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Human Rights

Human Rights

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