Latest content: Social development

High-level colloquium will explore women’s representation in politics in West Africa

Commonwealth is in a unique position to broker meaningful partnerships

‘Strengthening jurisprudence of equality on violence against women’

As part of celebrations to mark this year’s Commonwealth theme ‘Connecting Cultures’, last month we asked you to send in photos, video, audio or stories showing how your culture is expressed through FOOD.

Celebrations took place around the globe during Commonwealth Week, marking this year’s theme ‘Connecting Cultures’.

Commonwealth Youth Programme Centres celebrate Commonwealth Day

Titles cover education in small states, the role of female teachers and inclusive and citizenship education

Education goals and how to bridge the gaps will be the focus of discussions

Increasing the number of women on company boards is about changing the mindset of those making the appointments, said Director of the International Centre for Women Leaders Professor Susan Vinnicombe, at a Commonwealth Secretariat event marking International Women’s Day 2012.

"‘Connecting Cultures’ is our Commonwealth theme this year. This is our opportunity to celebrate the rich cultural diversity of the Commonwealth and what this enrichment means to us as individuals" - Kamalesh Sharma

HM Queen Elizabeth II to lead Commonwealth Day celebrations

Video: Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa

Experts from a cross-section of Commonwealth countries met recently to agree a roadmap for the Secretariat's response to cybercrime.

Delegates examine strengthening regional and national mechanisms to monitor progress

Send in photos, video, audio or stories showing your culture and we’ll feature a selection on our websites and Facebook page

Winner of the 2007 Orange Prize For Fiction will speak on ‘Connecting Cultures’

South African musician Hugh Masekela celebrates the 2012 Commonwealth theme at concert

Triennial conference in Malta explores new media and new horizons for the Commonwealth

Project funded by the Commonwealth Secretariat to promote dialogue between government and citizens

Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth of Learning, Microsoft, and UNESCO lead efforts for the first ICT in Education Leadership Forum in Barbados

Mauritius takes the lead for English-speaking countries in an ambitious continent-wide project to digitise schools.

“This year’s Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers will be very important as the 2015 end date for education goals is just around the corner” - Zeferino Martins

“There has not been enough recognition of the immense contribution that persons with disabilities can make" - Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General

Girls with disabilities are almost 10 per cent less likely to finish primary school than their male classmates according to a World Health Survey. Abia Akram, a 28-year-old Pakistani woman living with a disability, spoke to Commonwealth News about her campaign to raise the concerns of women with disabilities. She is attending the Commonwealth Secretariat Expert Roundtable on Inclusive Education and Sustainable Employment for Persons with Disabilities in the Commonwealth to give her views as a youth representative.

Ransford Smith: The importance of global and local partnerships in bridging development gaps in education

Participants from 14 Commonwealth countries explore best practices for implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities