine, for instance, or the present global financial crisis.
Since 2016, the Commonwealth has really been at the forefront of a number of quite pivotal issues. We looked at the issues of debt; we looked at the issues of climate change; we looked at the issues in relation to corruption, looked at the issues in relation to women and domestic violence or the issues in relation to democracy and freedom.
On all of these issues, the Commonwealth has been right at the front, particularly in relation to climate. We are here right now (at the Spring Meetings) talking about the reform of the IFIs (International Financial Institutions), the need for us to have a universal vulnerability index because looking at the GNI as the arbiter for what should happen on climate finance is just not working.
Of course, the issues in relation to Ukraine are important to the Commonwealth in terms of food insecurity and the rise in the cost of living about which we’ve been talking a great deal because we identified that these exogenous shocks, which happened in one area, (have) disproportionate deleterious impact on our member states. So I think if what we are saying isn’t being covered as extensively as it could or should be, we are trying to change that’s why we’re having these conversations.
Do you think there is a need for the Commonwealth to change to adapt to this new world that is emerging, a multipolar world where you no longer have just the US and the Soviet Union or now Russia; there is China?
If you look at what has happened in the last seven years (since she took over as Secretary General) is that the Commonwealth is growing. It’s one of the only organisations which more countries are joining and (to which) more countries that left have come back. (Togo and Gabon, which were never parts of the Commonwealth, became last year its 55th and 56th members). They’ve been looking at the change that has happened in the Commonwealth, particularly in those countries, which are similar to them, who are in the Commonwealth, but who are doing exponentially better. And these countries are saying why. And why the Commonwealth is becoming so attractive, I understand, is because it’s a values driven organisation, not dependent on treaty, concentrating on common interests.
The world has become a very unstable and quite worrisome place. People are looking for friends. They’re looking at friends with whom they can deal and work not only in sympathy, but also in safety. As the rest of the world becomes more difficult, I think people are attracted to an organisation which is bound on values and is based on equality because in the Commonwealth, it doesn’t matter what size you are, how rich you are, how poor you are, you are equal.
If you look back at 2018 you remember, on the multilateral arena, nobody could agree on anything. You almost thought at one stage they couldn’t even agree on a cold custard tart. And they thought therefore it would be impossible for those areas which were so difficult and so complex globally to be agreed anywhere. If you look at our Commonwealth communique, the Commonwealth came together – we were then 53 countries — and we agreed on everything. We agreed on a new connectivity agenda. We agreed to create the blue charter (to work together on a fair, inclusive and sustainable approach to ocean protection and economic development), we agreed on what we were going to do on women, on every single issue. And it was extraordinary because here you had countries of all shapes, all sizes, five different regions across six oceans agreeing on everything.
Pic credits Facebook
We had a meeting of trade ministers and people said look, you know WTO was very difficult. You’re never gonna get anyone to agree on and you know how disparate that family is. The whole Commonwealth came together and we agreed – every Trade Minister agreed – on a Trade Ministers’ communique. The world looked at us ‘how on earth’. And the reason is not only do we respect each other, we listen to each other. But we don’t just look at what divides us, we look at what joins us. What we’ve been able to do in the Commonwealth is to work attention around that consensus.
India holds the G20 presidency for 2023. Any expectations?
India, the Commonwealth’s largest member and the current G20 chair, has a unique opportunity to leverage its position to advocate for inclusive, transparent and consultative reforms of the international financial institutions among its G20 members. India can also push for inclusive financial policies and advocate for debt relief.
London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits science museum with Prince Charles to view an exhibition on 5000 years of Science and Innovation, in London on April 18, 2018. (Photo: IANS/PIB)
It may be more useful for India to not severe ties with commonwealth but increase its influence in the commonwealth, writes Prof. Dheeraj Sharma
The origin of the Commonwealth is an outcome beginning the decline of the United Kingdom (UK) as a dominant global power. The First World War demonstrated two essential things to the world. First, Europe was as fragile as it was during the hundred-year war in the 1400s. Second, it ushered in the arrival of the United States on the world stage, an erstwhile colony of the UK. Many researchers contend that the UK realized it would be strategically important for it them to start treating their colonies better to maintain control over their affairs. As a result, the Statute of Westminster (1931), which served as the Commonwealth’s primary founding instrument, mandated that all Commonwealth members must be the UK’s dominions. The London Declaration in 1949, which allowed republics and monarchical countries to join the Commonwealth, provided they accepted King George VI as the “Head of the Commonwealth,” ended the requirement of being a UK Dominion.
