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Human Rights

Human Rights and the Commonwealth

Objective

The Secretariat aims to increase awareness of and respect for human rights in the Commonwealth.

Relevance

We work to ensure that all people

  • enjoy equal rights regardless of gender, race, colour, creed or political belief can fully exercise the inalienable right to participate in free and democratic political processes; and
  • can benefit from and contribute to equitable and sustainable development.

      1. Impact

      The impact of our work is realized through a number of different programmes examples of which include

      • Assisting in the adoption of international standards on human rights and the implementation of major international human rights instruments
      • Capacity building for the preparation of reports and effective participation in the Universal Periodic Review process
      • Enhancing capacity and strengthening of police and national human rights institutions
      • Mainstreaming human rights into the work of the Secretariat across other units and divisions
      • Developing documentation on best practices and manuals for training purposes