Editing Commonwealth Secretariat

{{Short description|Central agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox organization
| image               = Commonwealth of Nations logo.svg
| alt                 = 
| caption             = Logo
| formation           = {{Start date and age|1965|df=y}}
| type                = 
| purpose             = Primary organ of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]
| headquarters        = [[Marlborough House]]<br />[[London]], {{postcode|SW|1}}
| coords              = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline,title}} -->
| leader_title        = [[Commonwealth Secretary-General|Secretary-General]]
| leader_name         = [[Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey]] (2025–present)
| name                = Commonwealth Secretariat
| image_size          = 
| abbreviation        = 
| location            = 
| membership          = 
| membership_year     = 
| parent_organisation = The [[Head of the Commonwealth]] and<br/>The [[Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]] (CHOGM)
| website             = {{URL|https://www.thecommonwealth.org/}}
}}

The '''Commonwealth Secretariat''' is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]].<ref name="UIA">{{Cite web |url=https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100008889 |url-access= |title=Commonwealth Secretariat |author1=Staff writer |year=2024 |department=UIA Global Civil Society Database |website=uia.org |publisher=[[Union of International Associations]] |agency=Yearbook of International Organizations Online |location=Brussels, Belgium |format= |arxiv= |asin= |bibcode= |doi= |isbn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |lccn= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |osti= |pmc= |pmid= |rfc= |ssrn= |zbl= |id= |access-date=24 December 2024 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |via= |quote= |trans-quote= }}</ref>  It is responsible for facilitating co-operation between members; organising meetings, including the [[Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]]s (CHOGM); assisting and advising on policy development; and providing assistance to countries in implementing the decisions and policies of the Commonwealth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecommonwealth.org/subhomepage/151087/ |title=Commonwealth Secretariat |access-date=27 July 2007 |publisher=Commonwealth Secretariat |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819010932/http://www.thecommonwealth.org/subhomepage/151087/ |archive-date=19 August 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The Secretariat has [[United Nations General Assembly observers|observer]] status in the [[United Nations General Assembly]]. It is located at [[Marlborough House]] in London, the United Kingdom, a former royal residence that was given by [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]], [[Head of the Commonwealth]] at the time. Today, the Head of the Commonwealth is [[Charles III|King Charles III]].

==History==
[[File:Marlborough House.jpg|thumb|[[Marlborough House]], London, the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth's principal intergovernmental institution]]
The Secretariat was established by the [[Commonwealth Heads of Government|Heads of Government]] in 1965, taking over many of the functions of the United Kingdom Government's [[Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations|Commonwealth Relations Office]], as part of a major shake-up of the organisation of the Commonwealth. The purpose of the Secretariat was to serve as an "information exchange" for the [[List of Commonwealth of Nations prime ministers|Commonwealth Prime Ministers]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal |last=Vivekanandan |first=B. |date=July 1967 |title=The Commonwealth Secretariat |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/002088176700900303 |journal=International Studies |language=en |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=301–331 |doi=10.1177/002088176700900303 |issn=0020-8817|url-access=subscription }}</ref> At the same time, the United Kingdom succeeded in advocating the creation of the Secretariat's sister organisation, the [[Commonwealth Foundation]], which was founded to foster non-governmental relations and the promotion of the [[Commonwealth Family]] network of civil societies.<ref name="Canada and the creation of the Commonwealth Secretariat">{{cite journal |doi=10.2307/40203725 |last=McIntyre |first=W. David |author-link=W. David McIntyre |date=October 1998 |title=Canada and the creation of the Commonwealth Secretariat |jstor=40203725 |journal=International Journal |volume=53 |issue=4 |pages=753–777  }}</ref> Other attempts by members to create similar central bodies, such as a medical conference (proposed by [[New Zealand]]), a development bank ([[Jamaica]]), and an institution for satellite communications ([[Canada]]) failed.<ref name="Canada and the creation of the Commonwealth Secretariat" />

