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page last updated: July 10, 2006
Association of Commonwealth Universities
The Association of Commonwealth Universities is a global network of outstanding human and scientific resources. It serves its member institutions by advancing international co-operation and understanding in higher education, and by providing a broad range of services and facilities.
British Empire and Commonwealth Musuem
Opening September 2002, a major new museum covering the dramatic history of Britain's imperial past and modern day Commonwealth. Over 500 years of history are brought vividly to life using state-of-the-art presentational techniques. The galleries will tell the story of British exploration, trade and conquest and the continued impact this has on Britain and the world today. The Museum has collected material relating to the British Empire and Commonwealth since 1992. In addition to this the trust has assumed responsibility for collections made in the name of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Mercantile Marine Memorial Collection. The Museum's collections now total well over 75,000 items ranging from uniforms and other costume to domestic items and ethnographic material. Important collections include a unique archive of over one thousand recordings covering a wide range of views, anecdotes and experiences from people who lived and worked in the British Empire and the Commonwealth. Recorded are Administrators, Ayas, Foresters, Freedom Fighters, Colonial Wives, and Commonwealth Soldiers
Commonwealth Broadcasting Association
The Commonwealth Broadcasting Association aims to support quality broadcasting throughout the Commonwealth. From December 2005, the CBA has produced a monthly podcast of Pick of the Commonwealth. To start downloading the podcasts, visit http://www.cba.org.uk/pick/
Commonwealth Centre for Electronic Governance
The Commonwealth Centre for Electronic Governance (CCEG) is a think tank operating under the auspices of an e-Governance program of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, UK. CCEG is a legal entity incorporated in the United Kingdom and Canada in November 2000. It operates on a global scale, with a board of Directors and Advisory Council from around the world. Members come from government, the private sector and civil society. The purpose of the Commonwealth Centre for Electronic Governance is to provide insight and knowledge on the changing nature of governments in our growing technology infrastructures. The CCEG is working to develop sets of best practices on how best to use technologies to implement the goals and objectives of public administration. It is the goal of CCEG to work with governments and international organizations to contribute to the growing knowledge base on e-Government, e-Governance and e-Democracy.
Commonwealth Foundation
As an intergovernmental organisation with a mandate from Commonwealth Heads of Government, the Foundation supports non-governmental organisations (NGOs), professional associations and cultural activities. Through grants and a range of programmes, the Foundation facilitates inter-country networking, training, capacity- building and information exchange.
Its mission is to promote people to people interaction and collaboration within the non-governmental sector of the Commonwealth. The Foundation presently has a special interest in strengthening relations between NGOs and governments. In allocating funds, the Commonwealth Foundation gives priority to activities involving South-South co-operation on the broad issues of poverty eradication and sustainable development.
Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation/Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) is the principal means by which the Commonwealth promotes economic and social development and the alleviation of poverty in member countries. Established by Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1971 to put the skills of member countries at each other's disposal, the CFTC is administered by the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative is a non-partisan independent international non-governmental organisation. Human Rights education and advocacy are at the core of all CHRI’s activities, and the aims and ends of its reports and investigations.
CHRI was born out of an awareness that although Commonwealth countries have shared legal principles and values, little had been done to set human rights standards within the association itself or to promote a culture of human rights. CHRI aims to raise awareness of and adherence to internationally recognised human rights instruments and declarations made by Commonwealth Heads of Governments, and most particularly those embodied in the Harare Principles.
Commonwealth Institute
After nearly forty years as a Foreign and Commonwealth Office agency, the Commonwealth Institute achieved its independence in January 2000. The role of the Institute is to promote the modern Commonwealth internationally as well as in the UK. The Institute, through its developing programmes in education, culture and the arts and its innovative use of the world wide web, is ensuring that the Commonwealth thrives in the future as an example to the world that co-operation and dialogue can make a difference. The Commonwealth Institute's Vision:
'Working with young people across the Commonwealth so that they grow up inquisitive about other cultures as well as their own, at ease with diversity and confident as global citizens'.
The Commonwealth Institute is funded by public support, sponsorship and by revenue from its businesses.
Commonwealth Journalists Association
Commonwealth journalists have much in common but, just as their countries vary in terms of resources, so do the media and those who work either as writers or broadcasters. In many regions access to training is difficult and there is no machinery for journalists to get together to discuss international and Commonwealth affairs or to provide a forum to which to invite experts, officials, ministers and so forth. CJA branches aim to provide these facilities. The association also seeks to bring about interchanges of journalists between Commonwealth countries. The CJA was founded in 1978.
Commonwealth of Learning
The Commonwealth of Learning is an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning/distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. COL is helping developing nations improve access to quality education and training.
Commonwealth Local Government Forum
The Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) works to promote and strengthen effective democratic local government throughout the Commonwealth and to encourage the exchange of good practice in local government structures and services. CLGF was established in 1995.
Commonwealth Medical Association (website currently unavailable)
The Commonwealth Medical Association facilitates an exchange of information between member associations; provides technical cooperation and advice to member associations in developing countries; formulates and maintains a code of ethics; provides continuing medical education programmes, including distance learning and a low-cost medical journal and book programme for doctors in developing countries; and develops and promotes health education programmes.