The Commonwealth principles, however, were extended to the social, political, and economic spheres in the 1960s. Therefore, given that South Africa did not adhere to the social idea of racial integration, it was expelled from the Commonwealth.
The 1971 Singapore Declaration, which required all signatories to uphold the values of global peace, liberty, human rights, equality, and free commerce, sharpened the common guidelines of the Commonwealth even more. However, the primary outcome of the Singapore declaration was ‘rejecting coercion as an instrument of policy.’ This was also when the Persian Gulf Residency ended, marking an end to direct British domination in the Gulf. Specifically, the Singapore declaration clearly stated that the Commonwealth could not forcefully enforce its core values on its member states and could not use coercion. However, understanding the implications of the Singapore declaration, which would preclude the UK from interfering with the internal affairs of the Commonwealth members, the UK pushed for the Harare Declaration in 1991, which again reintroduced mechanisms and conditions under which the UK could get involved in the internal affairs of the Commonwealth member states.
The Harare Declaration provided an uncodified constitution to the commonwealth and also further specified the membership criterion. The Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme (MCAP)), 1995, further defined this by requiring the Commonwealth to be concerned with its members’ domestic affairs. MCAP helped the Commonwealth Secretariat get its headquarters at London’s Marlborough House which gave it further authority to reward members who followed the rules and penalize those who disobeyed them. MCAP established the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), and it is tasked with reviewing and looking into situations of potential violations and recommending appropriate action against member states. For instance, Zimbabwe was allegedly punished for a violation in 2002. Later Zimbabwe withdrew from the commonwealth membership in 2003.
Pic credits thecommonwealth.org
Table 1 summarizes the key advances in the conceptualization of the Commonwealth.
Balfour, 1926
The committee, led by Lord Arthur Balfour, investigated and reinterpreted the legal connection between self-governing nations of the British Empire. According to the study, Great Britain and the Dominions are a set of autonomous communities that are regarded as equals, under no means subject to each other in terms of their external or internal affairs, and that are entitled to membership in the Commonwealth.
London, 1949
The Prime Ministers and Secretaries of State for external affairs of the UK, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, and Ceylon met in London to discuss issues brought on by India’s acceptance of a Republic regime and desire for India to be part of the Commonwealth. Moreover, it reflected Commonwealth’s longstanding ability to reinforce its shared goals while modifying its organizational structure and operating procedures to suit changing conditions. It underlined its members’ liberty and equal treatment, not merely in how they relate to the Crown as Head of the Commonwealth, by dropping the “British” prefix from the organization’s identity. While allowing India to replace the Monarch as its head of India, the London Declaration highlighted that the crown was to be recognized as “the emblem” of the Commonwealth association. Nonetheless, India must acknowledge the King as Head of the Commonwealth.
Singapore, 1971 This declaration claimed that inter and intra-national understanding would contribute to eradicating discriminating people based on racial, ethnic, and religious distinctions. The main objective was to promote the free flow of international trade on terms equal to all while also considering the unique needs of developing countries. Rejecting coercion as a policy tool was the main outcome of this declaration. This was an important declaration which emphasized the limits of influence of head of commonwealth, UK.
Harare, 1991 This declaration laid a plan for the Commonwealth’s future, including a commitment outlining priorities. Further, it declared that Commonwealth is a voluntary agreement of sovereign independent nations liable for implementing their respective policies, collaborating and working together in the best interest of one’s citizens, and the endorsement of global understanding and harmony. It re-introduced that influence element of commonwealth. In other words, commonwealth could directly concern itself with any member nation if they find them violating the commonly held principles.
Millbrook, 1995 Post Harare, pathway was established for preservation and advancement of the commonwealth association’s core political values, including democratic structures and procedures, fundamental human rights, the legal system, judicial independence, and honest and ethical government. It was further decided to create a Commonwealth Action Programme during our retreat at Millbrook to more effectively carry out the pledges made in the Harare Commonwealth Declaration. There are three sections to this program:
We are advancing the core political principles of the Commonwealth, encouraging sustainable growth, and facilitating consensus-building. In other words, with establishment of core political principles one could judge deviation from those more precisely and accordingly a rationale to reward and punish those deviating from those principles was created.