The creation of the Secretariat itself was a contentious issue. The [[United Kingdom]] and other long-established countries had hoped to slow the expansion of Commonwealth membership to prevent the dilution of their traditional power within the Commonwealth (particularly after the admission of [[Cyprus]]).<ref name="Canada and the creation of the Commonwealth Secretariat" /> The newer members of the Commonwealth wanted to reduce British power and influence, so formed the Secretariat which would be operated and financed by members from all Commonwealth countries.<ref name=":02"/> By diversifying the staff who worked in the Commonwealth, different points of view and perspectives would be seen. This may have involved a dual-tiered Commonwealth, requiring the continuation of the organisation of Commonwealth co-operation by meetings, rather than a central administration. However, the new African members were keener to create an independent inter-governmental "central clearing house" (as [[Ghana]]'s [[Kwame Nkrumah]] described it) to remove power from the older dominions.<ref name="Canada and the creation of the Commonwealth Secretariat" /> [[Milton Obote]] of [[Uganda]] was the first to propose a specifically titled "secretariat", which was then formally proposed by [[Eric Williams]] of [[Trinidad and Tobago]], who wished to see it based upon the secretariats of the [[Organization of American States|OAS]], [[European Economic Community|EEC]], and [[Organisation of African Unity|OAU]].<ref name="Canada and the creation of the Commonwealth Secretariat" />

Earlier attempts at the formation of a central secretariat had failed. [[Australia]] had proposed the establishment four times (in 1907, 1924, 1932, and 1944), whilst [[New Zealand]] had also made proposals in 1909 and 1956.<ref name="Canada and the creation of the Commonwealth Secretariat" /> Finally, in July 1964, the Commonwealth Prime Ministers met in London to discuss the establishment of an independent secretariat for the Commonwealth. Many of these members agreed and were unopposed to this idea as they believed this Secretariat would help centralize and broaden the Commonwealth for all members, not solely on Britain.<ref name=":02"/>

=== The Rhodesian Crisis ===
[[Arnold Smith]], a Canadian Diplomat, was the first Commonwealth Secretary-General with Amishadai Larson Adu (A. L. Adu) of Ghana and [[Tilak Goonaratne|Tilak Gooneratne]] of Ceylon as the first deputy secretaries-general.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Leach |first=Richard H. |date=June 1971 |title=The Secretariat |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/002070207102600207 |journal=International Journal: Canada's Journal of Global Policy Analysis |language=en |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=374–400 |doi=10.1177/002070207102600207 |issn=0020-7020|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In 1965, the [[Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence|Rhodesian Declaration of Independence]] was issued, gaining its sovereignty from the British in [[Southern Africa]]. Simultaneously, Smith was performing his first official visit as Secretary General to East and Central Africa. Due to his diplomatic peacemaking abilities, he was able to save the Commonwealth from dissolving due to clashing opinions. As a result, the prime ministers of the Commonwealth formed a sanctions committee that taught prime ministers how the sanctions they implemented on the "illegal" Salisbury regime were maintained, and a standing committee primarily focused on assisting to train Rhodesian Africans. More state crises occurred after, shifting the Secretariat's dominant focus to peacemaking efforts.<ref name=":2" /> The Rhodesian Crisis proved the  Commonwealth Secretariat's competence and credibility as their professional diplomat skills allowed them to respond to crises immediately and efficiently.

==Staff==
[[File:Shirley Ayorkor Botchway.jpg|thumb|Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the current Commonwealth Secretary General since 2025]]
The chief executive of the Secretariat, and of the Commonwealth as a whole, is the [[Commonwealth Secretary-General]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Profile: The Commonwealth |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1554175.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=16 June 2008 }}</ref> All Secretariat staff report to the secretary-general, who is also responsible for spending the Secretariat's budget, which is granted by the Heads of Government. It is the secretary-general, and not the ceremonial [[Head of the Commonwealth]], that represents the Commonwealth publicly. The [[Head of the Commonwealth]] is more of a symbolic role, chosen by the Commonwealth leaders with no maximum set term.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=About us |url=https://thecommonwealth.org/about-us |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Commonwealth |language=en}}</ref> The secretary-general is elected by the Heads of Government at the [[Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting]]s for a maximum of two terms of four years; until 2000, a term was five years. The current Secretary-General is [[Ghana]]'s [[Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey]], who replaced [[Patricia Scotland, Baroness Scotland of Asthal|Patricia Scotland]] as secretary-general on 1 April 2025.<ref name="Shirley
Ayorkor Botchwey">{{cite web|url=https://thecommonwealth.org/news/chogm2024/Samoa-communique-leaders-statement-and-declarations|access-date=26 October 2024 |title=CHOGM 2024: Samoa Communiqué, Leaders' Statement and Declarations on 'One Resilient Common Future' }}</ref>

