COP27: “We cannot compromise with catastrophe, so we must compromise with each other” - Commonwealth Secretary-General 16 November 2022 For Immediate Release

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has urged countries attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh to progress talks towards a meaningful outcome by the end of the week. As the final days of negotiations approach for the annual summit, attended by more than 35,000 delegates from almost 200 nations, the Secretary-General called for actions that will close the gaps on emissions, finance and justice, while taking into account the needs of vulnerable countries.   In her statement to the conference plenary, the Secretary-General Scotland emphasised: “As climate change advances, we have lost momentum. The gap on emissions, finance and justice has widened, while the window for action continues to narrow.  “It is our duty to close that gap – and this process is our only chance.  Because we cannot compromise with catastrophe, so we must compromise with each other.” She highlighted the series of climate disasters that have affected millions of people across the Commonwealth in recent months. In Pakistan, devastating floods have claimed more than 1,700 lives and affected 33 million people since June. Similarly in Nigeria, more than 600 people have died and 1.3 million displaced, due to the worst floods seen in the country in more than a decade. The Secretary-General continued: “Vulnerable states face being consumed by the waves or drowned by debt. The unthinkable has become typical… “We must reject the violence of inaction against those who need us to succeed, now and for generations to come, and commit ourselves to action on land, ocean, energy, finance and resilience.” The Commonwealth comprises 56 member countries brought together by shared values and principles, including 33 small states, 25 of which are small island developing states. In 1989, Commonwealth Heads of Government met in Langkawi, Malaysia, and raised the alarm on the “permanent and irreversible damage” to the environment, demanding a “co-ordinated global effort” to address the challenge. Since then, the Commonwealth has championed global advocacy around climate change and ocean action. This year, Secretary-General Scotland is heading a delegation from the Commonwealth Secretariat to COP27, with the aim of amplifying the concerns of member countries, advocating for small and other vulnerable states, supporting partnerships and raising awareness about the various Commonwealth programmes offered to support members. This includes initiatives such as the Commonwealth Living Lands Charter, the Commonwealth Blue Charter, the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Agenda.   Download the Secretary-General's full statement or watch the video For Commonwealth events at COP27, follow #CommonwealthForClimate, or visit www.thecommonwealth.org/cop27   Notes to Editors The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal sovereign states. Our combined population is 2.5 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged 29 or under. The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-three of our members are small states, many of which are island nations. The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights. Our work helps to grow economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality. Member countries are supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations.

 

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Welcome to your monthly Stroke Support Newsletter. This email is sent on behalf of the Stroke Association and is full of things we think you’ll find useful. Stroke changed everything for Chris. But so did our support. My name is Chris and I’m a stroke survivor. After my stroke, I couldn’t speak or move anything on my left side. I was like a child again. I was a completely different person after my stroke. I was very emotional. Very angry at the world. A stroke can lead to changes in behaviour and 40% of stroke survivors experience anxiety or depression. This can be due to the damage to your brain, or it might be linked to emotional problems. The Stroke Association’s ‘Changes to behaviour’ guide aims to help you understand why you might be behaving differently, as well as the problems it can cause. It also explains what you can do to help this behaviour. Changes to behaviour guide > Although the impact of stroke is lifelong, it doesn’t mean that life is over. With the right rehabilitation and support people can get on with their lives. I enjoy life, I love going to festivals and concerts and I even took up DJ-ing recently!  The Stroke Association understand the huge impact a stroke can have and are committed to helping people like you and me to get the support we need. Take care, Chris on behalf of the Stroke Association.

World Stroke Day - Pass FAST on At the end of October we launched our ‘Pass FAST on’ campaign to mark World Stroke Day, which coincided with the 13th anniversary of Public Health England’s (PHE) Act FAST campaign launch. The FAST (Face Arms Speech Time to call 999) test, helps you to recognise the most common signs of a stroke and reminds you what to do when stroke strikes. Knowing and sharing the FAST test is the most important thing you can do to save lives and prevent disability from stroke. Please continue to ‘Pass FAST on’ to everyone you know.