Edinburgh Declaration, 1997 Extreme poverty and rising inequality make establishing global peace, security, and social stability impossible. It campaigned for special measures for countries’ integration, particularly for small states and least-developed nations, to overcome unequal development and solve the progress currently threatening many nations.
Colombo Declaration, 2013 Understanding the Commonwealth’s top priorities should be achieving inclusive and equitable progress. New elements such inclusive and equity as defined by UK was introduced as an element. Thereby, creating new standards for commonwealth nations to follow. Commonwealth started to examine issues of member state’s efforts to ensure benefits are distributed fairly and to raise everyone’s quality of life and economic success. Again, the definitions of fairness, quality of life, and economic success were that of UK. The differences across nations were not accounted.
Declaration on Commonwealth connectivity, 2018 To help Commonwealth nations meet the Sustainable Development Goals, it was emphasized how important trade and investment between nations are for increasing earnings and job opportunities. While the goals are largely aspirational, these do not account for differences in the level of development and economic constraints of least developed, under-developed, and developing members.
Given the expanded nature and scope of the Commonwealth and its ability to use coercive power against the member states, one wonders what member states gain from being Commonwealth members. A literature review in this domain indicates that most African nations are probably part of the Commonwealth on account of being former colonies. These countries engage in trade, free trade, and favourable immigration policies with the UK. In many situations, the UK can represent the countries’ interests by providing an embassy/consulate presence in various countries where these specific countries do not have their embassy/consulate.
Past research in the domain of the Commonwealth indicates that there are two conflicted views on the commonwealth. The first viewpoint presents the case of Gulf states which have a strong relationship with UK and have chosen not be commonwealth members. Most of middle-east is strongly entrenched in UK economy. In 1960s, Kuwaiti averted a financial crisis because of Pound Sterling reserves. Reciprocally, Qatari investment gives a significant backing to troubled UK assets and UK banks. In other words, Gulf States and UK have both benefitted each other in terms of bilateral trade and economic stability despite not being formally connected through Commonwealth.
In addition, UK offers military support to the middle-east despite no connection with Commonwealth. UK has a Joint Logistics Support Base in Oman, HMS Juffair, a permanent UK naval base in Bahrain, an Airbase in Qatar, military presence in Saudi Arabia and UK is also considering have a base in Kuwait, the British military retains a significant presence in the Gulf.
Second view demonstrate that a few countries entered Commonwealth voluntarily and not for economic or military reasons. A very rich and prosperous Brunei joined in commonwealth in 1984 to counter a powerful China and to get UK’s diplomatic and political network to safeguard itself. Also, Rwanda, which was formerly a Belgian colony, joined the Commonwealth to help it get global recognition through enhancement of international ties using UK’s diplomatic prowess. To satisfy the commonwealth, it quickly anglicized its education system and aligned its economy towards UK. More recently Gabon and Togo, who do not have any direct historical ties to British colonial empire, have become members.
Interesting India being in commonwealth does not fit with in either view. Therefore, it would interesting to examine why India decided to remain a commonwealth member despite its long and bloody struggle to earn freedom from the British monarchy? According to a seminal article in Journal of Commonwealth and Comparative Politics authored by RJ Moore in 1981, it can be concluded that Lord Mountbatten was largely responsible for ensuring that India stays in the Commonwealth.
Moore analysed and cited several correspondences, minutes of the meetings, official records among others to professor his contentions in the research article. Moore contends that Lord Mountbatten negotiated with Baldev Singh (Defence Minister in Interim Government of India), Odisha Governor CL Tiwari, Prime Minister Nehru, and Secretary VP Menon in a series of interactions and, using guile, threats, and incentives, earned the resolution of the constituent assembly to be a member of the Commonwealth. Mountbatten could credibly convey the threat of isolation of India as most of the world at that time was either existing or erstwhile British colonies.
Records of time indicate that several political and non-political leaders indicated India should follow what Ireland had done. Ireland decided not to be part of the British Commonwealth and wanted to recognize and maintain a friendly relationship with the commonwealth. Furthermore, Moore contends through perusal of records that Mountbatten would parley with Baldev Singh, then the defence minister of India. His frequent communication was around the function of the Indian army if the British commissioned officers were to depart India. All officers at that time had King’s commission, and India would not be able to have ties to these officers if it was not part of the Commonwealth. All recognized at that point in time that the Indian army was vital to maintaining law and order situation as violence was predicted and likely to arise when the transfer of power took place. Britain really wanted India to be part of the Commonwealth.