The secretary-general is assisted by three [[Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General|deputy secretaries-general]]: one responsible for economic affairs (currently Deodat Maharaj), one for political affairs ([[Josephine Ojiambo]]), and one for corporate affairs (Gary Dunn). The secretary-general may appoint junior staff at his own discretion, provided the Secretariat can afford it, whilst the more senior staff may be appointed only from a shortlist of nominations from the Heads of Government.<ref name="Doxey">{{cite journal |last=Doxey |first=Margaret |date=January 1979 |title=The Commonwealth Secretary-General: Limits of Leadership |journal=[[International Affairs (journal)|International Affairs]] |volume=55 |issue=1 |pages=67–83 |doi=10.2307/2617133|jstor=2617133 }}</ref> In practice, the secretary-general has more power than this; member governments consult the secretary-general on nominations, and secretaries-general have also at times submitted nominations of their own.<ref name="Doxey" />

The [[Commonwealth Chair-in-Office]] is responsible for the representing the Commonwealth at "high-level international meetings and reinforces the Good Offices role of the Commonwealth Secretary-General."<ref name=":1" /> The "Good Offices" primarily focus on conflict resolution for the Commonwealth. The Current Commonwealth Chair-in-Office is the Samoan Prime Minister [[Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa]] who is responsible for hosting the [[Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]] (CHOGM). This role has a 2 year term limit which begins before the start of the CHOGM.<ref name=":1" />

All members of staff are exempt from [[Income tax in the United Kingdom|income tax]], under the [[International Organisations Act 2005]], which redefined the legal status of the Secretariat.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Organisations Act 2005 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/20/section/3 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250322082052/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/20/section/3 |archive-date=2025-03-22 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=www.legislation.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>

==Headquarters==
The Secretariat is headquartered at [[Marlborough House]], in London, the United Kingdom.<ref name="History of Marlborough House">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/34467/151305/marlborough_house_history/ |title=The History of Marlborough House |access-date=16 June 2008 |publisher=Commonwealth Secretariat |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624014156/http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/34467/151305/marlborough_house_history/ |archive-date=24 June 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Marlborough House is located on [[Pall Mall, London|Pall Mall]], [[City of Westminster|Westminster]], next to [[St. James's Palace]], which is formally the location of the British [[Court of St. James's|Royal Court]]. Marlborough House was previously a royal residence in its own right, but was given by [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]], the former [[Head of the Commonwealth]], to the British government in September 1959 for use for Commonwealth purposes. This was first realised three years later. Another three years later, in 1965, the building passed to the Secretariat upon its foundation.<ref name="History of Marlborough House" /> The building itself was designed by [[Sir Christopher Wren]] and served as the London residence of the [[dukes of Marlborough]] until it was given to [[Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales|Princess Charlotte]] in 1817.<ref name="History of Marlborough House" />

The [[Commonwealth Secretariat Act 1966]], which applied retroactively from the establishment of the Secretariat in 1965, first granted the organisation full [[diplomatic immunity]]. This has been subjected to a number of lawsuits challenging this, including ''Mohsin v Commonwealth Secretariat'', and in 2005, ''[[Sumukan Limited v Commonwealth Secretariat]]''. The 1966 Act had been interpreted by [[England and Wales|English]] courts as allowing the courts to exercise supervisory jurisdiction under the [[Arbitration Act 1996]] over the Commonwealth's arbitration tribunal, which had been envisaged as the sole organ to arbitrate on matters related to the Secretariat's operations in the United Kingdom.<ref name="International Organisations Bill">{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmbills/069/en/05069x--.htm |title=International Organisations Bill |access-date=16 June 2008 |publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] }}</ref> In light of this interpretation, the Commonwealth Secretariat Act was amended by the [[International Organisations Act 2005]], which gave the Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal the same legal immunity as the Secretariat itself, guaranteeing independence of the English courts.<ref name="International Organisations Bill" />

== Membership ==
[[File:Commonwealth games 2006 countries map.PNG|thumb|314x314px|The Member Countries of the Commonwealth]]
The Commonwealth Secretariat comprises 56 independent countries, 33 small states (states with a population of 1.5 million or less), and 2.7 billion citizens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Member countries |url=https://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=Commonwealth |language=en}}</ref> As of November 2007, when the [[List of Commonwealth heads of government|Commonwealth Heads of Government]] held a meeting in Uganda, they reviewed and solidified the rules for membership into the Secretariat. The Commonwealth Secretariat outlines these membership rules:

# The applicant country should have had a past constitutional association with an existing Commonwealth member.
# Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, except in save for exceptional circumstances.
# The applicant country is expected to abide by the fundamental values written out in the [https://thecommonwealth.org/declaration-commonwealth-principles-1971 1971 Declaration of Commonwealth Principles]
# The applicant country should show commitment to democracy and its processes, such as "free and fair elections and representative legislatures; the rule of law and independence of the judiciary; good governance, including a well-trained public service and transparent public accounts; and protection of human rights, freedom of expression, and equality of opportunity."
# The applicant country should embrace the Commonwealth norms and agreements, such as "the use of the English language as the medium of inter-Commonwealth relations, and acknowledge [[Charles III|His Majesty King Charles III]] as the Head of the Commonwealth."
# Lastly, newly admitted members are encouraged to join the [https://commonwealthfoundation.com/ Commonwealth Foundation] and to advance strong [[civil society]] and business organizations within their respective countries, and promoting democratic practices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joining the Commonwealth |url=https://thecommonwealth.org/about/joining |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Commonwealth |language=en}}</ref>
Any country can join the Commonwealth Secretariat. [[Gabon]] and [[Togo]] were the most recent states to join in 2022.<ref name=":1" />

=== Member States ===

==== Africa ====

* 🇧🇼 [[Botswana]]
* 🇨🇲 [[Cameroon]]
* 🇬🇦 [[Gabon]]
* 🇬🇲 [[The Gambia|Gambia, The]]
* 🇬🇭 [[Ghana]]
* 🇰🇪 [[Kenya]]
* 🇸🇿 [[Eswatini|Kingdom of Eswatini]]
* 🇱🇸 [[Lesotho]]
* 🇲🇼 [[Malawi]]
* 🇲🇺 [[Mauritius]]
* 🇲🇿 [[Mozambique]]
* 🇳🇦 [[Namibia]]
* 🇳🇬 [[Nigeria]]
* 🇷🇼 [[Rwanda]]
* 🇸🇨 [[Seychelles]]
* 🇸🇱 [[Sierra Leone]]
* 🇿🇦 [[South Africa]]
* 🇹🇬 [[Togo]]
* 🇺🇬 [[Uganda]]
* 🇹🇿 [[Tanzania|United Republic of Tanzania]]
* 🇿🇲 [[Zambia]]

==== Asia ====

* 🇧🇩 [[Bangladesh]]
* 🇧🇳 [[Brunei|Brunei Darussalam]]
* 🇮🇳 [[India]]
* 🇲🇾 [[Malaysia]]
* 🇲🇻 [[Maldives]]
* 🇵🇰 [[Pakistan]]
* 🇸🇬 [[Singapore]]
* 🇱🇰 [[Sri Lanka]]

==== Caribbean and Americas ====

* 🇦🇬 [[Antigua and Barbuda]]
* 🇧🇸 [[The Bahamas|Bahamas, The]]
* 🇧🇧 [[Barbados]]
* 🇧🇿 [[Belize]]
* 🇨🇦 [[Canada]]
* 🇩🇲 [[Dominica]]
* 🇬🇩 [[Grenada]]
* 🇬🇾 [[Guyana]]
* 🇯🇲 [[Jamaica]]
* 🇱🇨 [[Saint Lucia]]
* 🇰🇳 [[Saint Kitts and Nevis|St Kitts and Nevis]]
* 🇻🇨 [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|St Vincent and the Grenadines]]
* 🇹🇹 [[Trinidad and Tobago]]

==== Europe ====

* 🇨🇾 [[Cyprus]]
* 🇲🇹 [[Malta]]
* 🇬🇧 [[United Kingdom]]

==== Pacific ====

* 🇦🇺 [[Australia]]
* 🇫🇯 [[Fiji]]
* 🇰🇮 [[Kiribati]]
* 🇳🇷 [[Nauru]]
* 🇳🇿 [[New Zealand]]
* 🇵🇬 [[Papua New Guinea]]
* 🇼🇸 [[Samoa]]
* 🇸🇧 [[Solomon Islands]]
* 🇹🇴 [[Tonga]]
* 🇹🇻 [[Tuvalu]]
* 🇻🇺 [[Vanuatu]]

=== Vision ===
The Commonwealth Secretariat aids in building and maintaining the Commonwealth where all member states are "mutually respectful, resilient, peaceful and prosperous" and values equality and diversity.<ref name=":1" />

=== Mission ===
The Commonwealth Secretariat strives to support their member states and their governments through working with other Commonwealth states and globally promoting their shared values to benefit and improve the well-being of all individuals in the Commonwealth.<ref name=":1" />