 

Togo’s flag raised at Marlborough House to mark admission into the Commonwealth 20 October 2022

The flag of Togo was raised for the first time at the Commonwealth Headquarters in London, formally marking the country’s entry into the 56-member association. Togo became the 56th member of the Commonwealth on 25 June 2022 following approval from Commonwealth leaders during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda. As the tradition goes, a special flag-raising ceremony was held today in the presence of the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, Dr Arjoon Suddhoo, and the President of the Togolese Republic, H.E. Faure Gnassingbé. They were joined by guests including high commissioners, senior government officials, the Togolese diaspora, and the media. In remarks welcoming Togo to the association, the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General said: “Togo’s journey into the Commonwealth has been a long time in the making. We walked the journey for many years, as the Commonwealth provided guidance to Togo’s efforts and commitments to embody the values of the Commonwealth Charter. “Togo has shown commitment to meeting institutional and governance reforms. The Government of Togo has demonstrated clear action in developing its economy and infrastructure; in providing a conducive business climate and stability to attract tourism and investment. “Today, we welcome [Togo] into our family home, where we work every day to deepen our bonds and abilities to conquer the challenges we face – together. Welcome to a special group of nations which are committed to doing their best to uphold shared values and to help one another.   “Long live Togo and Long Live the Commonwealth!” President Gnassingbé on his part said: “It is my great pleasure to address this honourable audience on this highly symbolic occasion and to express the joy and pride of the people of Togo as we gather here today to raise our flag among those of the great Commonwealth of Nations family. “As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, I would like to solemnly ask each one of you to bear witness to Togo’s renewed pledge to the values of peace, democracy, and development, which are the core values of the family we are joining. “Our stepping into the Commonwealth family is an incredible booster towards progressing together and leaving no one behind. “It is my wish that the new dawn we are setting today will unveil an era of fruitful cooperation, economic growth, sustainable development as well as social and cultural fulfilment for all of us.” The flag of Togo was then ceremoniously raised on the roof of Marlborough House to the tune of Togo’s national anthem with guests looking on in awe. By joining the Commonwealth, Togo’s Embassy in London now officially becomes a High Commission. To mark the occasion, a plaque commemorating the move was unveiled. As an institution uniting 2.5 billion people from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific, the Commonwealth is unique. Membership to the Commonwealth means joining a community of mutually supportive independent and sovereign states, aided by more than 80 accredited organisations such as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Commonwealth Education Trust, that bring their expertise and the strength of their networks to support all our member countries in their development and aspirational goals. Members can also access a variety of training and technical assistance resources and benefit from more than 50 strategic partnerships with renowned organisations such as the United Nations, the African Development Bank, and the World Trade Organization, to create the conditions for people across the Commonwealth to flourish. Togo will now also be able to take part in major Commonwealth summits and ministerials which bring together government leaders, from developed and developing nations, to help amplify collective action on global challenges.

 

Commonwealth Central Banks Governors explore effective strategies for tackling inflation 11 October 2022