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The CPA is an Association of Commonwealth Parliamentarians who, irrespective of gender, race, religion or culture, are united by community of interest, respect for the rule of law and individual rights and freedoms, and by pursuit of the positive ideals of parliamentary democracy.
The Association is a charity registered under the laws of the United Kingdom. Its stated purpose is to promote knowledge and understanding of the constitutional, legislative, economic, social and cultural systems within a parliamentary democratic framework. It undertakes this mission with particular reference to the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations and to countries having close historical and parliamentary associations with it.
It provides the sole means of regular consultation among Members of Commonwealth Parliaments. It fosters co-operation and understanding among them and promotes the study of and respect for Parliament. Its role is endorsed by Commonwealth Parliaments and Heads of Government.
The Commonwealth Press Union is an association whose members are newspapers and news agencies from 49 countries. Over 700 are in membership and these are represented with the CPU by their publishers, chief executives or editors.
Commonwealth Secretariat
Today's Commonwealth is a world away from the handful of British Dominions which were the first Commonwealth members. From Africa to Asia, from Pacific shores to the Caribbean, the Commonwealth's 1.7 billion people make up 30% of the world's population.
The modern Commonwealth gradually evolved out of United Kingdom's imperial past, mainly through decolonisation, the effects of two world wars and changing patterns of international relations. Today it helps to advance democracy, human rights, sustainable economic and social development within its member countries and beyond. Armed with a common working language and similar systems of law, public administration and education, the Commonwealth has built on its shared history to become a vibrant and growing association of states in tune with the modern world.
The Commonwealth is a unique family of 54 developed and developing nations around the world. It is a voluntary association of independent sovereign states spread over every continent and ocean. They are found in every continent and ocean and are of many religions, races, languages and cultures.
The Commonwealth promotes respect, encourages trust and friendship and works towards economic prosperity for all its members.
The Commonwealth Secretariat is headed by the Commonwealth Secretary-General. The Secretary-General is elected by Heads of Government for a maximum of two four-year terms. The Secretary-General is supported by three Deputies responsible for Political Affairs, Economic and Social Affairs, and Development Co-operation respectively. They, in turn, oversee more than a dozen programmes of work. The Secretariat's 320 employees are drawn from over 30 member countries and impartially represent the Commonwealth collectively. Many are seconded from their governments.
Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, UK
The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) is a partnership between Commonwealth governments and telecommunications businesses to promote ICT in the interests of consumers, businesses and social and economic development. Its Programme for Development and Training (PDT) is a unique programme of training and expert assistance in every aspect of telecommunications for Commonwealth developing countries.
The CTO has existed in its current form since 1967, and is the largest Commonwealth organisation other than the Commonwealth Secretariat itself. It is governed by an intergovernmental treaty and has diplomatic status in its host country the United Kingdom. It works with the Commonwealth Secretariat and other Commonwealth bodies in support of the overall objectives of this unique family of nations within the ICT sector.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), is the British Government department responsible for overseas relations and foreign affairs, through its headquarters in London and its Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates throughout the world. The mission of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office is to promote the national interests of the United Kingdom and to contribute to a strong world community.
Institute of Commonwealth Studies
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies is the only postgraduate academic institution in the United Kingdom devoted to the study of the Commonwealth. Its purpose is to promote inter-disciplinary and inter-regional research on the Commonwealth and its member nations in the fields of history, politics, economics and other social sciences, and in subjects like development, environment, health, migration, class, race, and literature. The ICS also offers a Masters degree in Human Rights.
The Library is an international resource holding more than 160,000 items, with particularly impressive Caribbean, Southern African and Australian holdings and 200 archival collections. More than 150 seminars and conferences take place at ICS each year - most are open to all. Regular programmes include Caribbean Societies, Commonwealth History and Decolonisation, Gender in Empire and Commonwealth, Multiculturalism and the State and Societies of Southern Africa.
Founded in 1910, The Round Table, Britain's oldest international affairs journal, provides analysis and commentary on all aspects of international affairs. The journal is the major source for coverage of the policy issues concerning the contemporary Commonwealth and its role in international affairs, with occasional articles on themes of historical interest.
The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs is supported by an Editorial Board that organizes occasional seminars, meetings and conferences on themes of Commonwealth interest.
The Commonwealth Round Table in Australia maintains an active website, with news and resources relating both to the CRTA's activities, and considerations of wider interest in the Commonwealth.
The Royal Commonwealth Society
The international headquarters of the Royal Commonwealth Society is located in the heart of Central London just off Trafalgar Square, informal and alive to the tastes and demands of today's opinion formers, the Royal Commonwealth Society provides a truly multicultural centre for London. Its newly refurbished premises offer conference rooms, a fantastic restaurant and highly acclaimed chef, a quiet place to sit and read the newspapers and two lively bars.
The RCS has a Commonwealth-wide network of autonomous societies and branches, and aims to promote the Commonwealth through its wide ranging programme of meetings and events.