== Goals ==

=== Environment ===
The Secretariat focuses on protecting Commonwealth states and their environment by promoting sustainable practices for natural resources. The Commonwealth Climate Change Programme provides support and plans for member states to utilize in order to lessen the impacts of climate change and adapt to changing conditions. This program helps to facilitate an understanding and overview of the capacity member states have to meet their Paris Agreement commitments.<ref name=":1" /> Many different partnerships and procedures have been created to lend support to member states in tackling climate change such as the [https://thecommonwealth.org/our-work/commonwealth-climate-finance-access-hub Commonwealth Finance Access Hub], [https://production-new-commonwealth-files.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/migrated/inline/Commonsensing-brochure-2020.pdf CommonSensing], the [https://production-new-commonwealth-files.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/migrated/inline/Commonsensing-brochure-2020.pdf Commonwealth Call to Action on Living Lands (CALL)], the [https://production-new-commonwealth-files.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2024-06/commonwealth-ndc-brochure.pdf?VersionId=xeFf6pOuLGuq_58Tx9dndcM.EPNcyudCO_OjMVTJXtUrw_8YViet8LDEwkF Commonwealth NDC Programme], the [https://production-new-commonwealth-files.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2024-06/commonwealth-ndc-brochure.pdf?VersionId=xeFf6pOuLGuq_58Tx9dndcM.EPNcyudCO_OjMVTJXtUrw_8YViet8LDEwkF Gender Integration for Climate Action], and the [https://drf.thecommonwealth.org Disaster Risk Finance Portal].

=== Trade and Economy ===
The Secretariat also strives to promote international trade between member states to aid in creating inclusive and sustainable economies, with a particular focus for the Commonwealth's developed and developing countries. Their different programmes such as the [https://thecommonwealth.org/connectivity-agenda Connectivity Agenda], [https://thecommonwealth.org/our-work/public-debt-management-programme Public Debt Management Programme], and [https://thecommonwealth.org/our-work/public-debt-management-programme Commonwealth Fintech Toolkit] all help in improving global trade competitiveness, managing debt, and promoting sustainable methods for natural resources.

=== Democracy, Government, and Rule of Law ===
The Secretariat develops programmes to encourage democratic practices, good governance strategies, peace, and the rule of law.<ref name=":1" /> For example, many of these programmes include [https://thecommonwealth.org/our-work/countering-violent-extremism countering violent extremism], the [https://thecommonwealth.org/our-work/promotion-and-protection-human-rights-commonwealth promotion and protection of Human Rights], the [https://thecommonwealth.org/our-work/commonwealth-cyber-declaration-programme Commonwealth Cyber Declaration Programme], and the [https://thecommonwealth.org/our-work/commonwealth-database-international-cooperation-criminal-matters Commonwealth Database on International Cooperation in Criminal Matters].

=== Society ===
The Secretariat emphasizes a focus for the younger generation in enhancing their potential through sports, universal healthcare, gender equality, education, and peacebuilding.<ref name=":1" /> These youth focused programs are meant to nurture growing generations into creating resilient and harmonic societies for the future. [https://thecommonwealth.org/our-work/commonwealth-says-no-more Commonwealth says NO MORE], [https://thecommonwealth.org/our-work/commonwealth-moves Commonwealth Moves], and the [https://thecommonwealth.org/alliance-quality-youth-leadership Commonwealth Alliance for Quality Youth Leadership] are a few examples of the efforts the Commonwealth has taken to implement change and development for society and young people.

=== Small States ===
The Secretariat aims to help its 33 [[small state]]s by offering specialized support and aid to help improve their development challenges, such as dependence on trade, climate change, natural disasters, and limited access to funds. The Secretariat works toward this goal by advocating for international policies to include and consider small states' needs, aiding in building economic resilience, providing access to financing, and developing publications and reports that can help to create solutions for small states.<ref name=":1" />

==See also==
* [[Commonwealth Foundation]]
* [[Commonwealth Youth Programme]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.thecommonwealth.org/ Commonwealth Secretariat official website]

{{Commonwealth of Nations topics}}
{{Non-Aligned Movement}}{{Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Commonwealth Secretariat| ]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Institutions of the Commonwealth of Nations|Secretariat]]
[[Category:International organisations based in London]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1965]]
[[Category:Secretariats of international organizations|Commonwealth]]
[[Category:United Nations General Assembly observers]]