The importance of India to Britain can be encapsulated in one quote of Lord Curzon in 1901 “as long as we rule India we are the greatest power in the world. If we lose it, we shall drop straightaway to a third-rate power.” So much so, since transfer of power entailed the partition of India, and the plan for this transfer of power was originally called Plan Balkan by the British. Finally, as per Viceroy’s personal report cited by Moore, Mountbatten even mooted the idea of some form of common citizenship for citizens of member states with the then-Indian bureaucracy and constituent assembly members of India to persuade Indian leaders to remain in the commonwealth.
As a result of these efforts, India became a member of the commonwealth via London Declaration. London declaration explicitly stated that the Government of India has finally agreed to establish itself as a “sovereign independent republic.” Still, it also asserted and reiterated India’s commitment to retaining her full membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and her acquiescence of The King as the mark of the voluntary expression of its self-governing member nations and, as such, the Head of the Commonwealth. The King is a symbol of free association! It appears to be a double entendre that one can enshrine democracy and democratic values through aristocracy.
Pic credits thecommonwealth.org
As far as India is concerned, there is no real advantage in trade. No real benefit as far as travel is concerned. No real advantage as far as defence is concerned. No real advantage as far as support is concerned. The obtuse attitude of the British government towards those who threaten the sovereignty of India is evidence that there is no real advantage of obtaining even advocacy from the commonwealth secretariat. On the contrary, the Commonwealth charter provides UK with a pulpit to comment on the internal affairs of other countries.
The 2012 Commonwealth charter contained sixteen core beliefs, namely, “democracy, human rights, international peace and security, tolerance, respect and understanding, freedom of expression, separation of powers, the rule of law, good governance, sustainable development, protecting the environment, access to health, education, food and shelter, gender equality, the importance of young people in the Commonwealth, recognition of the needs of the small states, recognition of the needs of the vulnerable states, and lastly, the role of civil society.”
Recently, we have witnessed British Parliament and British politicians commenting and conveying their concerns about Indian democracy, rising nationalism, governance, law order, gender equality, the youth of India, freedom of the press, and freedom of speech, among other topics. Commonwealth provides the UK with a platform to do so as the commonwealth has those core beliefs. The interpretation and application of those core beliefs are very much the interpretation of the British. In other words, how and how those core beliefs are lived in a given member country is up for assessment through a British yardstick.
Consequently, many contend that withdrawal from the commonwealth could be a way forward as it removes this vantage point view for the British government and politicians to comment on and discuss the everyday occurrences in India. It may be interesting to note that even Pakistan had withdrawn its commonwealth membership from 1972 till about 1989. Pakistan’s membership was also revoked and reinstated on more than one occasion. At the very least, the government of India must examine the pros and cons of exiting the commonwealth. COMEXIT (Commonwealth exit) denotes India’s exit from the commonwealth. COMEXIT needs a serious discussion at the highest level.
A survey of 2003 students in higher education institutions in India indicates that 94.5% of respondents felt India should exit the commonwealth and COMEXIT will be true signal of complete independence from British dominance. Of those who supported the exit, 72% stated that they support COMEXIT as India has today attained higher standing on the global platform that UK. 62% of the respondents supported COMEXIT because India is fifth largest economy. 60% of respondents supported COMEXIT because India is a large country with self-sufficient resources. 54% of respondents supported COMEXIT as they believed the commonwealth as institution is parochial and a remnant of the colonial era.
Although, the results of the survey indicates that there is a strong support for COMEXIT but I believe it may be more useful for India to not severe ties with commonwealth but increase its influence in the commonwealth. In recent times though, there have some changes, commonwealth’s official website indicates that the head of commonwealth is symbolic one with no fixed term and the position is not hereditary. In addition, the website states that future heads will be chosen by members of Commonwealth.
Does this provide an opportunity for India? I certainly think so. India is already holding the presidency of G20 and I am sure India would like to leave a positive and lasting legacy through it presidency. However, the next assignment for India and Indian diplomacy could be to gain the leadership of Commonwealth. Could it be that Prime Minister of India is head of Commonwealth next year? It certainly should be India’s aspiration. At the very least, the head of the commonwealth should be on rotation. Commonwealth could augment its contribution by defining it purpose with greater clarity through a non-Britain centric approach.
(Professor Dheeraj Sharma is Director IIM Rohtak. Views expressed are personal and exclusive to India Narrative)
