December 11th, 1931. The Commonwealth of Nations was founded. What is the Commonwealth? It is a voluntary association of fifty-four independent and equal countries. Home to 2.5 billion people, it includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Amongst its members, thirty-two of them are small states, including many island nations. While the Commonwealth’s original intent was to connect sovereign countries that were formerly part of the British Empire, its membership today is open to any country. The latest country to join this community is Rwanda in 2009. Once countries become members, their governments have to stand in unison with other members on shared goals of development, democracy, and peace – all these being outlined in the Commonwealth Charter.
What exactly is the Commonwealth Charter? It is a document of the values and aspirations that unite members of the association. Members need to adhere to the content of the charter and promote it amongst the populations in each country. In its most basic form, the charter expresses the commitment of member states to the development of free and democratic societies and the promotion of peace and prosperity as a way to improve the lives of its people. Besides the above, the charter also acknowledges the role of civil society in supporting the goals and values of the Commonwealth.
This congregation of nations goes back a long way, despite having been formed ninety-one years ago. As the name implies, the Commonwealth was envisioned as a platform for the stronger nations to assist the weaker ones so that everyone can move towards a common good. Such a purposeful spirit is rooted in the evolution of philanthropy in Britain. Since the mid-1500s, the modern notion of philanthropy, based on secular concerns about poverty and the social issues of the day, emerged to replace the medieval concept of almsgiving. Since then, philanthropy has played a vital role in shaping the society we live in and, in its grandest influence of all, in the formation of the Commonwealth in 1926. At its inception, it was noted that all its members owed their allegiance to the British monarchy, although Britain did not rule over them.
There are a few common well-being goals of the Commonwealth. One of them involves protecting the environment and encouraging sustainable use of natural resources. The Commonwealth has put in a lot of effort to battle climate change. The Climate Finance Access Hub (CFAH) helps fund climate projects by placing highly skilled advisors in government ministries, thus helping to improve the ability of the less developed countries to formulate sound climate strategies and then secure the resources needed for execution. Another goal is to boost trade and the economy of all its members. When the economy improves, there are more job opportunities, and this will help improve the lives of the common people in communities.
Besides the above, the Commonwealth also aims for social development amongst its member nations. Focus areas include gender equality, access to education, healthcare, and sports. Beyond these, another emerging area that it supports is LGBTI+ equality and inclusion. Last but not least, this congregation of nations is a big supporter of democracy. This commitment to the people’s power ensures that governments, especially in the developing world, do not abuse their authority while also ensuring the citizens’ rights to vote and for their voices to be heard.
With a clear understanding of the Commonwealth’s goals, we can delve into some of its engagements and achievements. In line with its goal to maintain peace, Commonwealth nations have been involved in sending peacekeepers to war-torn member countries. Aids were also channelled to countries affected by wars. Besides that, it has also established a fund to assist the economically poorer members. This fund is financed by member governments. The top contributors that have financed this Commonwealth fund in the past are the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Brunei. Their goal is to improve the communities in the less developed areas of the Commonwealth.
The vision of this 2.5 billion people’s community is one of mutual respect, resilience, peace and prosperity while cherishing equality, diversity and shared values. Members of the Commonwealth support one another, besides coming together to help improve the well-being of its member citizens. Our Commonwealth community is one that should be treasured. By being a part of it, one should constantly strive to give back to our people, as it is, after all, an epitome of what the commonwealth is about.
Sources:
Atika School (2020). Describe Six Achievements of the Commonwealth Since its Formation [online] Available at: https://www.atikaschool.org/histogovqans/describe-six-achievements-of-the-commonwealth-since-its-formation . Accessed [21/6/2022].
Britannica (2020). History of Antigua and Barbuda [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/place/Antigua-and-Barbuda/History .Accessed [27/6/2022]
Commonwealth Secretariat (2022). Commonwealth Charter [online] Available at:
https://thecommonwealth.org/charter .Accessed [25/6/2022]
Rhodri, D. (2016). A Timeline of Modern British Philanthropy [online] Available at:
https://www.cafonline.org/about-us/blog-home/giving-thought/the-role-of-giving/a-timeline-of-modern-british-philanthropy. Accessed [ 29/6/2022].ive Altruism. [online] Available at: https://www.effectivealtruism.org/articles/cause-profile-global-health-and-development.
