The Commonwealth Family
The Commonwealth’s networks and interests range widely and include civil society, professional and parliamentary groups covering issues ranging from democracy, youth affairs, labour issues, gender equity, human rights, health and education. The following is a small sample of Commonwealth agencies and organisations.
Commonwealth Foundation
The Commonwealth Foundation serves the people’s Commonwealth. Its members are principally representative of civil society organisations from Commonwealth countries. Founded in 1966 and funded by Commonwealth governments, its central aim is to promote sustainable development and international understanding through collaboration and exchange.
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association links members of national and state parliaments across the Commonwealth. It aims to provide a forum for the discussion of matters of common parliamentary interest.
Commonwealth Youth Programme
The Commonwealth Youth Programme strives for a world where young women and men (15-29 years) can fulfil their potential and use their creativity and skills as productive members of the global society. The guiding principle of CYP is that young people possess the drive, ability, and potential to help both themselves and their communities.
Commonwealth Games Federation
The Commonwealth Games Federation links the national Commonwealth Games Associations to promote the four-yearly Commonwealth Games, establish rules and regulations for their conduct and encourage amateur sport throughout the Commonwealth.
Commonwealth Business Council
Heads of Government at Edinburgh agreed to establish the Commonwealth Business Council to encourage private sector involvement in trade and investment. It was set up by the Rt Hon The Earl Cairns and Mr Cyril Ramaphosa and held its inaugural meeting in April 1998.
Commonwealth Broadcasting Association
The CBA, linking 68 broadcasting organisations and 18 affiliates in Commonwealth countries, works to advance the quality and status of broadcasting in the Commonwealth.
Commonwealth Local Government Forum
The CLGF aims to encourage participatory local government in Commonwealth countries through exchange of information and the strengthening of local capacity. CLGF has organised symposia and workshops on government issues in all regions of the Commonwealth and has launched a Commonwealth Local Good Practice Scheme to fund technical co-operation partnerships between local authorities.
Commonwealth Medical Association
The main aim of the CMA is to strengthen the capacity of national medical associations in developing countries to improve the health and well-being of their communities.
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
CHRI is a non-partisan, independent international NGO. It was founded in 1987 by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Commonwealth Legal Education Association, Commonwealth Trade Union Council and Commonwealth Journalists Association. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and Commonwealth Press Union joined in 1999. Its mission is to work for the practical realisation of human rights across the Commonwealth.
Commonwealth Trade Union Council
The CTUC links trade union national centres, representing over 30 million trade union members, throughout the Commonwealth. It operates in close cooperation with other international trade union organisations and seeks to promote a democratic and prosperous Commonwealth in which international labour standards are observed.
Commonwealth Human Ecology Council
CHEC encourages and promotes an understanding of human ecological principles and their application in Commonwealth countries and beyond, aiming to bring together government, experts and community members for this purpose.