Who is commonwealth country

We've hosted many Commonwealth meetings and consultations. We're currently one of the nine members of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group CMAG , which was established at a meeting in Queenstown in to discuss and decide ways to deal with members that violate the Commonwealth values as set out in the Harare Declaration external link.

Since , New Zealanders have participated in many Commonwealth missions to observe elections in member countries. This includes voluntary contributions to a number of Commonwealth organisations including:. Find out more about New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships external link. These countries, many of them islands, are particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in the global economy and to natural disasters.

We appreciate the challenges of being relatively small and geographically isolated. New Zealand also has a direct interest in ensuring the Pacific region is economically prosperous and environmentally secure. We work to raise the profile of issues facing small Pacific countries in particular during meetings and conversations with Commonwealth officials.

The Commonwealth acts as a collective voice and can advocate for small countries, helping to raise international awareness of issues affecting them. It engages with the World Bank, the UN, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and other international organisations on behalf of small states. Read more about how the Commonwealth helps small states external link. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our website, to analyze our website traffic, and to understand where our visitors are coming from.

You can find out more information on our Privacy Page. Our work with the UN International security Disarmament UN sanctions Human rights The Commonwealth Multilateralism matters Covid response and recovery New Zealand is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, an organisation of 54 countries — most with a shared history as part of the former British Empire.

About the Commonwealth The Commonwealth of Nations was formed in to maintain an association between countries that had once been part of the British colonies, but which were considered 'free and equal'. What does the Commonwealth do? The Commonwealth Charter In the Commonwealth adopted a charter setting out the values of the organisation and the commitments members are expected to make. Commonwealth governance and organisations Commonwealth Secretariat The Commonwealth Secretariat in London manages the work of the Commonwealth and is the central point for all member governments.

The restriction of membership to sovereign states has helped to retain the sense of equal partnership in the forums in which Commonwealth policy and programmes are discussed.

Commonwealth consultation is a continuous process which takes place at many levels and in many ways. Heads of Government meet regularly, as do ministers responsible for education, environment, finance, foreign affairs, gender affairs, health, law, tourism and youth. Other ministers and senior officials meet from time to time. Consultation over particular Commonwealth programmes brings together the heads of leading institutions and policy-making officials.

The work of the Commonwealth is done through co-operation at three general levels: Commonwealth governments often work together in international forums to advance causes of particular concern to the association. They also learn from each other through their regular meetings.

And, through their Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation CFTC , they have enabled the skills and training facilities of member countries to be shared across the association. In parallel with these activities of governments, there is the work of some Commonwealth organisations which promote international co-operation in a particular professional, cultural or welfare area.

The Commonwealth is a notable force in the development of universal education, just legal systems, fair and open democracies, good governance and human rights, and all Commonwealth programmes ultimately aim at advancing development, particularly human development.

Commonwealth governments also work together in international forums to support members whose territorial integrity has been challenged or which are vulnerable to the vicissitudes of climate and global economic forces. The Commonwealth is also committed to the solution of problems by negotiation, and to the guidance of policy through principle.

It strongly supports the United Nations system and the global moral code contained in the UN declarations. Consequently, the Commonwealth has become a powerful voice in international forums, and has come to be known as a global opponent of racism, a promoter of democracy and good governance, an advocate of human rights and gender equality, a champion of small countries and participation of young people in development and a determined negotiator in working towards global economic systems which give a fairer deal to the poor.

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