What is the Commonwealth?
COMMONWEALTH leaders will begin the three-day summit tommorow. Following are key facts about the group: <br>-The Commonwealth evolved from Britain’s former empire and groups 1.8 billion people, or around 30 percent of the world’s population, with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth as its head
COMMONWEALTH leaders will begin the three-day summit tommorow. Following are key facts about the group:
-The Commonwealth evolved from Britain’s former empire and groups 1.8 billion people, or around 30 percent of the world’s population, with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth as its head.
-It regards itself as an influential cross-regional forum for nations with similar aspirations.
-The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa were the Commonwealth’s five original members created by the Treaty of Westminster in 1931.
-Its heads of government meeting, known as CHOGM, convenes roughly every two years. It was last held in Valletta, Malta, in November 2005.
-All but one of its members were at one time part of the British empire or constitutionally linked to one of its members. The exception is Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony, admitted in 1995. Nations, including Rwanda, are queuing up to join.
-The Commonwealth has 53 member countries, of which 32 are republics, 16 are monarchies with Queen Elizabeth II as their sovereign. Five have their own monarchies.
-Most of the Commonwealth membersn (49) are developing countries. Thirty-two are small states with populations of less than 1.5 million people.
-The group has no constitution or charter. Key values were set out in Singapore in 1971 and reaffirmed in Harare in 1991 and include democracy, good governance, respect for human rights and gender equality, the rule of law and sustainable economic and social development.
-The Commonwealth evolved from Britain’s former empire and groups 1.8 billion people, or around 30 percent of the world’s population, with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth as its head.
-It regards itself as an influential cross-regional forum for nations with similar aspirations.
-The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa were the Commonwealth’s five original members created by the Treaty of Westminster in 1931.
-Its heads of government meeting, known as CHOGM, convenes roughly every two years. It was last held in Valletta, Malta, in November 2005.
-All but one of its members were at one time part of the British empire or constitutionally linked to one of its members. The exception is Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony, admitted in 1995. Nations, including Rwanda, are queuing up to join.
-The Commonwealth has 53 member countries, of which 32 are republics, 16 are monarchies with Queen Elizabeth II as their sovereign. Five have their own monarchies.
-Most of the Commonwealth membersn (49) are developing countries. Thirty-two are small states with populations of less than 1.5 million people.
-The group has no constitution or charter. Key values were set out in Singapore in 1971 and reaffirmed in Harare in 1991 and include democracy, good governance, respect for human rights and gender equality, the rule of law and sustainable economic and social development.