At their annual meeting held today in Washington DC, Commonwealth Central Bank Governors came together to discuss strategies to best work together to tackle inflation at a time when the global economy is facing excessive inflationary pressures driven by geopolitical tensions, coupled with the disruption in supply chain. Top of the agenda was the discussion around high global inflation and the cost-of-living crisis which is affecting the lives of millions across the Commonwealth and beyond. Chaired by Mr Abdur Rouf Talukder, Governor of Bangladesh Bank, and on the theme of ‘Tackling Inflationary Pressures on Multiple Fronts’, this was the first in-person meeting of Commonwealth Central Bank Governors since 2019. In his opening remarks, Mr Talukder said: “Central banks, particularly, the Commonwealth central banks have a crucial role in tackling inflation.  Clear communication together with close collaboration between monetary and fiscal policy authorities remains vital to tackle inflation from both monetary and fiscal fronts. As inflation soars to new heights, Central banks across the globe have been quick to act by raising interest rates from January to date, but it is important to highlight the associated costs that can arise from tightening monetary policy, which include, but are not limited to unemployment, slow economic growth or even recession. Therefore, we need to tread cautiously to minimize the costs of monetary tightening as best we can.” The meeting covered topics such as monetary policy tools to tackle inflation, the impact of rising interest rates on capital flows, and a presentation from the Reserve Bank of India on the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) - a digital innovation developed in India which enables real-time instant payments through smartphones from one bank to another. The Governors shared their respective experiences and acknowledged an urgent need to manage inflation expectations.  They opined that inflation has been largely driven by the supply-side as opposed to demand side, thus posing a challenge for central banks.  The Governors acknowledged that in Commonwealth countries, predominantly, inflation has been driven by rising import prices of fuel and food prices. And while inflation has reached record high levels in most Commonwealth countries, for some countries, exchange rate appreciation has helped reduce the inflationary pressures caused by global supply shocks and geopolitical tensions, leaving room to keep monetary policy relaxed. The Central Bankers mentioned that they will continue implementing monetary tightening to try and contain demand while also working to tackle supply side challenges. The governors further reiterated that it is imperative to ensure that monetary policy is accompanied by complementary fiscal policy that does not exacerbate demand side pressures.  The Governors also considered the impact of rising interest rates and noted that rising interest rates could potentially result in capital outflows and consequent currency depreciation for countries with weak macroeconomic fundamentals. The meeting also featured a briefing from the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Economic Policy and Small States (EPSS) team on the recommendations of their recent report ‘Commonwealth Countries: Driving FinTech Innovation', and the outcomes of yesterday’s event on ‘Using FinTech for Finclusion: Who to target and what mechanisms are needed’.   -ENDS-   Notes to Editors The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal sovereign states. Our combined population is 2.5 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged 29 or under. The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-two of our members are small states, many of which are island nations. The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights. Our work helps to grow economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality. Member countries are supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations. The Commonwealth admitted Gabon and Togo as its 55th and 56th members respectively at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kigali, Rwanda in June 2022. Prior to this, Rwanda was the last country to join in 2009.

 

Commonwealth Finance Ministers to meet in Washington DC to discuss crucial emerging economic issues 05 October 2022 ​

Next week, Finance ministers and Central Bank Governors will meet in person for the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting (CFMM) on 12 October 2022  and the Commonwealth Central Bank Governors (CCBG) Meeting on 11 October in Washington D.C. on the margins of the World Bank and IMF meetings.   In a time of economic turbulence, finance ministers and central bank governors will discuss vital strategies to address emerging economic issues, including: Tackling inflation: A Fiscal Stance A Fiscal Framework for Resilient and Sustainable Development Debt burden in the Commonwealth: A focus on Small and Vulnerable States Media Pools – Opening Remarks of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting and Central Bank Governors meeting Although the CFMM and CCBG are closed meetings, a media pool of 15 journalists can take photos and videos of the opening remarks (the first 10 minutes of the meeting).  The CFMM media pool will occur at 12:30pm – 12:40pm EDT on Wednesday 12th October. The CCBG media pool will occur at 8:00am - 8:10am EDT on Tuesday 11th October. Please note that to join the media pool you must already be accredited to attend the World Bank/IMF meetings.  To confirm your interest in joining the media pools and receive location details please contact:  Angela Kolongo  Communications Officer  Tel: +44 7587 881 503  Email: a.kolongo@commonwealth.int  Please note that the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, will be in Washington DC next week for the CFMM, to request one-to-one press interviews in Washington DC, please reach out to Angela. Notes to Editors The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal sovereign states. Our combined population is 2.5 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged 29 or under. The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-two of our members are small states, many of which are island nations. The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights. Our work helps to grow economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality. Member countries are supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations. The Commonwealth admitted Gabon and Togo as its 55th and 56th members respectively at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kigali, Rwanda in June 2022. Prior to this, Rwanda was the last country to join in 2009.

