With expectations running high for the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) hosted by the UK in April, the event certainly didn’t disappoint and delivered on many levels. 

Towards a common future

The theme of the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in London in April was Towards a Common Future and creating a Commonwealth that is fairer, more sustainable, more secure and more prosperous. Specific commitments were made to deal collectively with the challenges of strengthening democratic institutions and building peace, with new arrangements for electoral monitoring; promoting gender equality and inclusion; action on climate change and oceans, including the Blue Charter initiatives to drive plastic from the oceans, and pre and post resilience building for the Small Island Developing States vulnerable to climate change; sustainable use of resources; commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention; preventing and countering violent extremism and human trafficking; fighting cyber crime; and a commitment to a stronger Commonwealth Secretariat, including through sustainable financing. There was also a decision to recognise Prince Charles as Head-of-the-Commonwealth-in-waiting; and to award the 2020 CHOGM to Rwanda. 

Business, People, Women and Youth

The four Commonwealth Forums that took place over three days prior to the leaders’ meetings focused on Business, People, Women and Youth. As well as being very well attended, the forums brought together a rich mix of representatives from the public and private sectors, government and civil society, organisations and individuals; all with a keen interest in the diverse subjects explored in each of the forums by a plethora of experts.

Find out more about the outcomes of the meetings by reading the CHOGM Communique and the CHOGM Leaders' Statement. The official CHOGM website contains full information about all the forums and events, including speeches and photos.