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Commonwealth Reaffirms Commitment to Member States

27 October 2005

The Commonwealth touches people's lives and gives them opportunities to improve their prospects, says Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon.

Secretary-General Don McKinnon with a copy of the 2005 Report  'Networking for Progress and Prosperity'

In his Foreword to the 2005 Commonwealth Secretary-General's Report, 'Networking for Progress and Prosperity', launched on 20 October 2005, Mr McKinnon also notes the importance of enabling Commonwealth developing countries to participate more fully in the global trading system.

"In the decades ahead, the world economy is likely to be dominated by large players like the US and China. Our duty in the Commonwealth is to ensure that our members don't get squeezed out of international markets as a result. That is why we work with resource-rich countries to ensure that they get a fair deal from large corporations."

Economic progress, according to the Secretary-General, will be slow until developing countries have a real chance to trade their way out of poverty.

"Everyone agrees that trade subsidies harm the poor. But many governments are reluctant to end the scandal of trade-distorting agricultural subsidies, seeing it as a high-risk strategy," states Mr McKinnon in his biennial Report.

He believes not acting now presents a far greater risk for developing countries.

The Secretary-General emphasises that if the Millennium Development Goals are to be achieved, the developed world must show greater moral leadership. At the current rate, he says, goals such as achieving universal primary education by 2015 will not be met for another hundred years.

He also underlines that, as the Commonwealth's work on development and democracy has shown, economic and social development is greatly enhanced when strong, democratic institutions are in place.

"The Commonwealth Latimer House Principles set the standard for good governance, committing our member states to stamp out corruption and uphold accountability and transparency at every level ... Some people, however, are losing faith in democracy, as increased cynicism about politics and low electoral turnout undermine the democratic process. Some are frustrated at the slow pace of the economic dividend that democracy is expected to deliver, while others have come to doubt the bona fides of those who are committed to spreading democracy," Mr McKinnon points out.

According to the Secretary-General, the Commonwealth seeks to ensure that democracy has a positive impact on people's lives. "We work with member governments to help build and strengthen democratic institutions, and to show that democracy has the power to change communities, promote justice and human rights, and deliver better standards of living."

Mr McKinnon notes that over the past two years, the Commonwealth has been active in many fields, delivering practical solutions that help people fulfil their aspirations and transform their lives.

He says the scope and depth of the association's work has been expanded by the many achievements of its extensive civil society network, providing a direct link between the intergovernmental organisations and the people, and giving the Commonwealth a head start in building consensus on pressing global issues.

"We now look forward to the Malta CHOGM [Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting] with the conviction that the Commonwealth will be further energised as a vibrant network which creates a better life for all Commonwealth citizens," the Secretary-General concludes.

The Report is prepared every two years for Commonwealth Heads of Government, outlining the current work of the Commonwealth Secretariat and its vision for the future. It is available online click here.

 

CNIS - Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 258, 26 October 2005