The Tanzania High Commissioner Meeting Tanzania athletes at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham

 

 

Foreign Ministers meet ahead of CHOGM to discuss post-COVID recovery, sustainable development 23 June 2022 Commonwealth foreign ministers have met face-to-face for the first time in almost three years, ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Foreign ministers and senior officials from the Commonwealth’s 54 nations have met in Kigali this week for their first in-person gathering in almost three years, ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The meeting has allowed ministers the opportunity to hold formal discussions on the CHOGM theme, Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming, focusing on three topical issues. In her opening remarks, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland QC, said: “It is a source of great joy that we are finally back together, in person, at CHOGM – after so many years of change and challenge, and so much detailed planning. “Since CHOGM 2018 in London, we have worked intensively to help member countries…responding to their needs, priorities and requests. We have blended our technical assistance with advocacy at the highest levels of the international system. “This week, here in Kigali, we have a precious opportunity. To come closer together, once again, in spirit as well as in person.  “In a changing world, we need unity and purpose, drawn deep from the wells of Commonwealth history, values and potential, to achieve our shared goals and realise our potential.  “In that effort, you will always have a willing servant and partner in me, and the Secretariat. We stand ready and eager to implement the fresh ideas and mandates of this CHOGM.” Ministers discussed new and evolving challenges to ensuring peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, and how the Commonwealth is addressing these challenges now and in the future. They also considered multifaceted issues relating to sustainable and inclusive development such as climate change, the environment and oceans, sustainable energy, youth and innovation. Ministers discussed how member states should address these complex issues, with a special focus on the needs of small states and least developed countries. As countries around the world continue to recover from the deep impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ministers also examined the severe consequences of the pandemic on public health systems, trade, and connectivity, and how governments can build back better systems capable of handling future crises. Ministers heard how the Commonwealth can strengthen health security and resilience, support trading systems and small states, and harness other opportunities for a sustainable and inclusive post-COVID-19 recovery. Several high-level guests were invited to attend the meeting. Ministers had the opportunity to hear from the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, and the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who presented their organisations’ perspectives and offered ideas for greater inter-organisational collaboration to tackle these matters. The meeting outcomes will inform the policy agenda for the gathering of heads of government at CHOGM, scheduled to open on 24 June 2022.   -ENDS-   Notes to Editors The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal sovereign states. Our combined population is 2.5 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged 29 or under. The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-two of our members are small states, many of which are island nations. The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights. Our work helps to grow economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality. Member countries are supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisation

 

Statement on the reappointment of the Commonwealth Secretary-General 24 June 2022

The Commonwealth spokesperson said: Leaders of the Commonwealth have made a decision by consensus to reappoint Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, QC, for a further two years to complete the balance of her period in office. Notes to Editors The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal sovereign states. Our combined population is 2.5 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged 29 or under. The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-two of our members are small states, many of which are island nations. The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights. Our work helps to grow economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality. Member countries are supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations.

 

Spouses and partners of Commonwealth Heads of Government commit to action on cervical cancer elimination

