Commonwealth ends summit with call for action on climate change, trade
Kigali, RwandaReuters The newly-expanded Commonwealth made broad commitments on Saturday to address climate change and boost trade, concluding a summit aimed at shoring up the relevance of a group that evolved from the British empire. The club, whose 56 members range from India to the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru, covers some 2.5 billion […]
Prince Charles expresses sorrow over slavery in Commonwealth speech
Kigali, Rwanda Reuters Britain’s Prince Charles expressed deep sorrow over slavery in a speech to Commonwealth leaders in Rwanda on Friday and acknowledged that the roots of the organisation lay in a painful period of history. The Commonwealth, a club of 54 countries that evolved from the British Empire, encompasses about a third of humanity […]
Commonwealth leaders meet in Rwanda amid criticism of host’s rights record
Kigali, Rwanda Reuters Commonwealth leaders meet in Kigali on Friday to discuss cooperation on topics from trade to health to climate, against a backdrop of criticism of the host Rwanda’s human rights record and of a British policy to deport asylum seekers there. The Commonwealth, a club of 54 countries most of which are former […]
Australia aims to be global leader with strong anti-slavery law in 2018
Thomson Reuters Foundation Australia aims to be a global leader in the fight against modern slavery with a new law that builds upon Britain’s landmark legislation and demands stronger action from the government and businesses, its foreign minister and lawmakers said on Tuesday. The country is expected to this year pass a Modern Slavery Act to […]
Actions speak louder than words, anti-slavery advocates tell Commonwealth
Thomson Reuters Foundation Commonwealth nations must not only denounce modern slavery but take the lead on global efforts to eradicate the trade by 2030 by strengthening laws, working with businesses and protecting women and girls from being enslaved, activists said on Tuesday. Leaders of the 53 country Commonwealth, mostly former British colonies representing 2.4 billion […]
Open Doors calls on Commonwealth heads to put religious freedom at “heart” of discussions
Persecuted church support and advocacy organisation Open Doors UK has called on the Commonwealth heads of government to put freedom of religion and belief at the “heart of their discussions” when they meet this week. The organisation points out that eight of the 53 Commonwealth nations appear on its latest World Watch List – which ranks […]