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Commonwealth Foundation

The Commonwealth Foundation co-ordinated the Partner's Forum at the 7WAMM, and the Civil Society Meeting.
The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental organisation resourced by and reporting to governments. The Foundation's commitment to the 7WAMM process reflects one of its core objectives:' to support and encourage programmes and activities that promote gender equality, and encourage gender equitable approaches within its own and partner organisations'. The Foundation's unique position at the interface of governments and civil society enables it to foster interaction between civil society and governments. One of its primary roles is co-ordinating the consultation and participation pf civil society representatives at Ministerial Meetings.

Commonwealth Partners' Forum

 The Commonwealth Partners' Forum for the 7WAMM brought together representatives of over 100 CSOs from around the Commonwealth, as well as magistrates and judges, parliamentarians, business women and donors interested in working on various aspects of the proposed Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality.   Meetings were organised by: the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association with the Commonwealth Lawyers' Association, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Commonwealth Business Women's Network and UNIFEM Pacific and UNDP.  The Partners' Forum was co-ordinated by the Commonwealth Foundation with the help of the National Council of Women Fiji. 

See Partners' Forum provisional programme.

The Gender Section of the Social Transformations Programmes Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat held two preparatory meetings of Heads of National Womens' Machineries in New York in March 2003 and February 2004, in the wings of the 47th and 48th sessions of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The aim of the 2004 preparatory meeting was to discuss the draft Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality (2005-2015) which will be presented to Ministers in Fiji. The Plan will provide the guidelines on implementation and action in member countries and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

A Partner's Forum comprising delegates from civil society organisations and other Commonwealth bodies participated in the deliberations and had an opportunity to contribute to the draft Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality (2005-2015).
Representatives of the UN Division for the Advancement of Women (UNDAW) and other agencies, including regional bodies,attended to share their experiences.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Meetings

These consultations provided countries and their partners with opportunities for enhanced dialogue and consultations. This vibrant sharing of ideas and experiences, and re-positioning of their work is important to promote gender equality as one of the pillars of development and democracy, good governance and the rule of law, and economic growth and peace.

The 9th Pacific Triennial and the 2nd Pacific Ministers Meeting took place from the 13-17 September 2004 where a regional charter was adopted.
Download: The Pacific Platform for Action on Advancement of Women and Gender Equality (2005 -2015)

 Visit http://www.spc.int/ for further information.