Cancer survivors were given the unique opportunity to share their journeys with spouses and partners of Commonwealth Heads of Governments and Foreign Ministers at a luncheon on cervical cancer elimination. Hosted by Rwanda’s First Lady, H.E. Jeannette Kagame, and husband of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr Richard Mawhinney, the event brought together First Ladies, cancer survivors, international health organisations and members of the International Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination in the Commonwealth. In her opening remarks, H.E. Mrs Kagame underscored the urgency of the global elimination effort. She said, “Cervical cancer is a preventable biological calamity, a socio-economic threat, and an entire civilization’s moral trial, that condemns 9 out of 10 diagnosed women in low and middle-income nations, to a premature passing.” “Regardless of the grimness of the situation, the facts are that there is hope, there is reason, there are resources, and there are solutions,” she added. Delegates at the event heard that, though the Commonwealth represents only 30 per cent of the world's population, it accounts for 40 per cent of global cervical cancer incidence and 43 per cent of cervical cancer mortality.   In an impassioned plea for urgent action, cancer survivor, Karen Nakawala, spoke about the devastating impact of cancer. She said: “Going through cancer impacts your life in all forms, in all sorts. “As a woman, it impacts your sexuality, it impacts your mental health, it impacts your physical health, so it impacts you in more ways than you can imagine, and I think that is why I get annoyed when I hear a woman has died of cervical cancer - a cancer that we can eliminate because we have the tools, and we have the know-how. So why are we still letting our sisters die?” She was joined by Summer Ng, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer at 24. Ng and social innovator Cindy Chng, who recently launched the A4HPV – a task force under the Commonwealth Youth Health Network focused on advocating for action towards cervical cancer elimination - distributed cloth bags with self-sampling swabs, to demonstrate that testing of HPV can be less invasive and less uncomfortable for women when simple innovations like self-sampling are adopted.  World Health Organization’s Assistant Director-General for Family, Women, Children and Adolescents, Dr Princess Nothemba Simelela, urged the Commonwealth spouses to continue leveraging their social capital in advocating for expanded access to cervical cancer prevention and treatment services, and to share experiences to achieve their common goals toward elimination. The programme also included the launch of the Commonwealth version of the documentary, Conquering Cancer, which highlights cervical cancer elimination initiatives in various Commonwealth countries. The documentary was widely welcomed, and delegates agreed to promote it in their own countries, to increase awareness of Cervical Cancer. H.E. Mrs Rossana Briceno, the spouse of the Prime Minister of Belize, told delegates: “Today I remain committed to objectives laid out by our ministers of health but beyond this I remain fully committed to using my office to increase our efforts at greater awareness, to reduce the risk of women developing cervical cancer.  We cannot and will not allow women to live with the fear that they may be the next victim of this preventable life-threatening disease.” The initiation of the Lancet Oncology/Commonwealth Secretariat Commission report on International Development Aid and Global Oncology was also launched. This report will take stock of the landscape of cancer research and cancer care for the 2.5 billion people that make up the Commonwealth and will inform policies to improve outcomes for patients with cancer within and beyond the Commonwealth. At the conclusion of the programme, delegates agreed to:  Form a coalition to provide support and patronage to national cervical cancer plans to facilitate the progress towards elimination. Raise awareness and mobilise action towards cervical cancer elimination goals by 2030 in their countries, in alignment with the World Health Organization’s Cervical Cancer Initiative. Appeal to the international community and all stakeholders in commonwealth countries to allocate financial and human resources towards cervical cancer elimination so that elimination goals can be achieved by 2030.   Watch the Conquering Cancer trailer   -ENDS-   Notes to Editors The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal sovereign states. Our combined population is 2.5 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged 29 or under. The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-two of our members are small states, many of which are island nations. The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights. Our work helps to grow economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality. Member countries are supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations.

 

Commonwealth Secretary-General to make debut visit to Gabon 13 August 2022

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, QC, is set to make her first official visit to the Commonwealth’s newest member, Gabon, next week. The Secretary-General will arrive in Libreville on 16 August and during her four-day visit, will meet the President of Gabon, H.E. Ali Bongo Ondimba, and other senior government officials. The visit comes after Gabon was recently admitted as the Commonwealth’s 55th member at the Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda. The Secretary-General will thus use her maiden visit as an opportunity to establish the foundations of a new relationship between Gabon and the Commonwealth, understand the challenges of the country, and explore areas of mutual cooperation. Speaking ahead of her visit, the Secretary-General said: “We were thrilled to welcome Gabon into the Commonwealth family at our Heads of Government Meeting in June. I am very much looking forward to my first visit to the country and meeting with leaders, ministers and officials. “As a new Commonwealth member, this important visit will allow me to deepen engagement with the country and its people. It will also serve as a vital opportunity to discuss ways in which the Commonwealth Secretariat can serve and support the Government and people of Gabon in advancing our shared values and achieving our shared goals.” The Secretary-General’s visit also coincides with the 62nd Anniversary of the Independence of Gabon on 17 August and she will therefore take part in the official celebrations in Libreville.

