• Gender:
• Vision & mandate

Vision & mandate

"The Commonwealth works towards a world in which women and men have equal rights and opportunities in all stages of their lives to express their creativity in all fields of human endeavour, and in which women are respected and valued as equal and able partners in establishing the values of social justice, equity, democracy and respect for human rights"

Our Mandate

To achieve this vision, the Commonwealth works to:

• Integrate gender into all policies, programmes and practices of member Governments and the Commonwealth Secretariat in order to achieve sustainable development, human rights, peace, political participation and alleviation of poverty for women and men.
  
• Influence policies and processes that can ensure a better distribution of benefits and resources for women and men in all social, economic and political spheres.
  
• Defend women's rights and eliminate all forms of violence and discrimination against women.
  
• Ensure that women benefit from development and have equal access to training, education, information, health and employment opportunities.
  
• Involve women at the highest levels of decision-making and also in conflict resolution and peace building processes.
  

Ministerial Meetings

The triennial Commonwealth Women's Affairs Ministers Meetings, held in regionally rotating venues allows the critical sharing of experiences and progress, and of setting of new targets, strategies, partnerships and actions.

Commonwealth Milestones

• 2004 Nadi, Fiji Islands - Plan of Action on Gender Equality 2005-2015 adopted at Commonwealth Women's Ministers Meeting, Fiji Islands 30 May - 2 June 2004. 
• 2000 New Dehli, India: Sixth Meeting of Commonwealth Ministers Responsible for Women's Affairs re-affirmed the 30% target (with eventual encouragement to parity) of women in decision-making at all levels by the year 2005. They also called for a 30% target for women's participation in peace initiatives in Year 2005.
• 1999 Durban -   Update to 1995 Plan of Action launched and endorsed.
• 1996 Trinidad & Tobago - The Fifth Meeting of Commonwealth Ministers Responsible for Women's Affairs recommended targets of 30% for women in decision-making bodies by the Year 2005 - political, economic, social - including the public and private sectors.
• 1995 Beijing - The 1995 Commonwealth Plan of Action on Gender and Development (POA) launched at fourth UN World Conference on Women in Beijing.
• 1993 Cyprus - Commonwealth Heads of Government renewed their commitment to the Harare priorities and in particular, "building a world in which women enjoyed their full rights and were equal partners in shaping the economic, political and cultural development of their countries."
• 1991 Harare - Commonwealth Heads of Government drew up the Harare Declaration which affirmed equality for women so they may exercise their full and equal rights.
• 1990 Ottawa - Commonwealth Ministers Responsible for Women's Affairs recommended that the Plan of Action on Women and Development should reflect international concerns of the 1990s. It resulted in the Ottawa Declaration on Structural Adjustment.
• 1987 Harare - Commonwealth Ministers Responsible for Women's Affairs adopted the first Commonwealth Plan of Action on Women and Development.
• 1985 Nairobi - Commonwealth Ministers Responsible for Women's Affairs decided that the WDP should undergo a shift in policy from Advocacy to Integration.
• 1980 - The Women and Development Programme (WDP) was established to serve as a focal point for women's advocacy throughout the secretariat and to co-ordinate assistance to member countries
• 1975 Jamaica - Commonwealth Governments raise concerns about women's inequality and discrimination in the development process.

Additional information on the Commonwealth and the Heads of Government Meeting is available Here