 

Youth delegates deliver key asks to leaders at landmark in-person meeting 25 June 2 Young people and Heads of Government meet face-to-face for crucial conversation on youth-led sustainable development

Members of the newly installed Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) today met face-to-face with heads of governments attending their summit in Kigali. The historic intergenerational dialogue saw young leaders sitting in a circle with prime ministers, presidents, ministers, and heads of delegation from 15 countries, including Rwanda, Canada, The Seychelles, and Samoa. Chairperson of the Council, Kim Allen from Papua New Guinea, kicked off the conversation with a sharp focus on the Youth Forum Declaration – a proposed action plan for youth-led sustainable development created by more than 350 young people from across the Commonwealth. He called on the leaders to offer the new Council guidance and financial support for their initiatives. Interspersed among the government leaders, Council members each delivered a special message from the young people in the regions they represent. Vice Chairperson, Inclusion and Engagement Christabel Derby, from Ghana, focused on the multifaceted challenges facing young Africans, such as education, healthcare, gender equality and unemployment. She passionately called for an enabling environment in which young people can thrive. Asia Regional Representative, Bangladeshi, Famida Faiza, stressed the need for meaningful support beyond the dialogue. “When I go back home, I want to tell the young people of Asia that we were not just given a seat, we were given priority.” Reminding leaders that there are youth from rural communities and minority groups who are not able to sit in the room with them, but who need access to the technology to participate in the conversation, Caribbean Regional Youth Council Representative, Kendell Vincent, highlighted the need for digital transformations.   Echoing these sentiments Regional Representative for Europe and Canada, Namir Chowdury, revealed the Council’s intention to work with ministers and organisations on creating holistic education programmes and curriculum that will prepare young people for the changing landscape of work.  “This CHOGM”, he said, “could really be immortalised for one reason - which is we are reimaging what education can look like.” Speaking for the Pacific, regional representative Sagufta Janif, focused on climate and sustainability solutions. Easy access to climate finance, she stressed, was needed to build resilient infrastructure so that businesses can focus on growth and employment instead of rebuilding again and again. Responding to the young people, H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda promised to continue listening to and working with young people Echoing his sentiments, Canadian Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau highlighted the importance of including young people in solutions to today’s challenges. He said: "We don't need you to be leaders of tomorrow, we need you to be the leaders you are today. You should be directly contributing to the policies and positions of the Commonwealth.” Agreeing, Prime Minister of Samoa, Hon Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa told participants: "Governments can no longer do things by themselves, whether we ever thought we could. But there is growing acknowledgment that governments are not enough. In going forward, we need to ensure all of society is involved." While Seychelles President H.E. Wavel Ramkalawan highlighted the need to engage young people in politics: "As we go about campaigning, we realise our young people become disconnected with the politics. It's only by getting in, that you will make your voice heard. And changes will happen. [...] You are leaders in your own rights." Congratulating the young people for speaking on behalf of the billions of youths in the Commonwealth, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said: “Today is a moment for us to reset the agenda, for us to start to reimagine what our world could be, what our world should be, and you are shaping it for us.” During the meeting the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, announced, by video link, that Pakistan would be hosting the Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting in Pakistan in January 2023.  The dialogue was the last youth-led event in a week of activities leading up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Notes to Editors The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal sovereign states. Our combined population is 2.5 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged 29 or under. The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-two of our members are small states, many of which are island nations. The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights. Our work helps to grow economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality. Member countries are supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations.